Gale Kaufman

Known for her expertise in the strategy and structure of political campaigns throughout California, Gale Kaufman has led some of the state's most significant and successful candidate and issue-based initiative campaigns.

In March 2006, Kaufman was awarded the coveted "National Campaign Manager of the Year" by the American Association of Political Consultants for leading the coalition that defeated all four of Governor Schwarzenegger's Special Election Initiatives last Fall.

Opening her firm, Kaufman Campaign Consultants, in 1987, Gale Kaufman has a well-earned reputation as one of the leading Democratic campaign consultants in the state.

Described in the Los Angeles Times by activist/actor Warren Beatty as "silver-tongued," Gale Kaufman is on just about every political reporter's speed-dial for times when they need a sharp-witted, insightful quote on California politics. Her comments about Governor Schwarzenegger appear regularly in newspapers across the state and nationally.

Kaufman has served as lead consultant for over 70 Congressional, California State Senate and Assembly campaigns, as well as numerous municipal and local measures, issue advocacy campaigns and statewide ballot initiatives. She also served as Senior Consultant to the Bill Bradley for President Campaign.

Kaufman currently serves as the lead consultant for the Alliance for a Better California, a coalition of 2.5 million firefighters, nurses, teachers and police officers who overwhelmingly defeated Governor Schwarzenegger's Special Election agenda. After the election, profiles of Kaufman and her efforts appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Sacramento Bee and the California Journal.

Kaufman also serves as Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez's consultant. In the 2004 election cycle, Kaufman directed efforts for the Assembly Democrats, helping to secure Democratic victories in every targeted race in the state of California. Her successful efforts were featured in a California Journal profile of Kaufman.

Kaufman has maintained an on-going consultant relationship with labor and business organizations as diverse as the California Teachers Association, the Service Employees International Union and the California Chamber of Commerce.

Whether local or statewide, Kaufman handles all strategic and tactical aspects of a campaign, including structuring the campaign, developing message and polling, coalition building and overseeing the day-to-day operations. She also oversees and implements both the paid and earned media for every campaign.

As lead consultant on the No on Proposition 226 Campaign, (Californians to Protect Employees' Rights, 1998), Kaufman surprised political pundits from around the country with an upset victory. She also led the statewide initiative No on Proposition 38, (No on Vouchers, 2000) bringing in a resounding victory for the campaign by defeating the initiative. In November 2002, Kaufman ran the successful Jack O'Connell for State Superintendent of Public Instruction campaign.

She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Norcal Waste Systems, Inc.

She lives in Sacramento with her husband Steve Murakami and her sons, David Kaufman (14), and Michael (14) and Sean (12) Murakami.

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