Steve Elmendorf
Subject Matter (formerly Elmendorf | Ryan)
Who they are.
Top-tier Democratic-aligned lobbyist and former chief of staff to House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt. Co-founder of Elmendorf | Ryan, which merged into Subject Matter in 2018. Long-time bundler and fundraiser for Democratic presidential campaigns. Subject Matter ranks among the highest-grossing Democratic shops in federal LD-2 filings every cycle.
The clients.
Gov to K Street.
Pattern: senior government role → private lobbying / advisory work that touches the same policy area. See The Revolving Door for the full pattern across every tracked lobbyist.
Sources.
Questions about Steve Elmendorf.
Who is Steve Elmendorf?
Steve Elmendorf is a Democratic-aligned lobbyist and one of the most prolific Democratic fundraisers of the past two decades. He served as chief of staff to former House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt before launching his lobbying practice, which is now part of Subject Matter.
What is Subject Matter?
Subject Matter is a DC-based bipartisan public-affairs and lobbying firm formed by the 2018 merger of Elmendorf | Ryan with several adjacent shops. It consistently ranks among the top 10 federal lobby firms by revenue.
Who are Elmendorf's clients?
Subject Matter's LD-2 filings list a roster heavy in tech (Microsoft), pharmaceuticals (PhRMA), and finance (Goldman Sachs). Full year-by-year client lists are public via the Senate Office of Public Records.