Founded in 1969, the AAPC is a multi-partisan organization of political and public affairs professionals dedicated to improving democracy. The AAPC has over 1,600 members hailing from all corners of the globe. It is the largest association of political and public affairs professionals in the world. AAPC members consist of political consultants, media consultants, pollsters, campaign managers, corporate public affairs officers, professors, fund-raisers, lobbyists, congressional staffers and vendors. Membership is open to everyone associated with politics from the local level to the White House.

AAPC Members receive a multitude of benefits including the bi-monthly Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, special Affinity Programs, free webinars & an archive of all past educational webinars, discounted registration rates for all AAPC event functions, and more.

Click here to learn more about what AAPC membership can do for you.

AAPC is the proud host of the Pollie Awards, 40 Under 40 Awards, and Campaign Excellence Awards which recognize leaders, innovators and exceptional work within the political communications and public affairs industries. Learn more here!

The profession of political consulting as its own niche is a very recent phenomenon, taking its place alongside computer gurus and television reporters as a career that has come of age. Yet, political campaigning was not born yesterday, despite many pundits’ insistence that they helped it evolve in their own shops. In fact, the first recorded political consultant was Quintus Cicero, author of the Handbook of Electioneering. Written to help his brother win a campaign for the consulship of Rome in 63 B.C., it was a first. Since then perhaps millions have offered advice to candidates for public office. Machiavelli’s suggestions to his prince being among the most quoted.