Rebecca Hartsough, Ph.D.

POLICY DIRECTOR

Rebecca Hartsough is the Policy Director for Babbage Cofounder where she develops and manages legislative and executive policy strategies for the firm. With a Ph. D. in political science and quantitative methods, she brings a unique capability for extensive research, statistical analysis, and knowledge of issues combined with a deep understanding of political dynamics to navigate for success.

Rebecca has had success across a wide spectrum of clients and issues. Of note is her work as leading lobbyist on 2023’s House Bill 9, establishing the GRANT program, which capitalizes on once in a lifetime federal funding designed to revitalize economically disadvantaged areas across the Commonwealth. She was also instrumental in the development and funding of Public Health Transformation, which has been nationally recognized as model legislation and programming for public health departments. 

Prior to her advocacy career, Hartsough worked as a data analyst, healthcare consultant, political science and public policy lecturer, and forensic financial specialist. She has had several government internships, the most significant being her time in the White House Correspondence Office of former First Lady Laura Bush. 

A native Kentuckian, Rebecca left the Commonwealth to pursue her undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. education at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She earned her doctorate in Political Science and Quantitative Methods, where she trained rigorously in statistics and predictive analytics as well in substantive political coursework. Her dissertation entitled, “Practical Politics: Explaining Delay in the Federal Judicial Appointment Process,” utilized statistical models and qualitative methods to identify previously unknown factors significant to slowing down and speeding up judicial nominations and confirmations. 

Rebecca joined Babbage Cofounder in 2018 and was thrilled for the opportunity to work in politics in her home state. An Owensboro native, she lives in the Crescent Hill neighborhood of Louisville. In 2023, Rebecca was named to the Notable Women in Kentucky Politics and Government list published by the Kentucky Gazette.