Why Benchmarking Matters in 2025
The pace and pressure of public affairs work have never been higher. Teams face not only legislative overload and political volatility, but also rising expectations to prove value, build influence, and act strategically. But what does “strategic” actually look like today — and how can you tell where your team stands?
Quorum’s 2025 State of Government Affairs survey, based on input from over 200 professionals across sectors, provides a data-driven snapshot of what public affairs teams are doing, struggling with, and planning for next. This blog goes a step further: helping you benchmark your own program against these insights and identify concrete areas for growth.
Political Polarization Is Up — But So Is Program Sophistication
This year, more than 75% of respondents cited political polarization as a major challenge, an increase of 12 points from 2024. And 69% said the 2024 election made their work harder, confirming what many already feel: public affairs today means working through complexity, not around it.
Yet amidst this turbulence, 44.9% of teams now describe their programs as strategic, up from just 37% last year. This matters. It signals that even in difficult environments, public affairs professionals are leveling up: adopting tools, refining processes, and thinking proactively.
Reflection Prompt:
Does your team operate with a clear strategy across all functions — lobbying, grassroots, stakeholder engagement — and do you regularly assess outcomes?
AI Adoption Has Tipped Into the Mainstream
AI in public affairs is no longer experimental. This year, 53.8% of respondents reported using artificial intelligence in their work, a 17-point increase in just one year.
Teams are:
- Using Quorum Copilot to analyze legislation and summarize hearings
- Supplementing human research with generative tools like ChatGPT
- Drafting communications with AI support
But it’s not all enthusiasm. About 27% said they feel “cautious and unsure,” with open-ended feedback pointing to concerns around data accuracy and trustworthiness.
Benchmark Insight:
If you haven’t adopted AI yet, you’re now in the minority. But adoption is only part of the story. Sophisticated teams are focusing on responsible implementation — choosing AI use cases that amplify, rather than replace, human judgment.
State Advocacy Is Dominating Strategy in 2025
While federal advocacy remains strong (69.2% of teams target it), state legislatures are now the top focus area for 75% of respondents. And the advocacy goals have shifted:
- 63.5% are focused on explaining why their issues matter
- 51.9% are prioritizing brand-building with lawmakers
- Just 7.7% are running GOTV campaigns, down from 27% in 2024
This signals a turn away from campaign-style bursts and toward long-term, issue-centered engagement.
Benchmark Insight:
Not every team needs to pivot — issue areas differ, and some policy battles remain firmly federal. But if your 2025 strategy still looks like a continuation of your 2024 election-year playbook, it’s worth reevaluating. This year, teams are prioritizing education over mobilization and statehouses over campaign-style engagement. Regardless of focus area, the benchmark is clear: programs that lead in 2025 are those deepening relationships and clearly articulating why their issues matter.
In-Person and Direct Outreach Reclaim the Spotlight
After several years of digital dominance, in-person meetings have reemerged as the top advocacy tactic. This year, 91.9% of respondents said face-to-face engagement was the most effective way to influence policymakers — up sharply from 69% in 2024.
When it comes to advocate mobilization:
- Email remains the workhorse (71.8%)
- Phone campaigns are on the rise (29%)
- Only 15% of teams are sending more than one email per week. Pointing to a trend toward lower-volume, higher-value communication
Benchmark Insight:
If your outreach strategy still leans on weekly blasts or low-personalization tactics, it may be time to retool. The most effective programs are blending consistency with selectivity — focusing on deeper, more targeted engagement.
Small Teams, Big Strategy: Operational Pressure Isn’t an Excuse
Many teams reported being understaffed (36.9%) or underfunded (25%), yet nearly half still self-classified as strategic. That’s because maturity isn’t about team size — it’s about clarity, coordination, and tool use.
41% of survey respondents work on teams of just 2–5 people. The takeaway? It’s possible to run a high-impact, well-aligned program without a large headcount, especially when leveraging automation, collaboration platforms, and integrated stakeholder tracking.
Benchmark Insight:
Don’t equate limited resources with limited effectiveness. Ask instead: Are we using the right tools to scale our strategy?
Your Self-Assessment Starts Here
To help you benchmark your team, here are a few key questions drawn from the survey insights and Quorum’s Public Affairs Maturity Model:
- Are we integrating lobbying, grassroots, and stakeholder engagement into a single strategy?
- Do we use technology to centralize information and eliminate silos?
- Are we adapting our outreach channels based on what’s proven to work?
- Have we defined our “north star” for why our issues matter — and can we communicate that quickly?
- Are we equipping our team with AI responsibly, not just reactively?
To go deeper, we recommend taking the Public Affairs Maturity Quiz — a short diagnostic to help you identify your program’s strengths and opportunities for growth.
Conclusion: Benchmark, Reflect, and Advance
In 2025, success in government affairs isn’t about shouting louder, it’s about thinking sharper. Quorum’s latest data shows that sophisticated, focused, and integrated programs are rising to meet unprecedented challenges.
Use this moment to reflect: Where is your team aligned with national benchmarks, and where can you level up?
You don’t have to navigate it alone. Quorum’s platform and community are here to help.