Led by partners Jason Ralston and John Lapp, we’ve been battle-tested in some of the toughest races across the country while helping Democrats re-take control of Congress and win the presidency.
Jason Ralston
Ralston Lapp Media partner Jason Ralston brings extensive experience in advertising and media strategy, political and issue campaign management, speechwriting, and message development. A veteran of electoral and issue campaigns, Ralston knows how to manage crises and develop long-term media strategies that get results.
Ralston was a senior member of the 2008 Obama Media Team, an all-star collection of Democratic media consultants led by David Axelrod and Jim Margolis. The Washington Post called Ralston “one of Obama’s lead admakers.” Ralston has also helped develop media campaigns for a broad range of elected officials, including: Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and John Kerry (D-MA.); Governors Bob Wise (D-WV), Christine Gregoire (D-WA) and Jim McGreevey (D-NJ); and Representatives Ben Chandler (D-KY), Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), and Tim Walz (D-MN). In 2006 and 2008 he was a chief media consultant for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Independent Expenditure effort, helping Democrats take back the House of Representatives and strengthen their majority.
Ralston has worked with a coalition of progressive organizations to defeat Social Security privatization. He has produced independent expenditure campaigns for the Democratic National Committee; Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee; and state parties in Colorado, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina and Washington.
Ralston has used his campaign experience to help many organizations solve communications challenges. He provided strategic advice and produced award-winning advertising for the AARP, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, League of Conservation Voters, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and the New Jersey and Washington departments of health.
Before co-founding Ralston Lapp media, Ralston was a partner at the media consulting firm, GMMB. He also served as communications advisor to Governor Jim Hunt (D-N.C.) and Lt. Governor Nick Theodore (D-S.C.). A native of upstate New York, Ralston is a graduate of Vassar College. He lives in Bethesda, Maryland with his wife, Kial and daughters, Charlotte and Louisa.
John Lapp
Ralston Lapp Media partner John Lapp has worked on the front lines of Democratic politics for over a decade and was one of the primary architects behind the strategy to retake Congress for Democrats. He’s directed and produced creative advertising for candidates and organizations at every level, including the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Congressmen John Hall (D-NY), David Loebsack (D-IA), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), and Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX). In 2008, Lapp was one of the chief media consultants for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, helping them strengthen their majority, which added over 20 new Democrats to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Lapp has also used his campaign experience to help health care, labor, and progressive organizations with issue and independent advocacy campaigns, including those on behalf of the SEIU, which helped take back Democratic control of the New York State Senate.
Before co-founding Ralston Lapp Media, Lapp was a partner at the firm McMahon Squier Lapp and Associates. In addition to his work in media consulting, Lapp’s political experience includes the direct management of campaigns and political communications.
Lapp served as Executive Director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee under former Congressman Rahm Emanuel, and later, Independent Expenditure Director for the Committee. For the first time since 1994, Lapp helped deliver a Democratic majority to Congress and without sacrificing a single Democratic incumbent – something not achieved since 1922. The Washington Post called Lapp, “one of the principal architects of the Democrats’ takeover of the House in 2006.”
Lapp oversaw the re-election of Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and headed the Iowa presidential campaign of Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt. Lapp pulled off against-all-odds victories in the open seat races of Ken Lucas in rural Kentucky and Steve Israel in suburban New York. Lapp went on to serve as their chiefs of staff. Lapp is a graduate of the University of Virginia, with an MPA from George Washington University. He lives in Falls Church, Virginia with his wife, Alixandria and sons Truman and Thomas.