AKPD Message and Media
An American political consulting firm specializing in campaign communications, media strategy, and political advertising.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
AKPD Message and Media is an American political and media consulting firm serving Democratic candidates, political campaigns, and related causes. Its work centers on the development of campaign messages, strategic communications, media planning, advertising, and related voter-outreach activity. Rather than selling consumer products, the firm provides specialized professional services to political clients whose success depends on positioning candidates, explaining policy agendas, shaping public narratives, and reaching targeted electorates through paid and earned media. The business was formerly known as Axelrod and Associates. Its later name reflects the initials of its four original partners: David Axelrod, John Kupper, David Plouffe, and John Del Cecato. All four partners had roles in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Plouffe was the campaign manager, Axelrod served as a senior strategist, and Del Cecato worked as a media adviser. The firm's association with Obama's political operation helped establish its public profile and linked it to a campaign model emphasizing disciplined message development, integrated media, and sophisticated voter targeting. Axelrod's subsequent government service changed the firm's ownership structure. After Obama became president, Axelrod left AKPD to become a senior adviser in the Obama administration. He sold the firm to John Kupper, John Del Cecato, and Larry Grisolano. This transition separated Axelrod's political consulting business from his White House role while preserving the firm's connection to the communications network that had supported Obama's campaigns. AKPD has advised clients in municipal, state, federal, and international elections. Publicly identified clients include Obama in the 2008 and 2012 United States presidential elections; Bill de Blasio in the 2013 New York City mayoral election; Rahm Emanuel in the 2011 Chicago mayoral election; Deval Patrick in the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial election; John Edwards in his 2004 presidential campaign; Herb Kohl in the 2006 Wisconsin Senate election; Paul Simon during the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries; Yulia Tymoshenko in the 2010 Ukrainian presidential election; and Francisco de Narváez and Republican Proposal in Argentina's 2009 legislative election. The firm's advertising and strategic work has received substantial attention in election coverage. Its advertisement "Dante," produced for Bill de Blasio's New York City mayoral campaign, was prominently credited by Time with helping define the race and was described as an advertisement that contributed to de Blasio's victory. Such recognition illustrates AKPD's positioning as a high-impact political communications shop whose creative work can become part of the broader political narrative. AKPD has maintained offices in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York. It has also expanded its New York presence through partnerships involving Bully Pulpit Interactive and Analytics Media Group. OpenSecrets ranked AKPD as the 37th-largest campaign vendor of the 2018 election cycle, reporting nearly $23.3 million in payments from federal campaigns and political committees. That figure describes reported campaign-vendor receipts for the specified cycle, not annual corporate revenue or current sales. Public information does not reliably establish the firm's exact founding year, current executive roster, present ownership, or current operating status.
History
AKPD Message and Media developed from a political consulting partnership originally known as Axelrod and Associates. The firm was named AKPD after its four original partners: David Axelrod, John Kupper, David Plouffe, and John Del Cecato. Their backgrounds were closely connected to Democratic campaign communications, and all four worked on Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Plouffe was campaign manager, Axelrod was a senior strategist, and Del Cecato was a media adviser. This experience shaped the firm's focus on coordinated message development, campaign advertising, and media strategy. The firm's public identity became particularly associated with Obama's political operation. It later worked for Obama during both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, contributing to the communications and advertising infrastructure surrounding those campaigns. AKPD's broader client list has included candidates in mayoral, gubernatorial, senatorial, presidential-primary, and international elections. Its identified clients include Rahm Emanuel in Chicago, Deval Patrick in Massachusetts, Bill de Blasio in New York City, John Edwards, Herb Kohl, Paul Simon, Yulia Tymoshenko, and candidates associated with Argentina's Republican Proposal. A significant organizational change followed Axelrod's appointment as a senior adviser in the Obama administration. Axelrod left the firm for government service and sold it to John Kupper, John Del Cecato, and Larry Grisolano. The transaction marked a shift away from Axelrod's direct ownership while retaining experienced political and media professionals in the firm's leadership and ownership structure. AKPD's work has attracted attention not only because of its clients but also because of the perceived electoral effect of its advertising. The advertisement "Dante," made for Bill de Blasio's 2013 New York City mayoral campaign, received especially prominent recognition. Time characterized it as an advertisement that helped win the mayoral race, reflecting the firm's reputation for using emotionally direct and strategically focused political creative. The firm has operated from Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York. It has also pursued a larger New York presence through relationships with Bully Pulpit Interactive and Analytics Media Group. In campaign-finance reporting, OpenSecrets placed AKPD 37th among campaign vendors during the 2018 election cycle, with nearly $23.3 million in reported payments from federal campaigns and political committees. Public references do not provide a reliable exact founding year or a complete current account of its ownership, management, clients, or operating status.
- 2018
Campaign-vendor ranking
[1]OpenSecrets ranked AKPD 37th among campaign vendors in the 2018 election cycle, with nearly $23.3 million in reported payments from federal campaigns and political committees.
- 2013
Bill de Blasio mayoral campaign
[1]AKPD provided advertising and strategy for Bill de Blasio's successful New York City mayoral campaign, including the widely discussed advertisement "Dante."
- 2008
Partners work on Obama's presidential campaign
[1]David Axelrod, David Plouffe, and John Del Cecato held senior communications or management roles in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, helping establish the firm's public political profile.
Formation as Axelrod and Associates
[1]The political consulting business was originally known as Axelrod and Associates before adopting the AKPD name associated with its four original partners.
Axelrod leaves for the Obama administration
[1]David Axelrod left AKPD to become a senior adviser to President Obama and sold the firm to John Kupper, John Del Cecato, and Larry Grisolano.
Products and positioning
A high-impact political communications and media consultancy for Democratic candidates, campaigns, and aligned causes.
Professional services
Political consulting
Strategic advice for candidates, campaigns, and political organizations. The service may encompass campaign positioning, political narrative development, audience definition, communications planning, and advice on how to present candidates or causes in competitive elections.
Political communications
Campaign communications
Development and coordination of campaign messages across political advertising and other voter-facing channels. This offering is intended to create a consistent explanation of a candidate's identity, priorities, contrasts, and case for election.
Media consulting
Media strategy and advertising
Planning and advising on political media campaigns, including the use of paid advertising to reach target voters. The firm's work has included campaign creative associated with municipal, state, national, and international elections.
Marketing campaigns
- 2013Bill de Blasio mayoral campaign
United States
AKPD supplied advertising and strategic services to Bill de Blasio's New York City mayoral campaign. Its "Dante" advertisement became one of the most discussed pieces of the campaign.
Outcome. De Blasio won the New York City mayoral election.
- 2012Barack Obama presidential campaign
United States
AKPD is listed as a consultant for Barack Obama's 2012 presidential reelection campaign.
- 2011Rahm Emanuel mayoral campaign
United States
AKPD advised Rahm Emanuel during the 2011 Chicago mayoral election.
- 2010Deval Patrick gubernatorial campaign
United States
AKPD provided services for Deval Patrick during the 2010 Massachusetts gubernatorial election.
- 2010Yulia Tymoshenko presidential campaign
Ukraine
The firm is identified as having worked for Yulia Tymoshenko during Ukraine's 2010 presidential election.
- 2009Argentine legislative election
Argentina
The firm worked for Francisco de Narváez and Republican Proposal during Argentina's 2009 legislative election.
- 2008Barack Obama presidential campaign
United States
AKPD's founding partners were closely involved in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, and the firm is identified as having worked for Obama during the election.
- 2006Herb Kohl Senate campaign
United States
The firm is listed among the political consultants for Herb Kohl's 2006 United States Senate election campaign in Wisconsin.
- 2004John Edwards presidential campaign
United States
AKPD is identified as having worked for John Edwards during his 2004 presidential campaign.
- Paul M. Simon presidential primary campaign
United States
The firm is listed in connection with Paul M. Simon during the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries.
Brand decisions
- Transition from Axelrod and Associates to AKPD Message and MediaStrategy
Background
The firm was established under the name Axelrod and Associates and later adopted a name based on its four original partners.
Action taken
It operated under the AKPD Message and Media identity, reflecting the partnership of Axelrod, Kupper, Plouffe, and Del Cecato.
Aftermath
The renamed firm became associated with Democratic campaign communications and the political work of its founding partners.
- Axelrod sells the firm after joining the Obama administrationM&A
Background
David Axelrod left the consulting firm to become a senior adviser to President Obama.
Action taken
Axelrod sold AKPD to John Kupper, John Del Cecato, and Larry Grisolano.
Aftermath
Ownership shifted away from Axelrod while the firm continued operating under experienced political consultants.
Sources1 sources
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