Capitol Weekly’s Top 100: Cassie Gilson

No. 18 Cassie Gilson

Axiom Advisors co-founder Cassie Gilson is easily one of the most effective lobbyists in Sacramento. But as with so many on this list, her sway goes well beyond the confines of a job title. In less than a decade Gilson, with partners Jason Kinney (No. 30 on this list) and Kevin Schmidt, has taken Axiom from startup to one of the top grossing lobbying firms in the Capitol. Gilson has become the Capitol’s version of EF Hutton – when she speaks, people listen. And there is good reason for that. She is passionate about environmental issues, but is deeply grounded in so many others roiling the Capitol these days, particularly AI, land use, housing and clean energy. But a lot of lobbyists are smart and experienced. Gilson’s superpower is her approach – calmness, pragmatism, strategic thinking and a balanced worldview that has helped her build foundational relationships with folks on both sides of the aisle. The business community trusts her, the enviros trust her and, well, you get it. Oh, and it is worth nothing that Gilson is still the only female managing partner among the top five Capitol consulting firms.

Updated Aug. 11, 2026