No. 95: Capitol Weekly’s Top 100

95. Robin Swanson

You’ve heard for decades about “high-powered public relations executives” in Hollywood movies, right? Well, meet one right here in Sacramento. She’s Robin Swanson, head of Swanson Communications. Normally a Democratic-leaning operative, Swanson has been outspoken in her opposition to the Trump administration and worked with wealthy San Francisco real-estate developer Alastair Mactaggart on behalf of a proposed ballot initiative increasing privacy protection for customers of large internet corporations. Swanson Communications bills itself as expert in crisis communications, managing legislative races and strategizing ballot measure campaigns. Swanson has more than once been hailed as a “rising star,” yet can boast of 20 years’ experience in the trenches. She has been a regular analyst and commentator on Fox and CNN, as well as local television station KCRA. In addition to managing campaigns, Swanson Communications conducts media training sessions, where politicians are taught the longtime art of getting their message across, no matter what questions may come from those nasty newsies.