Roger Salazar

Roger Salazar is a media and crisis communications consultant based in Sacramento, California. Salazar is well known for his work in the White House under the Clinton Administration, working on the 2000 Gore campaign and as campaign press secretary for former California Governor Gray Davis.

Education

Salazar graduated from Lodi High School in 1987.

Early political career

In 1993, Salazar began his career within political media as the press secretary for U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard.

From 2000-2001 Salazar was the press aide for former California governor Gray Davis. Salazar served as the national campaign spokesman for Senator John Edwards' presidential campaign of 2004. In 2008, Salazar started the group, American Leadership Project (ALP), through a 527 IRS filing on February 15 to independently aid Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Career

In January 2003, Salazar joined Porter Novelli as a senior counselor. After John Edwards failed to win the Democratic nomination for president, Salazar left Porter Novelli to co-found AcostaSalazar LLC, a public relations and consulting firm, with Andrew Acosta. He served as a partner there until May 2012, when he joined Mercury Public Affairs, a political consulting and public affairs firm dealing in high-stakes public strategy. Salazar was elected Chair of the OHMVR Commission in February 2024 and he was reappointed by the Governor in March 2024. He was a 2024 presidential elector, pledged to vote for Kamala Harris.

Personal life

Salazar was born to farm workers in California's Central Valley. In 2016, the Sacramento Business Journal named Katrina Nonprofit CFO of the Year. Roger and Katrina have two children, Joshua and Alexandra. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Redlands, his alma mater, from May 2001 to May 2020. Salazar serves as Treasurer for the Sacramento Press Club and on the Board of Directors for the American Association of Political Consultants. An avid off-road enthusiast, Salazar is president of the Sierra Treasure Hunters 4 Wheel Drive Club in Sacramento, CA. Salazar is a Life Member of the California Four Wheel Drive Association and of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association and an associate member of Red Rock 4-Wheelers of Moab, UT.