California’s Policy Engine Gets a New Operator: AxAdvocacy’s High-Stakes Bet

SACRAMENTO, CA – August 03, 2026 – In the intricate world of public policy, personnel moves are rarely just about people; they are strategic signals of intent. The recent announcement that national public affairs firm AxAdvocacy is launching a full-service government relations practice in California, helmed by veteran lobbyist Joe Devine, is precisely such a signal. This isn't merely an expansion; it's a calculated, high-stakes investment in the nation's most influential policy laboratory, creating a formidable power duo by pairing Devine with long-time strategist Marty Wilson. The move provides a clear lens into the evolving strategies that drive value and influence in our increasingly complex regulatory landscape.

For years, AxAdvocacy has been executing a national growth strategy, earning accolades from publications like Bloomberg and The Hill as one of the nation's fastest-growing lobbying firms. But its decisive push into California, the world's fifth-largest economy, represents a pivotal chapter. As the firm's president, Ashlee Rich Stephenson, stated, "California is too important for our clients - and too consequential to the national policy landscape - not to have a world-class presence on the ground." This underscores a fundamental truth of the 2026 landscape: what happens in Sacramento does not stay in Sacramento.

The California Crucible: A National Trendsetter

To understand the significance of this expansion, one must first appreciate California's unique role as a policy incubator. The state regularly sets the national agenda on the most defining issues of our time. Its pioneering regulations on artificial intelligence, including the recently enacted Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (SB 53), are already creating ripple effects, forcing companies nationwide to rethink safety, transparency, and risk governance. Similar dynamics are at play in climate policy, where California’s ambitious emissions standards and renewable energy mandates often become the de facto national benchmark.

This trend extends across the board. In healthcare, the state’s decisions on Medi-Cal expansion and healthcare worker wages influence federal debates. In labor, its aggressive stance on non-compete agreements and paid sick leave sets a high-water mark that other states and the federal government are often pressured to follow. For any business or industry with a national footprint, navigating the legislative and regulatory corridors of Sacramento is no longer optional; it is essential for survival and growth. This complex environment, where a single piece of legislation can reshape an entire industry, is the arena AxAdvocacy is now equipping itself to master.

The Architect and The Operator: A New Power Duo

An ambitious strategy is only as good as the people tasked with executing it. In this regard, AxAdvocacy’s California team is a masterclass in strategic recruitment. The firm has paired an architect of grand political strategy with a master operator of the legislative process.

Marty Wilson, who joined the firm in 2025, is the architect. With nearly four decades of experience, his career is woven into the fabric of California politics. Having guided campaigns for governors and a U.S. Senator, served as a senior advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and spent over a decade as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the influential California Chamber of Commerce, Wilson understands the state's political DNA at a granular level. He brings the high-level strategic vision and communications expertise necessary to shape broad public narratives.

Joining him is Joe Devine, the operator. A highly respected veteran of Sacramento’s “third-house community,” Devine brings over 15 years of experience from the legislative trenches, most recently after a nine-year tenure at the powerhouse firm Platinum Advisors. He is known for his deep policy knowledge and his trusted relationships within the Capitol. As Wilson himself noted, "Joe brings a level of policy chops and in-depth legislative expertise to our California operation." Devine is the professional who can translate a client's strategic goals into legislative reality, navigating the complex committee hearings, budget negotiations, and stakeholder politics that define policymaking. His own words reflect this pragmatic focus: "Success requires more than understanding the issues; it requires trusted relationships, strategic thinking, and the ability to navigate an ever-changing political landscape."

The Blueprint for Modern Advocacy: Integration Over Isolation

The assembly of this team points to a broader trend defining the future of professional advocacy: the rise of the fully integrated firm. For decades, lobbying was often a siloed affair, with separate firms hired to handle federal, state, and local issues. AxAdvocacy’s model aims to dismantle these silos. By building a robust, multi-state presence with principals in key states like Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Missouri, the firm is creating a seamless platform that can address a client’s needs across multiple jurisdictions.

This model provides lasting value by offering clients a coherent, unified strategy. A technology company facing a patchwork of AI regulations, for example, can now work with a single team that understands the interplay between initiatives in Sacramento, Washington, D.C., and other state capitals. This integrated approach is not just more efficient; it is more effective, allowing for a proactive and holistic response to policy challenges rather than a reactive, piecemeal one. The California expansion, therefore, is not just about planting a flag; it is about installing a critical, interconnected node in a national advocacy network.

Navigating the Crowded Corridors of Power

AxAdvocacy's ambitious play comes as California's lobbying industry is more active—and crowded—than ever. In 2024, total lobbying spending in the state surged to a record $540 million, with the number of registered lobbyists climbing to over 3,200. In this hyper-competitive environment, simply having a presence is not enough. Success demands the kind of elite talent and strategic acumen that can cut through the noise.

By recruiting top-tier talent like Devine and Wilson, the firm is making a clear statement that it intends to compete at the highest level. The move is a direct challenge to established Sacramento players, signaling that a new, nationally-backed competitor has arrived with the resources and expertise to attract high-profile clients in the state’s most critical sectors. For businesses and organizations trying to stay ahead of the curve, the emergence of such a well-equipped and strategically integrated firm offers a powerful new option for shaping the policies that will define the coming years.