Marie Sanderson

Senior Partner

Marie Sanderson is currently President and Founding Partner of GuidePostStrategies, a federal strategic communications and public affairs firm; a Partner at 50 State, LLC, a bipartisan, strategic state-based government relations firm; and Founding Principal of Cardinal Group Policy, a policy entity that works with policy makers, think tanks, candidates, and elected officials across the country.

In 2017, in addition to her professional roles, Marie was “Sherpa” for USUN Ambassador Nikki Haley, an unpaid position with the US Presidential Transition, preparing and guiding the current Ambassador for her nomination to be confirmed by the US Senate.

Previously, Marie was Policy Director for the Republican Governors Association (RGA) and the Republican Governors Public Policy Committee (RGPPC), facilitating and advocating for best practices and good policy in both state and federal policy to governors, candidates, their staff, think tanks, Congress, the Administration, and other political organizations.

Before joining the Barbour Administration for six years, Marie served as Director of Federal Policy and policy advisor for Governor Haley Barbour and worked for United States Senator and Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran as a Legislative Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary.

Marie serves on several boards and commissions including the statewide Mississippi Arts Commission Board of Directors and the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi Board of Directors. In 2020, she and her husband, Brian, founded the MS 30 Day Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to Mississippi’s small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of forgivable loans. Brian and Marie have two sons and one daughter.