EDITORIAL: Meet the First Four of the Washington Reporter’s D.C.’s Most Influential Lobbyist List
After receiving countless submissions, the Washington Reporter is excited to announce its first four winners of the Most Influential List.
Our winners received multiple submissions and were validated by Hill sources as a player that is respected, persuasive, and has moved or stopped legislation.
Part II of the list coming soon.
D.C.’s Most Influential Lobbyists: Part I
1. Michael Kennedy
Firm: Intuit
Why Selected: Michael has transformed Intuit into a bipartisan powerhouse on Capitol Hill. Despite operating at the intersection of tech and finance—a position vulnerable to criticism from both the left and populist right—Intuit has positioned itself as a champion of small business. Michael’s team has effectively highlighted the company’s financial literacy initiatives as a valuable public service.
Quote from The Hill: “Intuit has navigated challenging waters that tripped up other firms, and it’s no accident. Michael and his team are effective, approachable, and have offered to help our office better serve constituents. Their efforts make a difference.”
2. Lucia Lebens
Firm: Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
Why Selected: As the lead lobbyist and strategist for the association that represents Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), Lucia has played an instrumental role in stopping legislation that would restrict PBMs ability to operate. Last December, Congress was poised to pass legislation aimed at PBMs–and at the last minute, the legislation was pulled. Sources say Lucia’s work, especially on building conservative coalitions, played a big part.
Quote from The Hill: “The PBM issue is probably the most contentious lobbying fight besides swipe fees, and Lucia does a great job of calmly and persuasively making the case that PBMs lower costs. She’s a straightshooter too – will never BS you.”
3. Carl Holshouser
Firm: CoreWeave
Why Selected: Carl was initially recognized for his work at TechNet, a trade association, before joining CoreWeave as head of government affairs for the AI hyper-scaler. His extensive bipartisan connections on Capitol Hill helped defeat Senate antitrust legislation harmful to TechNet’s member companies. Notably, CoreWeave’s stock surged 21%—outpacing the S&P 500 and other AI stocks by 19%—on the day his hiring was announced. Now that’s a reputation.
Quote from The Hill: “Carl is a powerhouse. He understands the intersection of politics, policy, and third-party groups, and was the most effective opponent of the antitrust bills stopped in the Senate during the Biden administration.”
4. A.J. Bhadelia
Firm: Cohere
Why Selected: As head of government affairs, A.J. has rapidly elevated Cohere into a prominent AI player on Capitol Hill. He has built bipartisan relationships with key committees and represented Cohere at White House and Congressional events. Remarkably, as a private company, Cohere punches above its weight under A.J.’s leadership.
Quote from The Hill: “[From a Congressional staffer on Commerce issues] On AI policy, I hear more from Cohere and A.J. than from Nvidia or big tech firms. A.J. is sharp, personable, and never pushes unrealistic requests.”
