In the statehouses where Americaโs technology laws are written, Kouri Marshall has become a familiar presence. As Senior Director of State and Local Government Relations at Chamber of Progress, a centre-left tech industry coalition, he works across 33 states, wrestling with questions that rarely fit neatly into party lines.
Artificial intelligence, digital advertising, social media regulation. These are the issues that shape how people live online, and Marshall argues they deserve laws that protect consumers without stifling innovation.
His recent work shows the range. In Colorado, he helped defeat a social media bill and engaged with the stateโs landmark AI Act, seeking to delay implementation and force a special session.
In Illinois, he joined industry allies to block a proposed digital advertising tax. For Marshall, the goal is not simply to win. It is to build bipartisan coalitions that can survive the next election and the next technology.
That approach was shaped by earlier chapters. He served as Deputy Director of Appointments for Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Chief of Staff in Cook County government, and State Director for President Obamaโs 2012 re-election campaign. Campaigns and Elections named him a Rising Star.
Yet his influence extends beyond policy. He chairs the Association for Enterprise Opportunity Midwest Council and sits on the University of Chicago Civic Leadership Academy Alumni Advisory Board.
He also founded Daddy Victory Club, a grassroots initiative that uplifts Black fathers through storytelling, wellness and community events. In a world of soundbites, Marshallโs work suggests a different kind of politics. Patient, practical and personal. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Dr Kayla Marshall, and their son, Kouri II.
