The lobbying profession has long been vilified, far too often associated with corporate influence and backroom deals. At its core, lobbying is simply the act of making voices heard by those in power. But when only certain perspectives are consistently heard, the result isn’t just policy imbalance; it’s inequality codified into law.
As someone who has spent a career believing that public policy should be shaped by the full diversity of the people it affects, I’ve seen firsthand that our democracy is strongest when every community has a seat at the table.
I recently became the president of the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics, a national membership organization representing lobbying, public policy, and government affairs professionals. My life’s work and the work of NILE are rooted in the belief that broadening access to influence broadens access to justice.
Lobbying, when done right, is democracy in action. It’s how communities translate lived experience into legislative impact. At Raben, where I’ve represented a diverse set of clients over the past two decades, I’ve been blessed to work alongside the most talented and dedicated individuals who share a mutual goal: to shift power to communities and people who are often excluded or overlooked.
Through this work I’ve seen the importance of a Black mental health advocate pointing out to federal policymakers the gaps in Medicaid funding for local clinics. Just as valuable was helping Latina entrepreneurs as they push for fair access to small business credits and working alongside American Indian leaders to ensure infrastructure investments respect tribal sovereignty.
For too long, important policy debates have only included the voices of a narrow few. The consequences have shown up across issue areas where I’ve represented certain groups. For example, Latino nonprofit organizations have fought for years to close the digital divide that hinders community economic development and education. Many of these organizations struggle with the financial resources necessary to fund dedicated government affairs staff, which means far fewer resources than corporate telecom interests.
As a founding board member of a Latino environmental justice organization, I’ve seen the organization grow and achieve a level of advocacy success. But the reality is that it lacks the lobbying power to counter well-funded industrial groups, even as the community experiences disproportionate health impacts from uninformed environmental policies.
During my professional lobbying career, I’ve fought hard for diverse representation in Congress, corporate leadership, and media. But representation in advocacy—who gets to inform policymakers before decisions are made—is equally crucial. Policymakers rely on the information they receive. If those inputs come from a narrow group, the outputs will be narrow as well.
That’s why the lobbying profession must evolve. A more inclusive lobbying ecosystem is also more effective. It leads to policies that anticipate more needs, build greater public trust, and actually work. That’s not a partisan statement; it’s a democratic one.
If we truly believe that every voice matters, then we must ensure every community has the means to be heard where decisions are made that impact their lives. That means training and funding advocates from underrepresented backgrounds and celebrating advocacy as a civic duty rather than a privilege.
The question isn’t whether lobbying matters, but whose voices we allow to matter through it.
This article does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc., the publisher of Bloomberg Law, Bloomberg Tax, and Bloomberg Government, or its owners.
Author Information
Larry Gonzalez is founding principal at Raben and was recently named president of the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics.
Write for Us: Author Guidelines
To contact the editors responsible for this story: