Todd Webster

Principal
Washington, DC

Todd Webster

Principal
Washington, DC

Quick Facts

  • Former chief of staff to Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
  • Over 20 years of experience in strategic communications and public affairs

Todd's Bio

Todd Webster joined Cornerstone in early 2016.  He advises corporate, nonprofit, international and professional sports clients on how to engage with policymakers, influence public opinion and wage successful campaigns in Washington.  Todd combines nine years as a senior Senate staffer, six years running his own public affairs firm and four years working on political campaigns. He has worked for five U.S. senators and served as deputy communications director for the Gore 2000 and Gore Lieberman campaigns, managing surrogate communication. He was also a producer for MSNBC’s “Equal Time with Ollie North and Paul Begala” and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, as well as penning op-eds for the Washington Post.

Prior to Cornerstone, Todd spent five years as chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), a member of the Senate leadership and one of the most effective and bipartisan members of Congress, where he oversaw the Senator’s legislative, communications, and political activities, and helped achieve a series of important victories for Delaware and the country on issues of tax, trade, R&D, innovation, patent reform, economic development, energy, and foreign affairs.  Also during this time, he helped advance the Senator’s work to increase U.S. economic engagement with Africa, which included authoring white papers, holding Senate hearings, and hosting more than 50 African heads of state at the welcome reception on Capitol Hill for the first-ever African Leaders Summit in August 2014.  He worked extensively on the Congressional reauthorizations of AGOA and the Ex-Im bank, as well as President Obama’s Electrify Africa initiative.

In the mid-2000’s, Todd built a strategic communications and public affairs firm working with media outlets, advocacy organizations, and political candidates, including the successful re-elections of Sens. Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Tom Harkin (D-IA), and the election of Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed.  His most significant achievement, however, was helping the Baltimore Orioles’ and Washington Nationals’ television network win a landmark victory at the FCC, which enabled fans in both cities to watch their home teams play baseball.

Todd also served as communications director and chief spokesman for former Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and held the same role for U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), where he worked on a variety of aerospace, defense, and transportation issues.  As the deputy communications director on the Gore-Lieberman campaign in 2000, Todd ensured the campaign’s surrogates were active and persuasive on cable and network television.

Todd has been named a “Rising Star” by Campaigns & Elections Magazine and one of Roll Call’s “Fabulous 50: Movers and Shakers on Capitol Hill.”  In 2014 Todd received the alumni achievement award from George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

Todd serves on the Boards of GWU’s Graduate School of Political Management and the 150 PAC, a bipartisan effort that supports Members of Congress who support foreign aid (the “150 account” in the federal budget). Todd received his M.A. from The George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management, and his B.A. from Bowdoin College.