About us
56 Capitals was founded to fill a gap in the government relations industry: the ability to navigate policy across all 56 U.S. jurisdictions with the same level of strategic insight and access on the ground.
Most firms specialize in federal lobbying alone or operate in a single state or region. We do both. Our expertise lies at the intersection where state, federal, and local policies collide, overlap, and sometimes contradict each other. We help clients cut through that complexity with clarity and precision.
Our approach is straightforward: understand the landscape, activate the right relationships, and deliver outcomes. We don't rely on ideology or empty promises. We rely on decades of experience working with governors, state legislators, federal agencies, and local officials across the political spectrum.
We are bipartisan by design and strategic by necessity. Our clients don't hire us to take sides. They hire us to get results. Whether that means shaping legislation, building coalitions, or managing a crisis that spans multiple jurisdictions, we bring the network and expertise to make it happen.
Founded by the former chief lobbyist of the National Governors Association, 56 Capitals offers something rare in this industry: real presence and proven relationships in every state, territory, and the District of Columbia. That's not a tagline. It's our foundation.
David Quam
Founder & President
David Quam brings more than 30 years of government relations experience to 56 Capitals, with a career built on navigating the most complex intersections of state and federal policy.
Before founding 56 Capitals in 2022, David served as chief lobbyist and later Deputy Executive Director of the National Governors Association (NGA), where he spent over a decade representing governors on federal policy and building relationships across all 50 states. His work at NGA gave him unparalleled insight into how state and federal governments interact and how to advocate effectively at both levels simultaneously.
David's career also includes senior roles at Dentons and Nelson Mullins, where he advised national associations, corporations, and coalitions on multistate strategy and federal advocacy. Earlier in his career, he served as Majority Counsel for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights, and worked in private practice on international trade and regulatory matters.
A licensed attorney with deep expertise in federalism, intergovernmental relations, and legislative strategy, David founded 56 Capitals to offer clients what he learned over three decades: that the best government relations work happens when you understand not just one jurisdiction, but how all of them fit together.
