Lawyer Marc Elias
Name: Marc Erik Elias
Current Role: Firm Chair, Elias Law Group (founded 2021)
Born: February 1, 1969, New York City, New York
Party Affiliation: Democratic Party
Career Overview
Marc Elias is a leading Democratic elections attorney known for his extensive litigation work on voting rights, campaign finance, and redistricting. He is the founder and chair of Elias Law Group, a mission-driven firm established in 2021 to support Democratic and progressive clients in protecting voting access and defending election integrity.
Elias has served as general counsel to multiple presidential campaigns, including those of John Kerry (2004), Hillary Clinton (2016), Kamala Harris (2020 and 2024), and advised the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee during the 2020 post-election legal battles.
His firm represents major Democratic entities, such as the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and numerous members of Congress. In 2024, Forbes named Elias among “America’s Top 200 Lawyers.”
Law Firm Experience and Public Service
Before founding Elias Law Group, Elias led the political law practice at Perkins Coie, where he built one of the nation’s largest election law teams. His clients included national Democratic committees and major political figures across both chambers of Congress.
He has testified before the U.S. Congress and the Federal Election Commission on campaign finance and election law. Elias also established Democracy Docket in 2020, a digital platform providing legal analysis and updates on voting rights litigation nationwide.
Major Cases and Actions
Elias has handled hundreds of voting rights and redistricting cases, arguing and winning four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and dozens before federal appellate and state supreme courts.
-
2020 Post-Election Litigation: As lead attorney for the Biden campaign, Elias and his team defended the 2020 presidential election results, prevailing in 64 of 65 court challenges brought by former President Donald Trump and his allies.
-
Al Franken Recount (2008): Served as lead counsel for Senator Al Franken during Minnesota’s Senate recount, the longest in U.S. history.
-
Voting Rights Lawsuits (2021–present): Filed numerous suits challenging restrictive voting laws enacted by Republican-led legislatures.
-
Ohio Foreign Spending Case (2024): Led a lawsuit challenging an Ohio law barring foreign nationals from contributing to ballot measure campaigns, citing free speech and constitutional grounds.
In 2025, Elias and his firm were named in a Trump administration memorandum targeting lawyers who brought litigation against federal actions. Legal groups across the country criticized the memorandum as an attempt to intimidate attorneys engaged in public interest and electoral cases. Elias responded publicly, affirming that his firm “will not be deterred from fighting for democracy in court.”
Publications
Marc Elias has written extensively on campaign finance and election law. Notable works include:
-
“After McCutcheon” (Harvard Law Review) – analyzing the impact of McCutcheon v. FEC on campaign finance.
-
“Political Regulation: Justified Reform or a Burden on Free Speech” (Administrative Law Review, 2004) – exploring the effects of regulatory changes on political expression.
-
“Even Judges Can’t Follow Campaign Finance Laws” (2005) – discussing the complexity and ambiguity of campaign finance regulations.
He has also authored opinion pieces and commentaries through Democracy Docket and is frequently cited in major outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time.
Public Image and Focus
Elias is widely recognized as one of the most influential Democratic lawyers in the United States. Media outlets have described him as central to shaping modern election law and Democratic legal strategy. Supporters see him as a defender of voting rights and democratic institutions, while critics have questioned his aggressive litigation tactics.
He continues to advocate for expanding voter access, combating election disinformation, and ensuring fair redistricting practices.
Education and Early Life
Elias was born in New York City and raised in Suffern, New York, in a Jewish family. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Hamilton College in 1990, followed by a Master’s in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from Duke University.
Personal Life
Elias lives with his family and his Portuguese Water Dog, Bode. He is known to maintain an active presence on social media, often discussing voting rights, democracy, and rule of law issues.
Fast Facts
-
Firm Chair and founder of Elias Law Group (2021)
-
Former head of Perkins Coie’s Political Law practice
-
Has argued four cases before the U.S. Supreme Court
-
Served as general counsel for Kerry (2004), Clinton (2016), Harris (2020 & 2024), and advised the Biden campaign (2020)
-
Founded Democracy Docket in 2020
-
Won 64 of 65 post-election cases following the 2020 election
-
Named among Forbes Top 200 Lawyers (2024)
-
Testified before Congress on campaign finance reform
-
Holds degrees from Hamilton College and Duke University
-
Publicly opposed 2025 Trump administration legal memorandum targeting his firm
