Matt Schlapp

Matt Schlapp
Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Matthew Schlapp
Birth date	July 27, 1967
Birth place	Wichita, Kansas
Occupation	Political consultant, lobbyist, activist
Years active	1990s–present
Party	Republican Party
Spouse	Mercedes Schlapp

Matt Schlapp is an American conservative political strategist, activist, and lobbyist who has been influential within Republican circles since the 1990s. He has served in campaign and administration roles, led conservative advocacy organizations, and operated a Washington-based lobbying practice. Schlapp's career intersects with a range of prominent Republican figures, think tanks, advocacy groups, and political institutions.

Early life and education

Schlapp was born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised in Kansas and Texas, attending local schools before enrolling at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts. During his university years he became involved with conservative student organizations and connected with peers who later entered Republican politics and conservative media. After graduation he moved into Republican campaign work and policy circles in both Texas and Washington, D.C..

Political career

Schlapp began his political career working on Republican campaigns and in state-level Republican apparatuses, developing relationships with leaders in the Republican Party, state governors, and congressional offices. He served as a political adviser to members of the United States House of Representatives and worked on issue advocacy linked to GOP priorities during the administrations of George W. Bush and subsequent Republican leaders. Schlapp later served as an aide in the George W. Bush administration and as a senior advisor to conservative campaigns and political action committees, engaging with entities such as the National Republican Congressional Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and state Republican committees. Over time he became a frequent commentator on cable networks and appeared in print coverage alongside journalists and columnists from outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fox News personalities.

American Conservative Union and lobbying

In the 2010s Schlapp became chairman of the American Conservative Union, the organization best known for hosting the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Under his leadership CPAC expanded its national and international profile, drawing Republican politicians, conservative intellectuals, and allied organizations, including think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, and advocacy groups such as the Club for Growth and FreedomWorks. Concurrently Schlapp founded a lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. that represented corporate and political clients, coordinating with firms and coalitions engaged in advocacy around legislation and regulation, and interacting with members of Congress including senators and representatives across the Republican conference. His work placed him in contact with notable Republican figures, including Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy, and policy influencers from conservative networks.

Controversies and investigations

Schlapp's public role has drawn scrutiny over political tactics, fundraising practices, and allegations connected to personnel and organizational governance. As chairman of the American Conservative Union, he faced criticism from dissident conservative activists and commentators over event decisions and speaker selections at CPAC, including disputes involving conservative media personalities and elected officials. Lobbying work conducted through his firm prompted questions about representation and access involving corporate clients and federal officials; such practices are frequently examined in investigative reporting by outlets like The New York Times and Reuters. Schlapp has also been named in reports and inquiries related to workplace conduct and allegations raised by former associates; these matters have been the subject of reporting in The Washington Post, Politico, and national broadcast coverage on CNN and MSNBC. Investigations and civil complaints have led to internal reviews by organizations tied to CPAC and the ACU, and prompted statements and responses from allied Republican lawmakers and conservative leaders such as Ronna McDaniel, Laura Ingraham, and Sean Hannity.

Personal life and affiliations

Schlapp is married to Mercedes Schlapp, who served in the Donald Trump administration as White House Director of Strategic Communications and previously worked in Republican politics and media. The couple is active in conservative social and political networks, maintaining ties to donors, advocacy groups, and religiously affiliated organizations, and connecting with figures from Evangelicalism-aligned communities and policy circles such as the Family Research Council and Faith and Freedom Coalition. Schlapp has participated in speaking engagements at universities, conservative conferences, and policy forums alongside scholars and public intellectuals from institutions including the American Enterprise Institute, the Cato Institute, and the Hoover Institution. He has appeared on panels with former elected officials, campaign operatives, and journalists, and his public activities continue to intersect with ongoing conservative political movements, Republican campaign cycles, and national debates involving prominent politicians and advocacy groups.

Category:1967 births Category:American lobbyists Category:American political consultants Category:People from Wichita, Kansas