The honorable Dennis cardoza

Former Congressman Dennis Cardoza is the Founder and CEO of Cardoza Consulting Services.  He and his large network of colleagues, associates, and relationships form a solid network of professionals who provide clients with a complete array of government advocacy and business consulting services. Honed throughout a long career in public service and business entrepreneurship, Mr. Cardoza is an expert in developing business and political strategies that achieve critical objectives for his clients.  He advises government officials and business executives at the highest levels, including on a broad range of legislative, regulatory, public policy and advocacy matters.  Dennis has particular expertise in healthcare, defense, environmental policy and water resources, foreign affairs, transportation and infrastructure, state and federal appropriations, housing, banking, energy, and agriculture issues.

Prior to forming Cardoza Consulting Services, Dennis served for 12 years as Chairman of the Federal Government Solutions Group at Foley and Lardner LLP, a top 40 international law firm.  While at Foley, Mr. Cardoza passed critical legislation and secured billions of dollars in federal appropriations for his clients. Those clients included inpatient and behavioral hospitals and associations, railroads, water districts, municipalities, tech companies and venture capital groups, sports stadium and destination resort developers, housing developers, food processors, large multinational corporations, defense contractors, and the FIFA 26 World Cup US Host Cities.

Before joining Foley, Congressman Cardoza served five terms in the US House of Representatives from California's 18th Congressional District. 

His congressional committee assignments included the powerful House Rules Committee, the Agriculture Committee, including Chair of two subcommittees, the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Natural Resources Committee and the Science Committee.  The Speaker of the House appointed Dennis to the House Democratic Leadership Team from 2006-2010 where he played a pivotal role in crafting the and passing the Affordable Care Act, among other legislative priorities. Throughout his public service Dennis took a leading role in advocating for fiscal discipline and government accountability, including serving as co-chair of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of House Democrats who fought to protect taxpayer dollars.  Mr. Cardoza was also a leader in helping the government manage the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis, with an emphasis of advocating for homeowners facing mortgage difficulties.  As part of that effort, Dennis established a new congressional task force on housing stabilization. 

Prior to his tenure in Congress he was elected to the House of Representatives, where Dennis spent six years in the California State Assembly and served as chairman of the Rules Committee.  He was a founder and the Chairman of the Assembly Moderate Democratic Caucus.  As an Assemblyman Cardoza was honored as Legislator of the Year by numerous organizations including the California Sheriffs Association for his work on behalf of law enforcement and child safety initiatives, and the University of California Alumni Association for his critical contributions to the establishment and funding of UC Merced.  In 1984, Dennis became the youngest elected official in California when he was elected to the Atwater City Council.  Subsequent to that service, he was appointed to the Merced City Council to fill an unexpired term of a council member who had resigned.  From 1982 to 1996 Dennis was COO of the Cardoza Family businesses operating in Merced County, California.  In 1976, while still in high school, he helped his family zone and finance a community shopping center, and began managing successful political campaigns.  Dennis subsequently formed a political consulting firm in 1986 called "Campaign Dynamics" that managed over 50 political campaigns for local, state and federal office. The firm had a success rate of over 95% wins for candidates and local initiatives, but was dissolved when he was elected to full time public office.

Awards and Recognitions

Awarded Top Lobbyist by The Hill, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

UC Merced Chancellors Medal, 2009

Legislator of the Year, California Sheriffs Association 2000, 2001

Legislator of the Year, University of California Alumni Association, 1999

Boards and Affiliations

Cerevia Inc, 2026

Verty Inc. Advisory Board

AudioEye Advisory Board

University of Maryland Board of Visitors, 2011 - 2018

Thoroughbred Owners of California

2011 - 2014

Theta Chi Fraternity Foundation Board 2018 - 2023

National Foster Youth Initiative

2022 -2026

Publications and Presentations

  • Panelist, “A Post-Pandemic Approach to College Sports Venue Funding,” Lead1 National Athletic Directors Association, April 25, 2023

  • Speaker at Mid Pacific Water Users Conference, January 2023:

    • The Red Wave that Wasn’t: Looking Ahead to the Divided 118th Congress

    • The ESA at Fifty: What Would President Nixon Think?

  • Keynote Speaker, Theta Chi Fraternity National Convention, July 2022

  • Panelist and Key Note Speaker: State-wide and Western water conferences, including National Water Resources Association; Association of California Water Agencies; Family Farm Alliance; Ventura Regional Water Summit, among others (2018-2021)

  • Speaker, “Navigating California Legislative Challenges With Democrats in Control,” Personal Care Products Council Spring Legislative and Legal Conference, May 1, 2019

  • Author, “Water Rights Protection,” Daily Journal, January 9, 2019

  • Moderator, “Energy and Infrastructure Industry Trends and Perspectives Panel,” November 3, 2017

  • Keynote Speaker, Sino-American Pharmaceutical Professionals Association Conference, September 23, 2017

  • Speaker, “Legislative Oversight of the Executive for the Nigerian Government,” International Law Institute, August 1, 2017

  • Keynote speaker, 3rd Annual California Water Summit, Sacramento, CA, June 2, 2016

  • Contributor, Cardoza’s Corner, The Hill’s Congress blog

  • Post-Election Commentary Panelist, U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress, 2014

  • Panelist, “Global Capital Markets Advisory Council: Navigating the Year Ahead – Perspectives from Around the Globe,” Milken Institute 2012 Global Conference, Los Angeles, CA, April 29, 2012

  • Commencement speaker, University of Maryland, 2004 and 2012

  • Speaker, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, 2010 and 2011

  • Speaker, United Fresh Produce Association’s Washington Public Policy Conference, National Harbor, MD, September 14-16, 2010

  • Speaker, National Association of Realtors Conference, 2009

  • Speaker, American Bankers Association Convention, San Francisco, 2006