The Messina Group (TMG) is political consulting and strategic advisory firm that is run by Jim Messina, the “mastermind” of President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential re-election campaign. ¹

TMG was founded in 2013 by Messina and other Obama administration and Obama campaign alumni. TMG CEO Jim Messina has advised President Joe Biden ² and stayed in close contact with the Biden administration throughout the 2024 election cycle. In recent years, TMG has expanded its operations to support clients in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. ^{3 4}

History

The Messina Group was founded in 2013 by Democratic Party political operative Jim Messina and two former campaign staffers from then-President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign. ¹

In 2024, TMG expanded its operations and entered into a partnership with London-based Global Counsel to have more reach with clients in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. ^{3 4}

Leadership and Staff

Democratic Party operate Jim Messina is the CEO of The Messina Group. Messina has been called the “mastermind” behind President Barack Obama’s 2012 presidential campaign. Prior to joining Obama’s 2012 campaign, he was President Barack Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff. In this role, he played a key role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), Obama administration spending and economic stimulus programs, and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding sexual orientation of members of the United States military. ⁵

Messina has personally advised President Joe Biden ² and stayed in close contact with the Biden administration throughout the 2024 election cycle. ^{3 4}

Tara Corrigan is TMP’s chief operating officer. She joined TMG as a founding member after working in several roles in the Obama administration and on the 2012 Obama presidential campaign. ⁶

Other members of TMG’s staff have worked with Democratic elected officials and Democratic-aligned activist organizations including former Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), ⁷ Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), ⁸ Hillary Clinton’s unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign, National Women’s Law Center, Vital Voices Global Partnership, the Clinton Foundation, ⁹ Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), ¹⁰ and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). ¹¹

Activities and Clients

The Messina Group is a political consulting and strategic advisory firm. ¹² TMG has consulted for and engaged with clients on public policy issues, elections, and corporate issues across six continents and on a wide range of issues. ⁵

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ¹³ TMG has offices in San Francisco, California; Denver, Colorado; Brussels, Belgium; Singapore; and London. ⁵

TMG’s consulting and advisory issue sets include political and policy issues, grassroots organizing, campaigns, business consulting, communications, public relations, strategic advisory, technology consulting, regulatory advisory, and crisis communications. ¹

As of 2024, TMG’s 300 business clients have included Uber, Pillpack, Airbnb, Google, Delta Air Lines, Hutchinson Whampoa, among others. Messina advises Democratic Party-aligned organizations on domestic issues in the United States. He has advised thirteen Presidents and Prime Ministers from five continents including U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and President Joe Biden ² and United Kingdom Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, both members of the Conservative Party. ¹⁴

In recent years, TMG has expanded and formed partnerships with Greenbrier Partners, a Silicon Valley crisis communications firm; Amplify Media, a media buying firm that focuses on targeting voters through traditional and digital media; and Signal Interactive Media, a legal media firm that focuses on class-action notice using analytics and digital strategy. ^{5 15 16}

1.  “Overview.” The Messina Group LinkedIn Profile. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/company/messina-group/about/.
2. “Jim Messina.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/jim-messina/
3. Alex Thompson and Hans Nichols. “Biden’s re-election bid is slow out of the gate.” Axios. May 3, 2023. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.axios.com/2023/05/03/biden-election-bid-slow-out-of-gate.
4. Nichols, Hans. “Jim Messina goes international with a London shopping spree.” Axios. April 17, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.axios.com/2024/04/17/messina-global-counsel-investment?utm_campaign=editorial&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.
5. “About.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/about-us/.
6. “Tara Corrigan.” TMG. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/tara-corrigan/
7. “Liza Bray.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/liza-bray/.
8.  “Lindsey Kerr.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/lindsey-kerr/.
9.  “Heather King.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/heather-king/.
10. “Nick Buis.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/nick-buis/.
11. “Liz Lowry.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/team-member/liz-lowery/
12. “Home.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 21, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/.
13.  “The Messina Group Inc.” Bun and Bradstreet Business Directory. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.the_messina_group_inc.16baaf319662faba4e6f5b1c38c17a40.html.
14. “International.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/case-study/international-campaigns/.
15. “Companies and Partners.” The Messina Group. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://themessinagroup.com/companies/.
16. “The Messina Group and Global Counsel Establish Global Partnership.” PR Newswire. April 17, 2024. Accessed April 19, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-messina-group-and-global-counsel-establish-global-partnership-302118808.html.