The Annapolis Power List: Capitol Strategies, Sushant Sidh, and the New Generation of Influence
There are lobbying firms in Annapolis, and then there are fixtures — the firms that have been around long enough, and performed well enough, that they become part of the city’s political architecture. Capitol Strategies is one of those firms. You don’t survive two decades on State Circle without knowing how to navigate the shifting tides of governors, speakers, senate presidents, and the endless churn of committee chairs.
Capitol Strategies has done more than survive. It has thrived.
The Firm That Plays the Long Game
Founded in 2000, Capitol Strategies built its reputation the old‑fashioned way:
- long-term client relationships
- deep institutional knowledge
- and a willingness to take on complex, high‑stakes policy fights
Their partners have been involved in everything from health‑care regulation to environmental policy to infrastructure development. They’ve worked across administrations, across factions, and across the invisible lines that divide Annapolis into its many micro‑tribes.
In a town where everyone claims influence, Capitol Strategies is one of the few firms that actually has it.
Sushant Sidh: The Veteran With the Deep Rolodex
At the center of the operation is Sushant Sidh, a partner whose résumé reads like a guided tour through modern Maryland governance.
Before joining Capitol Strategies in 2004, Sidh served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Parris Glendening, overseeing major agencies including Health and Mental Hygiene, Environment, Natural Resources, Housing and Community Development, Planning, and the Maryland Environmental Service. He also served as the administration’s liaison to the 2000 redistricting task force — a role that requires both political finesse and a strong stomach.
He’s also been:
- Vice President of Public Policy for Mid‑Atlantic LifeSpan
- Communications Director for the Maryland Democratic Party
- A strategist on multiple statewide and congressional campaigns
That background gives him something rare in Annapolis: institutional memory. He knows how the agencies work, how the personalities interact, and how the system actually moves.
And on the personal side — Sushant is married to Julia Foxwell, someone you’ve known for years. She’s sharp, gracious, and politically engaged in her own right, including hosting a fundraiser for Governor Wes Moore during the last election cycle. That’s not a political endorsement — just a fact about her civic involvement. It’s also a reminder that Annapolis is, at its core, a small town with long relationships and overlapping circles.
The Rising Star: Josie Friedli
Every established firm eventually produces a breakout talent — someone who isn’t just good at the job, but hungry for it. At Capitol Strategies, that person is Josie Friedli.
If you spend enough time around the State House, you start to notice who moves with purpose. Josie is one of those people. She’s part of the new generation of Annapolis professionals who combine policy fluency with the relentless work ethic that the job demands.
She’s gaining recognition for:
- her command of complex issues
- her ability to build relationships quickly
- and her reputation as someone who delivers
In a city where reputations are built slowly and destroyed quickly, Josie is doing something impressive: she’s building one the right way.
Why This Matters
Annapolis is full of loud personalities, but real influence is usually quiet. It’s the firm that knows the process better than anyone else. It’s the veteran who has seen three political eras come and go. It’s the rising staffer who’s already earning the trust of people twice her age.
Capitol Strategies has all three.
And in a moment when Maryland politics is shifting — generationally, demographically, and institutionally — the firms that can adapt, endure, and elevate new talent are the ones that will define the next decade.
Capitol Strategies is already doing it.