Israel S. Klein

HOMETOWN: WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY

EDUCATION: GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, GOVERNMENT AND THEOLOGY 

CAMPAIGNS: FUNDRAISER FOR FMR. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER, DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO) AND REP. ED MARKEY (D-MA); FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR DEMOCRATIC HOUSE AND SENATE CAMPAIGNS

CAPITOL HILL: COMMS DIRECTOR FOR SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), NOW-SENATOR ED MARKEY (D-MA); AND DEPUTY STAFF DIRECTOR FOR JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

K STREET: MANAGING PARTNER AT ROBERTI GLOBAL; PRINCIPAL AT PODESTA GROUP; CREATED/LED FINTECH COALITION DURING DODD-FRANK ACT; QUARTERBACKED EFFORT TO PASS 2012 JOBS ACT

WRITING: OP-EDS ON BITCOIN AND THE CFIUS PROCESS; PROFILED IN CQ WEEKLY, NATIONAL JOURNAL, THE BOSTON GLOBE AND MORNING CONSULT; QUOTED BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, POLITICO, BLOOMBERG NEWS, & WALL STREET JOURNAL.

LIFE NOW: CHEVY CHASE, MD; WITH WIFE, SARAH, TWINS, AND two LARGE FLUFFY DOGs

ROOTING INTERESTS: NY YANKEES, NY GIANTS, GEORGETOWN HOYAS 

An expert at helping businesses, associations and nonprofits manage complex public policy issues across Washington, Israel “Izzy” Klein is a specialist in government relations, communications strategy, and coalition development and management. Izzy is a repeat Top Lobbyist in The Hill’s annual rankings and was dubbed the “Message Maestro Lobbyist” by Congressional Quarterly.

Izzy works closely with members of the Senate and House across key committees and in the Democratic leadership on policy, political, and communications priorities. He also has deep ties to the current Administration, various federal regulatory agencies, think tanks and other third-party groups, in addition to DC and national media outlets.

Active in scores of federal, state, and local campaigns, Izzy serves as an informal advisor to several longtime leaders and rising stars in Democratic political circles. He is a founding board member and the political committee chair of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), which has become the leading political force for Jewish Democrats. In the spring of 2023, Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland appointed Izzy to serve on the MD Economic Development Commission, which advises the MD Secretary of Commerce and Governor on bringing jobs and businesses to the state.

Izzy has spearheaded broad and targeted government relations and media outreach efforts for scores of organizations across disciplines and ran the renewable energy practice at Podesta Group. Izzy created and led a coalition of fin-tech startups during consideration of the Dodd-Frank Act; quarterbacked a comprehensive legislative effort to pass the JOBS Act in 2012; and he advises an impressive roster of Fortune 500 companies, trade associations, non-profits, and fast-growing startups facing complex political and policy challenges. Izzy has been published or quoted as a political and policy expert by The New York Times, The Hill, Politico, Bloomberg News, Financial Times, Boston Globe and other media outlets.

A veteran of both sides of the US Capitol, Izzy worked as the top communications aide for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and then-Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA). Prior to co-founding the Klein/Johnson Group, Izzy spent nearly a decade as a senior principal at a large public affairs firm and a managing partner at a boutique lobbying firm.

Izzy steered Sen. Schumer’s high-energy communications operation on a broad portfolio of issues related to the Finance, Banking, and Judiciary Committees. As the deputy staff director for the Joint Economic Committee during the 2008 economic meltdown, he helped the Chairman Schumer address crucial economic policy issues relating to the housing and credit crisis, foreign direct investment in the US, and energy independence. Izzy also led then- Rep. Markey's communications shop and homeland security efforts post-September 11.

A native of West Orange, New Jersey, Izzy holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in Government and Theology. He has been a guest lecturer and student mentor at Princeton University, the Naval Academy, Johns Hopkins University, and Georgetown University and currently co-teaches a graduate class at The George Washington University. 

Izzy lives with his wife, Sarah, their twins, and two large dogs in Chevy Chase, Maryland.