FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2025
Contact: Derek Jansen | [email protected]
Sacramento, CA – Mercury Public Affairs, a leading bipartisan public strategy firm, announced today that Steve Burns has rejoined the firm as Partner, based in Sacramento. Burns brings more than three decades of experience in political strategy, government affairs, communications, and campaign leadership, and is widely recognized as a trusted policy strategist in California.
“Steve is one of Sacramento’s most respected strategists, and we are all thrilled to welcome him back to lead our operations there,” said Kieran Mahoney, CEO of Mercury. “His years of California experience—combined with his leadership on national campaigns and his Washington, D.C. expertise—bring important perspective and strength to our growing team in California led by our partner in Los Angeles, Veronica Perez.”
Burns previously joined Mercury in 2019 following nearly six years at Burson-Marsteller, where he led the firm’s West Coast crisis and public affairs practice. He also held senior positions with two Fortune 10 energy companies, including leading Chevron’s Sacramento office and state government affairs operations across the country. Earlier in his career, he served as staff to the Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee and spent nearly a decade advancing Asia-Pacific trade and development goals with international policy organizations.
“Mercury has established itself as one of the top public affairs firms in the nation, and I’m looking forward to growing our presence in Sacramento and across California,” said Mercury Partner Steve Burns. “We have a tremendous opportunity here in California, and nationally, to provide the best strategic counsel for our clients and to continue to grow our business.”
Burns has lived in California for more than 20 years and is a well-known advocate in the state’s business community. He is recognized for his expertise in building coalitions, leading legislative and regulatory teams, and leveraging modern communication strategies to advance clients’ most critical objectives.
About Mercury
Mercury is a high-stakes, bipartisan public strategy firm. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services that includes federal government relations, international affairs, digital influence, public opinion research, media strategy and a bipartisan grassroots mobilization network in all 50 states. The firm has 14 offices throughout the nation. Mercury is a part of the Omnicom Public Relations Group. Learn more at mercuryllc.com.
About Omnicom PR Group (OPRG)
Omnicom PR Group (OPRG) is the largest global network of communications and consulting agencies in the world. It is home to three of the top global PR agencies FleishmanHillard, Ketchum, Porter Novelli and more than a dozen specialist agencies in corporate and public affairs, political consulting and advertising, language strategy, global health strategy and organizational transformation. OPRG is part of Omnicom (NYSE: OMC).
