What AKPD Message & Media does

AKPD Message & Media, doing business as Thematic Campaigns, is a U.S. political consulting firm specializing in Democratic candidates, progressive causes, and ballot-measure campaigns. The firm delivers an integrated suite of professional services spanning message development, creative production (television, web, and radio), media planning and buying, digital advertising, ballot-initiative consulting, and general campaign management. Its client base includes presidential campaigns (Biden 2020, Obama 2012 re-election), congressional and senatorial races, gubernatorial and mayoral contests (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago, Boston), and high-stakes ballot measures (NO on Prop 27 in 2022, YES on Prop 15 in 2020).

The firm operates from four offices — Chicago (headquarters), Washington DC, San Francisco, and Albuquerque — and is partnership-led, with named partners Isaac Baker and Tyler Law heading the firm's California practice and day-to-day engagements. Senior strategic advisors include Larry Grisolano (40 years in Democratic politics and former Director of Paid Media for Obama for America), Brad Elkins (AAPC's 2025 MVP), and Sandra Sanchez (lead consultant on Prop 27). The team draws heavily from alumni of Obama campaigns, DCCC, DNC, and Clinton/Gore/Kerry operations, positioning the firm at the senior end of the Democratic consulting talent pool.

Commercially, the firm earns professional services revenue through consulting fees and production contracts on a per-campaign or retainer basis, with no public pricing, no disclosed revenue, and no external funding. New business is generated almost entirely through referrals from party committees (DCCC, state Democratic parties), incumbent elected officials, and the firm's track record on prior campaigns. The firm has no disclosed technology platform, no patents, no proprietary AI/ML capabilities, and no acquisition or investment history; growth to date has been organic, driven by talent additions and expansion of the campaign portfolio.

Name

AKPD Message & Media

Legal name

AKPD Message & Media

Website

https://akpdmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AKPD Message & Media (Thematic Campaigns) is a four-office Democratic political consulting firm providing message development, creative production, media buying, digital advertising, and campaign management to candidates, ballot measures, and progressive causes across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Political Consulting Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Advertising Agencies (54181), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Other Services Related to Advertising (541890)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Political & Advocacy Advertising (MPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Marketing Strategy & Channel Mix Advisory (MPAAAFAF), Nonprofit & Cause Communications (BPAFADAK)

Keywords

• Political campaign consulting
• Message development services
• Paid media buying
• Creative advertising production
• Ballot measure strategy

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Political Consulting Services: Professional services revenue from providing campaign strategy, message development, creative production, and media buying/placement services to political campaigns, candidates, corporations, and advocacy groups. Revenue is generated through consulting fees and production contracts for political advertising campaigns.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

AKPD Message & Media (d/b/a Thematic Campaigns) is a full-service Democratic political consulting firm that provides message development, creative production, paid media planning and buying, digital advertising, ballot measure strategy, and general campaign consulting to political candidates, ballot measure committees, and select corporate clients. Services are delivered through direct consulting engagements, combining strategic messaging, creative production, and media placement into integrated campaign solutions from strategy through execution.

Product overview

AKPD Message & Media (operating as Thematic Campaigns) is a political campaign consulting firm offering a unified suite of integrated services for Democratic candidates, progressive causes, and advocacy campaigns. The core offerings include Message Development for strategic narrative crafting, Creative Services for producing television and digital content, Media Buying & Placement across traditional and digital channels, Digital Advertising for online engagement, Ballot Initiatives consulting for measure campaigns, and general Campaign Consulting. These services work together as an integrated offering, combining strategic messaging, creative production, and paid media placement to deliver comprehensive campaign solutions from strategy through execution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Message Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Elected more than a dozen members of Congress for clients
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• GMMB: Premier Democratic political media firm producing TV, digital and radio advertising for federal, statewide and ballot measure campaigns; competes head-to-head with Thematic on marquee candidate and cause engagements.
• SKDKnickerbocker: One of the largest Democratic-aligned political consulting and public affairs firms in the U.S., offering integrated advertising, communications and campaign strategy services to Democratic candidates and causes — directly comparable in client base and service scope.
• Hesselbein & Company: Democratic political and public affairs consulting firm led by former DCCC executive, advising candidates, members of Congress and advocacy organizations — comparable in services and target client segments.
• Bully Pulpit Interactive: Democratic digital-first agency combining creative, paid media and data analytics for campaigns and progressive causes; overlaps with Thematic on digital advertising and integrated campaign execution.
• BerlinRosen: Progressive public affairs and strategic communications firm serving Democratic candidates, advocacy organizations and corporate clients; comparable on messaging and earned-media capabilities for political campaigns.
• Precision Strategies: Democratic campaign consulting firm offering message, paid media, and direct mail services to candidates, parties and progressive organizations; competes for the same mid-to-top tier campaign engagements.
• 270 Strategies: Progressive campaign consulting firm with deep ties to the Obama alumni network, providing campaign management, organizing and digital strategy — directly comparable in target clients and services.
• Hilltop Public Solutions: Full-service Democratic political consulting and public affairs firm providing campaign management, message strategy and earned media for candidates and causes — a direct competitor for campaign-level engagements.
• Murphy Putnam Media: Political media consulting firm producing television and digital advertising for Democratic and progressive campaigns; comparable as a creative + media buying specialist competing in the same federal and statewide market.
• Global Strategy Group (GSG): Democratic polling, research and strategic communications firm working with candidates, parties and Fortune 500 clients; comparable as an end-to-end political consultancy serving overlapping client segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/akpd-message-and-media-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AKPD Message & Media