# Mike Toomey | Best in Government Affairs TX 2026 > Mike Toomey, Founder at Mike Toomey & Associates, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree, recognized as Lobby Legends of the Year. Canonical: https://www.uslege.ai/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/mike-toomey --- [Best in Government Affairs](/best-in-government-affairs)› [Texas](/best-in-government-affairs/texas)› [2026](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees)› [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists)› **Mike Toomey** USLege · Best in Government Affairs · Texas Texas · 2026 Honoree ![Mike Toomey, Founder at Mike Toomey & Associates. Winner, Lobby Legends of the Year, 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas](/assets/awards/tx-2026/mike-toomey.jpg) Category [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) Organization [Mike Toomey & Associates](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#mike-toomey-and-associates) Title Founder [Visit Mike Toomey & Associates](https://miketoomeyandassociates.com/) [07 · Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) # Mike Toomey **Founder**, Mike Toomey & Associates Mike Toomey, Founder at Mike Toomey & Associates, is a 2026 Best in Government Affairs Texas honoree in the Lobby Legends of the Year category. The awards are peer-nominated. Few names carry more weight in Texas politics than Mike Toomey. A former legislator, strategist, and counselor to governors, Toomey’s career has defined what effective advocacy looks like in the Lone Star State. The only person in Texas history to serve as Chief of Staff to two different governors, Bill Clements and Rick Perry, Toomey’s understanding of government operations is both rare and unrivaled. When Governor Greg Abbott needed a proven hand to help reopen Texas following the pandemic, he turned again to Toomey, calling him “a proven chief operating officer who knows how to quickly deliver results.” Inside the Capitol, Toomey’s name is synonymous with strategy and precision. His encyclopedic knowledge of the legislative process and disciplined work ethic have earned him a reputation as one of the most effective advocates in Texas history. As a legislator, he served on the Appropriations Conference Committee, where his careful approach to fiscal reform earned him the nickname “Mike the Knife.” Over the decades, Toomey’s influence has shaped nearly every major policy conversation in Austin; from appropriations and regulatory reform to economic development and energy. He’s been consistently ranked among the top Texas lobbyists by Capitol Inside, and even Texas Monthly once wrote that “Toomey has accumulated the skill and will to influence every issue of consequence.” As one of this year’s Lobby Legends, Mike Toomey stands as the embodiment of institutional knowledge, strategic discipline, and lasting influence. A professional whose impact continues to define Texas government affairs. Share this honor [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslege.ai%2Fbest-in-government-affairs%2Ftexas%2F2026%2Fmike-toomey) [Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.uslege.ai%2Fbest-in-government-affairs%2Ftexas%2F2026%2Fmike-toomey&text=Mike%20Toomey%3A%20Lobby%20Legends%20of%20the%20Year%2C%202026%20Best%20in%20Government%20Affairs%20Texas) Same category ## More _Lobby Legends of the Year_ honorees. [![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/rusty-kelley.jpg) **Rusty Kelley**Blackridge](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/rusty-kelley)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/robert-miller.jpg) **Robert Miller**Troutman Pepper Locke ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/robert-miller)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/mignon-mcgarry.jpg) **Mignon McGarry**Mignon McGarry & Associates ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/mignon-mcgarry)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/kent-hance.jpg) **Kent Hance**Hance Scarborough ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/kent-hance)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/john-r-pitts-sr.jpg) **John R. Pitts, Sr.**Texas Star Alliance ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/john-r-pitts-sr)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jay-howard.jpg) **Jay Howard**HillCo Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jay-howard)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/jack-erskine.jpg) **Jack Erskine**Self-employed ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/jack-erskine)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/gavin-massingill.jpg) **Gavin Massingill**Carriage House Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/gavin-massingill)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/buddy-jones.jpg) **Buddy Jones**HillCo Partners ](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/buddy-jones)[![](/assets/awards/tx-2026/thumbs/brad-shields.jpg) **Brad Shields**Texas Legislative Associates](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/brad-shields) Also honored from [Mike Toomey & Associates](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms#mike-toomey-and-associates): [Will McAdams](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/2026/will-mcadams). [All Texas honorees](/best-in-government-affairs/texas#honorees) [Lobby Legends of the Year](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/most-powerful-lobbyists) [Honorees by firm](/best-in-government-affairs/texas/firms) The platform behind the awards ## Track the Texas Legislature the way _honorees do_. USLege covers every Texas bill, hearing, and floor debate with live video, transcripts, and cited AI answers. See why the people on this page use it. [Explore USLege Texas](/states/texas) [Built for lobbyists](/for/lobbyists)