Tusk Strategies (TS) is a political consulting and public relations firm founded by venture capitalist Bradley Tusk. The firm claims to aid startup and established companies in how to navigate political, regulatory and media requirements of businesses and nonprofits. It also claims to work with companies involved with fintech, crypto and food technology fields. ¹

The firm is part of a network of entities including, Tusk Venture Partners, Tusk Holdings and Tusk Philanthropies. ² Its senior staff include political operatives associated with the Democratic Party. ^{3 4 5}

Services

Tusk Strategies (TS) claims to use social media, lobbying, coalition building, polling, and opposition research to pressure local, state, and federal regulators and lawmakers into influencing laws and regulations to be more favorable towards its clients. ⁶

According to its website, TS claims to manage and plan thought leadership, crisis communications, and conferences and events to influence public relations and to increase favorable outcomes for its clients. ⁶

TS claims to manage both federal and New York-based teams to influence procurement, government sale planning and execution, and rule drafting services for legislation. ⁶

TS also claims to organize and manage online services to help design media campaigns and communication for clients including designing of campaigns, implementing strategies, overseeing analytics, and additional reporting. ⁶

TS claims to work with clients to build local Latino-based coalitions through marketing and communications, sourcing Latino leaders, and business development in Mexico and Puerto Rico. ⁶

TS claims to provide BitLicense procurement services as well as white paper and policy development in order to influence state and federal agencies in affecting policy and regulation on Crypto. ⁶

Activities

Tusk Strategies (TS) previously worked with gun control advocacy group Change the Ref to develop media strategies in raising awareness of the “Lost Class,” which the website described as the 3,044 members of the high school class of 2021 killed due to gun violence, while advocating for universal background checks in firearm purchases. ⁷

TS worked with Department of Financial Services (DFS) to gain a BitLicense for Apex Crypto and to gain approval for the acquisition of Apex by Bakkt. ^{8 9}

Leadership

Bradley Tusk is founder of Tusk Strategies, Tusk Venture Partners, Tusk Holdings, and Tusk Philanthropies. He is a political strategist, venture capitalist, author and philanthropist. Tusk was communications director for U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Deputy Governor of Illinois under former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Michael Bloomberg’s mayoral campaign manager, and advised Bloomberg Philanthropies. He is author of The Fixer: My Adventures Saving Startups from Death by Politics and hosts a podcast, “Firewall”.  Bradley writes for the New York Daily News and wrote Obvious in Hindsight, a fictional novel. ^{3 10}

Chris Coffey is the CEO and Partner of Tusk Strategies as well as the previous head of the company’s New York and New Jersey practice. He was senior strategist to Corey Johnson’s winning campaign for Speaker of the New York City Council, an informal advisor to former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2018, co-campaign manager for Andrew Yang’s 2021 campaign for New York City Mayor, and advises United States Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY). Chris previously worked at New York City Hall for Michael Bloomberg and authored the Roadmap for the Digital City. ^{4 11}

Cristobal Alex is a partner and head of the Washington, D.C. office of Tusk Strategies and is a part of leadership with Tusk Philanthropies and a political analyst on MSNBC. Alex leads Latino engagement for Future Forward USA Action (FFA) and Future Forward Political Action Committee (FF PAC) that raised $950 million to support the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. Cristobal previously served as the Biden White House deputy cabinet secretary and was the founding president of left-of-center Latino Victory Fund as well as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s deputy director of voter outreach and mobilization during her 2016 presidential campaign. He previously worked for George Soros’ Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation. ^{5 12 4 13 14 15}

1. “Tusk Strategies.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 24, 2025. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/company/tusk-strategies/.
2.  “Tusk Philanthropies.” Tusk Philanthropies. Accessed February 24, 2025. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://tuskphilanthropies.org/.
3. “Bradley Tusk.” Tusk Strategies, Accessed March 7, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/people/bradley-tusk/
4. Biurher, Yurii. “Tusk Strategies – Key People.” aiHit. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.aihitdata.com/company/008CF41B/tusk-strategies/people.
5. “Tusk Names Shontell Smith and Cristóbal Alex as Partners.” Tusk Strategies. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/news/tusk-names-shontell-smith-and-cristobal-alex-as-partners/.
6. “Services.” Tusk Strategies, March 12, 2024. Accessed February 24, 2025.  https://tuskstrategies.com/services/.
7.  “Creating a Viral Moment to Advance Gun Control Policy.” Tusk Strategies, January 11, 2023. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/wins/lost-class/.
8. ^[1] “Winning the Biggest BitLicense in Recent History and Helping the New Economy Work at Full Speed.” Tusk Strategies, February 8, 2024. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/wins/winning-the-biggest-bitlicense-in-recent-history-and-helping-the-new-economy-work-at-full-speed/.
9. Bakkt – Bakkt completes acquisition of Apex Crypto. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://investors.bakkt.com/news/news-details/2023/Bakkt-Completes-Acquisition-of-Apex-Crypto/default.aspx.
10. “Bradley Tusk.” LinkedIn, Accessed March 7, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/btusk
11. “Chris Coffey.” Tusk Strategies, Accessed March 7, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/people/chris-coffey/
12. [email protected]. “Latino Victory Ushers in New Leadership to Double down on Gains in Latino Political Representation and Drive Latino Political Power Post-Election.” Latino Victory, December 18, 2024. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://latinovictory.org/latino-victory-ushers-in-new-leadership-to-double-down-on-gains-in-latino-political-representation-and-drive-latino-political-power-post-election/.
13. “Cristóbal Alex (Board).” Institute of Politics and Public Service, May 30, 2024. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://politics.georgetown.edu/profile/cristobal-alex-board/.
14. “Cristóbal Alex.” Tusk Strategies, December 19, 2023. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://tuskstrategies.com/people/cristobal-alex/.
15. Vieira, Cecelia. “Future Forward USA PAC (FF PAC).” FactCheck.org, September 27, 2022. Accessed February 24, 2025. https://www.factcheck.org/2022/03/future-forward-usa-pac-ff-pac/.