Staff Reports
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Luke Messer, whose congressional career was derailed last year with a loss in a bitterly fought primary race for U.S. Senate, has joined a law firm in Washington, D.C., as a consultant.
Messer, a Republican who represented Hancock County as the 6th District U.S. representative in Congress for three terms starting in 2013, will be a principal at Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting.
He will co-lead the firm’s bipartisan federal advocacy team with FaegreBD principal Ted Bristol, who served as legislative adviser to senior Democrats in the U.S. House and Senate.
As part of his role at the firm, Messer will advise businesses and others nationwide on federal regulatory and policy developments. Drawing from his time in the U.S. House, Messer understands the competing demands that shape federal actions, the firm said in a news release.
“I am excited to join a major firm with a strong presence in Washington, D.C., and nationwide,” Messer said. “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to help clients navigate the complex maze of federal policy decisions in Washington.”
Tom Froehle, FaegreBD chair and managing partner, said the business welcomes Messer to its ranks.
“Our firm has always had an active practice working with federal, state and local government decision makers,” he said. “Luke’s addition strengthens our expertise and ability to help clients achieve their (legal and) public policy objectives.”
Messer first won election to Congress in 2012, filling the seat long held by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind. He twice won re-election by large margins, in 2014 and 2016, before running for Senate last year against Rep. Todd Rokita and Mike Braun, a businessman from Jasper. Braun easily won the primary in a campaign marked by strident attack ads. Braun then went on to defeat incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly in November.
Republican Greg Pence won election to Messer’s old seat in November.
During his time in Congress, Messer authored legislation addressing banking, taxation, immigration, federal deregulation, foreign affairs and education issues. He also served as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, and served on the House Committees on Financial Services; Education and the Workforce; Budget; and Foreign Affairs. He was also founder and co-chair of the Congressional School Choice Caucus.
Messer previously served as executive director of the Indiana Republican Party and also served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2003-06. Messer, who is from Shelbyville, earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School and a bachelor’s degree in speech from Wabash College.
