Our History

Since its inception in 1985, Axelrod & Associates has produced winning media for candidates, initiative and voter education campaigns at the local, state and national levels.

One of the largest and most successful Democratic media consulting firms in the Midwest, Axelrod & Associates provides more than award-winning media. We provide day-to-day consulting on all aspects of message delivery, working closely with our clients on free press and field strategies to help amplify the point.

Led by David Axelrod, a former political writer for the Chicago Tribune and sixteen-year veteran of campaigns, a team of seasoned professionals has worked with candidates across the country to produce clear and consistent messages.

This approach has helped our clients to victories from coast-to-coast, at the polls and in legislative chambers.

In 2000, Axelrod produced the New York State Democratic Committee media that contributed to Hillary Clinton's smashing victory in the U.S. Senate race. He also served as strategic consultant in Sila Calderon's upset election for Governor of Puerto Rico.

For the third consecutive election cycle, Axelrod served as lead media consultant for the AFL-CIO, producing hard hitting "issue" ads in dozens of U.S. Senate and House races across the country. In addition, Axelrod produced independent expenditure ads for Voter for Choice and Handgun Control in key U.S. Senate races in Michigan and Missouri.

In 1998, Axelrod's media and message strategy engineered one of the nation's biggest upsets when state senator Tom Vilsack overcame a 20-point deficit to become the first Democrat elected Governor of Iowa in 32 years.

Other recent Axelrod victories include John Street's election as Mayor of Philadelphia, Anthony Williams' election as Mayor of Washington, D.C., and Carl McCall's landslide reelection as New York State Comptroller.

In 1997, the firm's achievements included Mayor Lee P. Brown's election as the first African-American to lead Houston; the landslide reelection of Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer; and the upset victory of Andrew Spano, who overcame a multi-million dollar campaign and beat the Republican machine in Westchester, N.Y., to win election as county executive.

Winning media from a winning team.