David H. Morgenstern
Principal, The Podesta Group (since 2010)
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As former chief of staff for the leader of the Senate Republican Conference, Morgenstern played a key role in developing the Republican Party's agenda. He worked in Lamar Alexander's office from 2005 until 2010 and was a Senate staffer for four years before that. He helped craft the message that led to the Senate GOPers' political resurrection.
A former Jeopardy! winner, Morgenstern has served two stints on the Hill. He worked on two campaigns and in the Senate directly out of college, but then went to law school at Duke University before returning to the Hill.
- Career History: Chief of staff to Sen. Lamar Alexander (2009 to 2010); Legislative director for Sen. Lamar Alexander (2005 to 2009); Legislative assistant and counsel for Sen. Lincoln Chafee (2001 to 2005); Manager for Business Development for University Markets (1999 to 2000); Litigation associate for Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard (1999); Litigation associate for Rudnick & Wolfe (1997 to 1999)
- Birthday: Sept. 4, 1970
- Hometown: Born in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., and raised in Westport, Conn.
- Alma Mater: Emory University, B.A., 1992; Duke University School of Law, J.D., 1997
- Spouse: Single
- Religion: Jewish
- DC Office: 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building, 202-224-4944
- Web site
Morgenstern was born in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., in 1970 and was raised in Westport, Conn. He graduated from Emory University in Atlanta in 1992 and immediately got involved in politics. In 1992, he served as finance director for the losing House campaign of Emory Morsberger (R-Ga.), and in 1994, he was political director for Brenda Fitzgerald's (R-Ga.) losing House campaign. He also worked as a legislative correspondent for then-Sen. Paul Coverdell (R-Ga.) before going to Duke University School of Law.
Directly out of law school, Morgenstern joined the law firm of Rudnick & Wolfe as a litigation associate. He worked there for three years and at Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard for a year before temporarily leaving law. Before getting involved in government, Morgenstern worked for a little more than a year as the manager for business development for Varsitybooks.com, a company that sells textbooks over the Internet.
In 2007, Alexander was chosen by his party to lead the Republican Senate Conference. He beat out the more conservative Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.) in part because of his ability to appeal to moderates and independents. "What I want people to see coming out of the Republican conference is a steady stream of ideas based on Republican principles that can earn bipartisan support," Alexander said.
When he took over in 2007 after Republicans lost both houses of Congress in the 2006 midterms, Alexander focused on issues that could build consensus. He put immigration and earmark reform, and other polarizing issues on the back-burner and said he was open to legislation sponsored by Democrats if it was relevant to even one Republican senator.
Morgenstern worked with Sen. Lamar Alexander from 2005 to 2010, and he worked closely with former chief of staff Tom Ingram before Ingram left the office in 2009 and staff director Ryan Loskarn in Alexander's office. He also worked for Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) for four years and volunteered on the campaign of Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) for a few days in 2004.
At The Podesta Group, a lobbying firm, Morgensterm works with Tony Podesta, John Podesta brother and a close Obama ally, among others.
- Response to Whorunsgov.com questionnaire returned by David Morgenstern on Feb. 20, 2009
- Stanton, John, "Moderate course mapped by GOP," Roll Call, Jan. 24, 2008
- Kady II, Martin, "Alexander nudges GOP left," Politico.com, Feb. 13, 2008
- Congressional Staff Directory, CQ Press, Summer 2008
- Bunch, Sonny, "Hill climbers," Roll Call, May 23, 2005
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