Rayshon Payton Vice President of Government Affairs

Rayshon Payton serves as Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). He brings more than a decade of experience in congressional affairs, public policy, and federal policymaking, having held senior positions in the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, White House, and Department of Justice (DOJ).

Prior to joining NVCA, Payton served as General Counsel to Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), where he advised on legislative and policy matters involving economic development, innovation, national security, and industrial policy. Previously, he served as Special Counsel in DOJ’s Office of Legislative Affairs, where he directed congressional strategy and engagement, managed complex legislative and oversight matters, and coordinated senior leadership on policy priorities, including emerging issues involving artificial intelligence.

Earlier in his career, Payton served as Senior Confirmations Counsel in the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director to Representative Kendra Horn (D-OK), and Associate Director of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. He also worked for Representative Mike McIntyre (D-NC). An Oklahoma native, 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.