Mike Smith

Principal and Director
Washington, DC; Chicago, Illinois

Mike Smith

Principal and Director
Washington, DC; Chicago, Illinois

Quick Facts

  • Recognized by various publications as a "Top Hired Gun," a "Top Corporate Lobbyist," and a leading Democratic fundraiser
  • Advises a diverse set of clients on an array of issues, including aviation, energy, health, education, technology, rail, Native American and international affairs
  • Noted Democratic strategist, serves as a members of the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee's Majority Trust Legacy Circle

Mike's Bio

As a principal and director at Cornerstone Government Affairs, Mike advises a broad array of non-profit, corporate and tribal entities on a wide range of issues before the federal government including education, health care, aviation, rail, tax, technology, international relations, Native American, budget and appropriations matters. Prior to joining Cornerstone, Mike spent three years as a Partner in the Governmental Affairs section of a leading international law firm where he focused his lobbying efforts on legislative, executive agency and regulatory issues.

Mike has extensive experience in Democratic politics at the local, state and federal levels and remains heavily engaged with the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee as a Member of the Majority Trust Legacy Circle since 2008. In 2004, then Chairman Terry McAuliffe appointed Mike to the Credentials Committee of the Democratic National Convention. Prior to that role, he served as the Midwest Political Director for the Gore 2000 and Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaigns coordinating the campaign’s efforts in 15 states in the battleground Midwest. In 1996, Mike served as a liaison between the White House, campaign staff and local, state and federal officials as a member of the National Advance Staff for the Clinton-Gore re-election campaign.

Mike serves as an appointed Member of the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute Advisory Board as well as the University’s Graduate Studies and Research Advisory Council, a Member of the Board of St. Coletta’s of Greater Washington, and is a former Treasurer and Board Member of ZERO, an organization dedicated to eliminating prostate cancer, and Aidan Montessori’s Board of Trustees. Mike earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1996, after graduating cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Government & International Relations in 1993. He and his wife, Amy Tejral, reside in Chevy Chase, MD with two sons, Finnegan and Grady.