by Leadership Connect Data Science Team, Salma Ismaiel, and Michael Crosby
March 2022
We analyzed 9 current and former leaders of the Hill, current and prior administrations to see the influence of prior staff members.
Of those 9, only former Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker Pelosi have significant reach into every type of organization influencing public sector decision making. The rest, even if highly tenured, tend towards networks that are highly concentrated on the Hill.
MIKE PENCE – former Vice President, Governor and Member of Congress
Across Pence’s prior teams, a combined 10% of his staff now hold roles across academic institutions, associations, and within federal departments at equal proportions. About a third of individuals who previously served for Pence continue on the Hill until today, with the bulk of a combined 45% of previous Pence staff serving equally across corporations, Think Tanks, and in State & Local positions.
Where are they now?
Nancy Pelosi – Speaker of the House
Pelosi has served in Congress since the 80’s and that has created a powerful alumni network. Over a third remain in Congress, with the remaining leading destinations being Corporate government affairs and Law & Lobbying firms.
McCarthy-AOC-Sanders
Kevin McCarthy (Minority Leader of the House), Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Bernie Sanders have much more concentrated alumni networks where former staff remain on the Hill.
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Vice President Harris
Our earlier study of Administration staff showed the impact of Harris through the number of University of California school system hires. Looking at former staffers from her senate office and California positions, you can see that former staffers return to the Hill with a small amount coming with her to the White House or departing for Lobbying firms.
Senator Chuck Schumer (Majority Leader)
As a long-time senator, Senator Schumer’s staff has largely stayed on the Hill with a small number going to Non-Profits.
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HARRIS
SCHUMER
MCCONNELL
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METHODOLOGY
The Leadership Connect team used its people intelligence service that tracks 1 million people associated with public sector decision-making to identify former staff members of key Congressional and administration leaders. Only former staff members who continue to be tracked in Leadership Connect were analyzed. We organized their current roles into categories including: Academic, Association, Congress, Consulting, Corporate, Federal Department/Agency, Law & Lobbying, News Media, Non Profit, Think Tank, State & Local, and White House.
