Kirsten West

Principal
Washington, DC

Kirsten West

Principal
Washington, DC

Quick Facts

  • Decade of Capitol Hill experience
  • Served as communications director for Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and deputy chief of staff for Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
  • Extensive experience leading messaging efforts on legislative priorities, providing strategic political counsel, and executing communication plans

Kirsten's Bio

Kirsten brings valuable experience to the Cornerstone team after serving for a decade on Capitol Hill and working for high-profile members of Congress with politically challenging states and districts. As a principal on the Public Affairs team, she utilizes her extensive strategic communications experience to help our clients achieve their goals.

Kirsten was previously deputy chief of staff to Rep. Underwood (D-IL). During her time there, she was the congresswoman’s national spokesperson, and oversaw communications including creation of press releases, speeches, media events, interviews, social media, email campaigns, mailers and paid advertisements. She created a multi-faceted and aggressive communications operation for Rep. Underwood as a new member of Congress, and carried a tailored brand through digital, earned, and paid media to establish one of the largest followings of the freshman class of the 116th Congress.

Prior to her time with Rep. Underwood, Kirsten was the communications director for Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN). In this role, Kirsten managed a four-member press team where she built strong, targeted media relationships and wrote press releases, op-eds, memos, debate preparation books, and talking points. She provided political counsel for the senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee through two controversial Supreme Court nominations.

She has pitched, booked, and prepared members of Congress for major interviews with outlets including Meet the Press, The Daily Show, New York Times, Fox News Sunday, CBS This Morning, Harper’s Baazar, The Washington Post and many more.

Kirsten is a native of West Des Moines, Iowa and currently resides in Washington, DC.

Services

Education

BJ, BA, University of Missouri