| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | Contact: Evan Keller |
| October 20, 2026 | Email: ekeller@nvca.org |
WASHINGTON, DC– The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) today announced that Rayshon Payton has joined the organization as Vice President, Government Affairs.
“With time spent on Capitol Hill and previously in the White House and Department of Justice, Rayshon has spent his career at the center of important policy discussions on innovation,” said President & CEO Bobby Franklin. “He has earned a reputation for navigating complex challenges, building strong relationships across government, and delivering results. That combination of experience and judgment is exactly what the venture industry needs as we prepare to engage a new Congress on issues critical to startups, investment, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Payton most recently served as General Counsel to Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), advising on economic development, innovation, national security, and industrial policy. Before that, he was Special Counsel in the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legislative Affairs, where he led congressional strategy, served on the Department’s AI Policy Working Group, and convened the DOJ Policy Priorities Working Group to align senior officials across the agency on House and Senate engagement.
Previously, Payton served as Senior Confirmations Counsel in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, advising senior officials on nomination strategy and coordinating with nominees, legislative staff, and Senate committees. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK), worked for Representative Mike McIntyre (D-NC), and spent nearly four years as Associate Director of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee.
Payton earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a minor in Economics, from Oklahoma City University.
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The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) empowers the next generation of American companies that will fuel the economy of tomorrow. As the voice of the U.S. venture capital and startup community, NVCA advocates for public policy that supports the American entrepreneurial ecosystem. Serving the venture community as the preeminent trade association, NVCA arms the venture community for success, serving as the leading resource for venture capital data, practical education, peer-led initiatives, and networking. For more information about NVCA, please visit www.nvca.org.