Ezra Thrush
Senior Associate

Ezra P. Thrush, MPA serves as Senior Associate for Ridge Policy Group. In this role, he advocates for clients drawing on more than fifteen years of policy, politics, executive management, and advocacy experience in both Harrisburg and Washington, DC. He is known for his broad background with work in the public and private sectors, NGOs, and at all levels of government in both major political parties.

Ezra has a host of experience working in energy, environmental, agriculture, and conservation policy, but has also enjoyed a portfolio over the years including democracy and voting rights, reentry, human services, and workforce development, among others. Recently, he served as lead on federal issues, the Farm Bill, appropriations, regulatory issues, nuclear and solar energy, electric vehicles, et. al. He has experience working and advising both state and national political campaigns for Republicans and Democrats. Ezra also has a deep history of fundraising, donor development, and grant writing, as well as cultivation and stewardship of key relationships.

Ezra is a thought leader and has been quoted, sourced, or contributed to: the New Yorker, New York Magazine, New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio, Bloomberg, POLITICO, E&E News, NewsNation, BayJournal, Philadelphia Inquirer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PennLive, PoliticsPA, Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and City & State PA, among other media outlets. More, Thrush has presented internationally at the COP and AMP Global Youth conferences.

Ezra served as the Shapiro Administration’s first Policy Director at the PA Department of Environmental Protection. There, he worked closely with the Office of Governor Josh Shapiro and the DEP executive staff to advance a range of issues including permitting, grants, clean energy, watersheds and drinking water, infrastructure, mining, the oil & gas program, air quality, PFAS, and environmental justice. This experience allowed him to partner closely with Commonwealth agencies DCNR, PDA, PennDOT, DOH, DCED, PDE, the Office of Transformation & Opportunity, and the Office of Critical Investments. While a part of the Shapiro Administration, Ezra served as a liaison to the US Climate Alliance, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the Council on Environmental Quality, several federal executive branch agencies, in addition to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.

Previously, Ezra served as PennFuture’s Vice President of Government Affairs, among several other roles in campaigns, outreach, and advocacy. In 2022, Thrush was instrumental in securing an historic $900 million increase in funding for clean water and energy efficiency investments, benefiting Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth. In this role, Ezra liaised with the White House Office of Public Engagement, Domestic Climate Policy, and Legislative Affairs, Political Strategy, and Outreach. Because of this, Ezra was appointed to the Shapiro-Davis transition team and its Energy & Environment Committee where he advised campaign and administration officials. He was also selected for the transition teams of US Senator John Fetterman in 2022 and Pennsylvania Attorney General David Sunday in 2024. Ezra was named to City and State PA’s 2023 Pennsylvania Government Relations Power 100 List, denoting the most influential lobbyists in the Commonwealth.

Ezra has a widely respected expertise on Pennsylvania’s conservation and environmental policy. His extensive policy knowledge and understanding of on-the-ground issues have effectively advanced environmental progress across the state, all while forming close working relationships with legislators, executive branch officials, policymakers, and stakeholders of both major parties as well as federal and municipal officials. Ezra is particularly proud of his efforts presenting testimony to Congress multiple times, drafting and advancing the REVIVE the CCC Act with Senator Bob Casey, securing clean energy and conservation investments in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, shaping and passing the Great American Outdoors Act with Congressman Fitzpatrick, and two iterations of the federal Farm Bill. At the state level, Ezra helped pass legislation to establish the Commonwealth’s new Clean Streams Fund, historic increases for the Growing Greener program, and the Whole Home Repairs program, alongside numerous energy policies and racked up several decisive defensive wins.

Thrush holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Shippensburg University, concentrating in public policy and nonprofit management. Ezra continues to regularly speak at regional colleges and universities on these issues. Ezra hails from Franklin County (dairy & apple country) in rural central Pennsylvania and leans on lessons learned back home growing up to consult all his work, whether in Harrisburg or Washington. He is an Eagle Scout, avid outdoorsman, and an active volunteer with Scouting America, the National Outdoor Leadership School, and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. He serves on the board of Keystone Trails Association and is a proud member of the American Society for Public Administration. Outside of work, Ezra enjoys spending time with his nephews and family,, getting into new adventures with his rescue dog, fishing, golf, and everything Baltimore Orioles, Washington Commanders, and Washington Capitals.