Jonathan Cowan

Jonathan Cowan is the president and co-founder of Third Way, a centrist think tank recognized for shaping center-left policy debates in the United States. Under his leadership, Third Way has received honors such as Prospect Magazine’s North American Think Tank of the Year and has been described by The Washington Post as a leading source of new ideas in public policy. Cowan’s expertise is regularly sought by major media outlets, and he is a frequent commentator on national policy and political strategy.

Cowan’s career spans more than 25 years at senior levels of politics and government. He previously served as chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration, advising on policy and overseeing a major federal agency. Before his tenure at HUD, Cowan co-founded Lead…or Leave, a Generation X advocacy group, and later led Americans for Gun Safety, where his efforts contributed to changes in the national debate on firearm policy. He has also served as a visiting fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics.

Cowan is a public speaker and policy strategist known for distilling complex policy issues into actionable strategies. He has testified before presidential commissions, published in leading newspapers, and participated in public debates. Through his advocacy and leadership, Cowan has demonstrated a commitment to pragmatic solutions on issues ranging from economic opportunity to gun safety, contributing to the national conversation on public policy.