Leslie A. Belcher

Leslie Belcher is a nationally recognized government affairs strategist with nearly 40 years of experience in Congress and the private sector. Named to the Forbes 50 Over 50: Impact list in 2026, she has also been repeatedly recognized by The Hill as a Top Lobbyist. Forbes describes Leslie as "one of K Street's most influential lobbyists" and a trusted advisor on the House Republican Conference. She is widely regarded for her proficiency in developing federal funding strategies and navigating complex legislative negotiations.

An Oklahoma native, Leslie has spent her career working at the intersection of policy, politics, and the federal budget process. She advises members of Congress, senior congressional staff, institutional leaders, and executives navigating consequential federal policy and funding decisions. Over the course of her career, she has helped secure billions of dollars in federal investments and has led successful government relations strategies for corporations, universities, health care and research institutions, tribal interests, trade associations, and emerging technology companies.

Leslie is particularly known for her command of the congressional appropriations and federal budget processes and her ability to translate complicated political and legislative circumstances into achievable strategies for clients. Drawing on decades of institutional knowledge and relationships across party lines, she advises clients on appropriations and federal funding negotiations, budget reconciliation, authorization-appropriations alignment, committee and leadership strategy, and bipartisan legislative engagement. Her approach reflects a deep understanding of the three forces that drive outcomes in Washington: process, policy, and politics.

Before joining Steptoe, Leslie served as chief of staff to Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), now Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Wes Watkins (R-OK). Earlier in her career, she served as legislative director to Rep. Bill Brewster (D-OK) and as an appropriations associate to Rep. Wes Watkins during his service as a Democrat. She was also a founding staff member of the House Blue Dog Coalition and played a significant role in the development and drafting of the House Democratic budget resolutions during that time.

Leslie’s experience working across party lines and at the intersection of congressional leadership, appropriations, and the federal budget gives her an uncommon understanding of how Washington works—and how to get things done. She combines that institutional knowledge with an ability to assess what is politically and legislatively achievable and build a strategy to reach it.