Biography
A veteran leadership staffer in the U.S. House and Senate with more than twenty-five years of Washington public policy, management and communications experience, Andrew Kauders puts his extensive know-how to work for Cogent clients. He is particularly adept at helping clients navigate foreign policy, tax, energy and environmental issues. Andrew often cites improving relations between the U.S. and a key international trading partner as well as passage of critical legislation assisting a U.S. territory among his greatest professional achievements.
Andrew’s expertise spans both the executive and legislative branches. On Capitol Hill, he was senior adviser to Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Finance and Banking Committees. He served as executive director of the House Democratic Caucus, playing a key role in developing political, legislative and message strategy for House Democrats. Previously, Andrew was the communications director and senior adviser for the caucus. He has been named five times to Roll Call newspaper’s “Fabulous Fifty” most influential staffers on Capitol Hill, listed as one of the “Top 35 Under 35” congressional staffers in The Hill and was profiled by National Journal, which described him as the sounding board for almost every aspect of the caucus operation, from leadership issues to legislation to politics to media strategy.
As a political appointee in the Clinton administration, Andrew served as spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as deputy communications director for the White House Climate Change Task Force and as deputy press secretary at the Environmental Protection Agency. He was also a member of Vice President Al Gore’s advance team, traveling domestically and internationally on his behalf.
Born in Switzerland and raised in Germany, Andrew grew up playing competitive soccer in local leagues and won the European-wide International School soccer championship and was a two-time European youth mixed doubles tennis champion. Nowadays, Andrew enjoys golf and tennis, skiing, cycling and goofing around with his three boys.
News & Insights
Midterm Panic: What’s on Deck for the Democratic Agenda
Managing Director Andrew Kauders breaks down how Democrats are approaching—and constantly revising—their legislative priorities.