Illustration by Chris Shary92. Roger Salazar
The San Francisco Chronicle once called him “a master of the soundbite” and Roger Salazar has the record to back up that description. He heads ALZA Strategies, a political communications firm with heavy connections to California’s Latino political community. The company just brought in as a partner veteran communications consultant Hilary McLean, who served
Illustration by Chris Shary95. 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
Illustration by Chris Shary92. Melanie Mason
The highest-profile story of the year in Sacramento was the explosion of sexual misconduct scandals that engulfed the Capitol and saw the birth of the #WeSaidEnough movement. Detailed, painful allegations were made public by scores of women who described years of harassment at the hands of lawmakers, legislative employees, lobbyists and others
Illustration by Chris Shary88. David Lesher
The nonprofit news and commentary website CalMatters is an expanding and influential observer of California politics and public policy headed by Editor David Lesher, a veteran newsman. The staff has grown to more than two dozen, and is expanding as funding becomes more secure. It already is the largest Capitol bureau, replete
Illustration by Chris Shary8: Jim DeBoo
Jim DeBoo was once Gov. Newsom’s chief of staff, a position which garnered him the top spot on this list in 2021 and 2022 and number three last year. He no longer holds that august title, but he still wields substantial influence not only in Newsom’s orbit but across all of California
Illustration by Chris Shary85. Scott Day
Scott Day is the associate executive director of the politically powerful California Teachers Association, which translates into being the point man for the CTA in the Capitol and coordinator of their lobbying and strategy efforts. That title was held for years by Joe Nuñez (No. 16), who has since moved on to
Illustration by Chris Shary83. Ace Smith
Ace Smith is one of the best in the biz – if your business is electoral politics. Smith is a 30-year veteran of state and national campaigns, and has worked for household names like Clinton (both of them), Feinstein, and Brown (Jerry). The other Brown, Willie, once called Smith the “Dems’ ace in
Illustration by Chris Shary83. Cesar Diaz
Pretty much everyone agrees: California’s pothole-riddled infrastructure needs fixing. And one of the leaders of the fix-it charge is Cesar Diaz, the longtime legislative and political director of the California Building and Construction Trades Council. California’s Council can trace its roots back to County Limerick in 19th-Century Ireland, where a Catholic Bishop of
Illustration by Chris Shary12. Camille Wagner
Camille Wagner is Gov. Brown’s legislative secretary, which means she’s usually in a fight and usually successful. Part of her job is to push Brown’s policy and political agenda through a balky Legislature while heading off the legislation he opposes. That may sound easy, but it’s not. She’s steeped in policy, but
Illustration by Chris Shary73: Marty Wilson
Marty Wilson’s lofty official title is executive vice president of public affairs for the California Chamber of Commerce. But the big piece of that is politics as much as public affairs. Wilson played key roles in Pete Wilson’s campaigns for governor and U.S. Senate, and he’s worked in public and private communications.