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Kamau M. Marshall
Kamau M. Marshall is an American communications strategist and political adviser who has held senior roles in presidential campaigns, the federal government, and municipal government. He served as director of strategic communications for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, later became deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for media and public affairs, served as a senior adviser at the U.S. Department of Education, joined Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign as a senior adviser, and in 2025 served in Mayor Brandon Scott's administration in Baltimore before launching Think TopLines, a strategic communications and public affairs firm.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Early life and education
Marshall is a graduate of Texas Southern University, where he earned a B.A. in broadcast journalism and a Master of Public Administration.[3] The Houston Chronicle reported that at Texas Southern he was active in the School of Communications, student government, the debate team, and the Ocean of Soul Marching Band.[8]
Career
Marshall's early career included work on Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, congressional service with Senator Tom Carper, Representative Al Green, and Representative Elijah E. Cummings, and a communications role at the U.S. Department of Agriculture during the Obama-Biden administration.[3][5][9]
During the 2018 midterm cycle, Marshall worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Campaigns & Elections named him a 2018 Rising Star and identified him as director of African American media and deputy national press secretary.[10]
Marshall joined Joe Biden's presidential campaign in 2019 and served as director of strategic communications through the 2020 election.[3][11][12]
In July 2021, the Office of the United States Trade Representative announced Marshall as deputy assistant U.S. trade representative for media and public affairs.[3] The appointment was also covered by theGrio and Black Enterprise.[11][9]
Bloomberg reported in January 2023 that Marshall moved from USTR to the U.S. Department of Education.[4] ABC News and Good Morning America later reported that he served under Secretary Miguel Cardona, where he worked on the White House initiative on HBCUs, historic HBCU funding, and college affordability.[1][2]
In July 2024, Marshall joined Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign as a senior adviser.[1][2][13]
Baltimore and consulting
In January 2025, Baltimore Brew reported that Mayor Brandon Scott hired Marshall as the mayor's new spokesman and director of communications.[5] In July 2025, the same outlet reported that he departed City Hall after serving as chief of communications and chief strategist.[6]
In November 2025, Fox Baltimore reported that Marshall launched Think TopLines, describing it as a boutique strategic advisory and communications consultancy.[7]
Recognition and media coverage
Marshall was named a 2018 Rising Star by Campaigns & Elections.[10] PRWeek profiled him during the Biden campaign.[12] Forbes included Marshall in a profile of HBCU alumni serving in senior roles on the Biden-Harris campaign, underscoring his visibility in that broader HBCU-linked leadership cohort.[14] His appointments and work have also been covered by outlets including ABC News, Good Morning America, theGrio, Black Enterprise, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Baltimore Brew, and Fox Baltimore.[1][2][11][9][13][5][6][7]
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 ABC News, "Harris campaign taps communications strategist as senior adviser," July 2024, https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/harris-campaign-taps-washington-communications-strategist-senior-adviser/story?id=112199966. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Good Morning America, "Harris campaign taps Washington communications strategist as senior adviser," July 2024, https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/amp/news/story/harris-campaign-taps-washington-communications-strategist-senior-adviser-112199966. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Office of the United States Trade Representative, "USTR Welcomes New Staff Members to the Front Office," July 22, 2021, https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2021/july/ustr-welcomes-new-staff-members-front-office. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bloomberg, "Former Biden Spokesman Marshall Moving to Education Department from USTR," January 4, 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-04/former-biden-spokesman-marshall-moving-to-education-department-from-ustr. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Baltimore Brew, "EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Kamala Harris campaign aide becomes Mayor Scott’s new spokesman," January 7, 2025, https://baltimorebrew.com/2025/01/07/exclusive-ex-kamala-harris-campaign-aide-becomes-mayor-scotts-new-spokesman/. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Baltimore Brew, "Mayor Scott’s chief spokesman steps down after six months on the job," July 7, 2025, https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2025/07/07/mayor-scotts-communication-spokesman-fired-after-six-months-on-the-job/. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Fox Baltimore, "Baltimore mayor’s ex-communications director launches political consulting firm," November 13, 2025, https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/baltimore-mayor-ex-communications-director-launches-political-consulting-firm. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Houston Chronicle, "Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Rep. Kamau Marshall credits Texas Southern University for providing foundations of success," June 13, 2022, https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/bellaire/article/U-S-Trade-Rep-Kamau-Marshall-credits-Texas-17234762.php. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Black Enterprise, "President Biden’s Former Director Of Strategic Communications, Kamau Marshall, Is Tapped As Deputy Assistant At USTR," July 20, 2021, https://www.blackenterprise.com/president-bidens-former-director-of-strategic-communications-kamau-marshall-is-tapped-as-deputy-assistant-at-ustr/. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Campaigns & Elections, "2018 Rising Stars," 2018, https://campaignsandelections.com/awards/rising-stars/2018-rising-stars/. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 theGrio, "Kamau Marshall on joining Biden administration as deputy assistant USTR for media and public affairs," July 16, 2021, https://thegrio.com/2021/07/16/kamau-marshall-biden-deputy-assistant-ustr-media-public-affairs/. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 PRWeek, "Around the office with... Biden for President's Kamau Marshall," October 2, 2019, https://www.prweek.com/article/1660771/around-office-withbiden-presidents-kamau-marshall. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "Kamala Harris pressed for a debate with Donald Trump during her Atlanta rally," August 2, 2024, https://www.ajc.com/politics/kamala-harris-pressed-for-a-debate-with-donald-trump-during-her-atlanta-rally/22N3HRRSQRFJHKGLFYWJIMJ6CE/. Accessed March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Forbes, "Meet The HBCU Alums On The Biden-Harris Campaign," September 23, 2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/briannegarrett/2020/09/23/meet-the-hbcu-alums-on-the-biden-harris-campaign/. Accessed March 10, 2026.