WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 29, 2026 — Cornerstone Government Affairs, an employee-owned, bipartisan government relations, public affairs and consulting firm, today announced that Saif Ratul will join the firm’s Maryland office as Principal on October 15. Ratul brings vast relationships across the State House and key agencies, as well as experience advancing state policy and managing Democratic campaigns.
“Serving the people of Maryland has been the honor of my career, and I am grateful to Governor Moore and Lieutenant Governor Miller for the opportunity,” Ratul said. “Cornerstone’s bipartisan approach, team culture and deep Maryland roots make it the right place to keep delivering for the state. I look forward to joining the team and helping our clients turn their priorities into results for Maryland families.”
Ratul most recently served as Deputy Legislative Officer to Governor Wes Moore, managing a portfolio that included energy, environment, transportation and emergency management. Across four consecutive General Assembly sessions, he helped advance the governor’s legislative agenda, build bipartisan coalitions and deliver ratepayer relief, environmental restoration and faster infrastructure permitting.
In addition, Ratul served as the primary liaison to 13 state agencies and their multi-billion-dollar budgets, aligning agency policy, regulatory and appropriations priorities and helping secure the passage of top legislative priorities. His work included securing nearly $500 million in revenue for Maryland Department of Transportation.
Ratul previously served as coordinated campaign director for the Maryland Democratic Party, leading what the party described as the most successful coordinated campaign program in modern Maryland history. The campaign helped elect the state’s first Black Governor, first immigrant Lieutenant Governor, first Black Attorney General and first woman Comptroller. Ratul also raised and managed a $1.78 million budget, securing contributions from campaign partners, unions and outside organizations.
Ratul’s campaign experience also includes serving as the Director of Political Engagement for Wes Moore for Maryland during his 2021 gubernatorial campaign. In 2020, he worked as Maryland’s State Organizing Director Biden for President, driving volunteer support and voter turnout. Ratul also worked on Phil Ehr’s congressional bid and Amy Klobuchar’s presidential campaign.
“Saif’s experience building bipartisan coalitions, managing complex agency relationships and delivering results across the energy, environment and transportation sectors will be a tremendous asset to our clients,” Cornerstone President Campbell Kaufman said. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the team as we continue expanding our capabilities across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region.”
Cornerstone’s Annapolis office opened in 2015, and includes former elected officials in the Maryland legislature, former staff from personal, leadership and executive branch offices, as well as former senior professionals from congressional authorizing and appropriations committees.
Learn more about Cornerstone’s Maryland office by visiting https://cgagroup.com/offices/maryland-government-affairs/
About Cornerstone
Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc. is a bipartisan, employee-owned, public affairs firm with more than 225 professionals serving clients from coast to coast. Through its federal and state government relations; strategic communications; political action committees; grant consulting and advisory services, Cornerstone represents a diverse group of clients from myriad industries and sectors and maintains expertise in a wide range of issue areas, including agriculture, cyber security, defense, education, energy, health, homeland security, international affairs, tax policy, telecommunications and transportation and infrastructure.
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