About Us
Commonwealth Republic Partners (CRP) is a full-service government and public affairs firm with decades of experience. From leading statewide governmental and public affairs projects, to managing caucuses, to competitive ballot initiatives and political races at all levels of government, CRP has done it. We utilize our unique expertise, network of relationships, and understanding of the political and governmental processes to help guide our clients through some of the most intricate endeavors.
Our Partners
Joe Wertz
Joe is a Partner at Commonwealth Republic Partners. As a seasoned veteran of campaigns, government relations and political operations, Joe provides a wealth of knowledge and expertise having worked in a plethora of competitive arenas in political, governmental and public affairs.
Joe’s career has been spent advising clients up and down the ballot, and organizations as a whole, specializing in political strategy, governmental affairs, messaging, and advocacy campaign operations. Over this time, Joe has worked on races from U.S. Senate down to City Council in states across the country, as well as advocacy campaigns of all sizes. Previously, Joe has also ran the political operations for state legislative caucuses. He's worked for national political consulting firms and public affairs firms, working with a number of high-profile clients. Furthermore, he’s worked in a variety of roles in government relations and legislative affairs working with state, local, and federal governments, in addition to running statewide advocacy and lobbying efforts.
In 2021, Joe launched Cardinal Consult, now merged with Commonwealth Republic Partners. Through CRP, Joe focuses on providing quality consulting to companies, organizations, campaigns, and causes to help them achieve their goals.
Joe is based in Richmond, Virginia. He is the father of three girls, including a set of identical twins. Raised in Steelers country, Joe is a sports enthusiast and obsessed with athletics. When he’s not laser-focused on his clients, you can find him pouring over football or baseball statistics, training for his next event, or spending quality time with his daughters.
Matt Klemin
Matt is a Partner at Commonwealth Republic Partners, and based in California. Previously he was the California State Senate Republican Caucus Deputy Director. He also was the Caucus Political Director. Matt has worked on a variety of high profile, local, state and federal issue advocacy campaigns. He has advised on ballot measures, recalls of elected officials, independent expenditure campaigns and high-profile public policy initiatives. His campaign and public policy knowledge is diverse and vast. His contact list reaches all levels of government in California, DC and across the nation.
Matt was also a lobbyist for the US Chamber of Commerce, managing their Western office that covered California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Hawaii. He also spent nearly a decade on the campaign trail managing races and field programs in California, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia. He holds a BA in Political Science from Point Loma Nazarene University where he also played college baseball.
Matt and his wife Becca split their time between suburbia and the beach. Matt has a ten-year-old son named Mason. Becca and Matt have a toddler named Christopher. The family is the proud owner of two rescue kitties named Johnny and June (the cats in black) and a Yellow Lab named Barbara Bush Klemin. He is an avid sports fan and loves Land Rovers. If Matt is not in the office you will likely find him outside, somewhere.