In recent years, HighGround has received an array of notable recognitions for its comprehensive work in the field. These include being named “2024 Best Polling Firm,” and “2024 Best Lobbying Firm,” by the Arizona Capitol Times at the Best of the Capitol awards. The firm also received recognition as the “2023 Best Polling Firm,” “2022 Best Lobbying Firm,” and “2022 Best Public Relations Firm” by the same publication. Additionally, HighGround was honored as the “Public Affairs Firm of the Year” by Campaigns and Elections.
J. Charles “Chuck” Coughlin was named a “Leader of the Year in Public Policy” in 2024, in 2023, and in 2019 by the Arizona Capitol Times. Coughlin is also a five-time winner of “Best Political Operative” and two-time winner of “Person you would least want as a political opponent.” In addition, Paul Bentz is a four time winner of the “Best Pollster” award from the Arizona Capitol Times.
HighGround’s work has earned more than 100 national and local awards including nearly fifty national “Pollie” awards from the American Association of Political Consultants including “2014 Campaign Excellence Public Affairs/Advocacy Campaign of the Year.” The team has also earned thirty “Reed Awards” from Campaigns & Elections as well as recognitions from the PRSA, the Arizona Newspaper Association, and the National Association for Transit Excellence. In 2004, BizAZ magazine named HighGround one of Arizona’s “Coolest Companies.”
2024 Arizona Capitol Times
• Leader of the Year in Public Policy — Chuck Coughlin
• Best Polling Firm – HighGround Inc.
• Best Power Broker— Chuck Coughlin
• Most Quotable Politco — Chuck Coughlin
2024 AAPC Pollie Awards:
•Silver Outdoor/Yard Sign
•Bronze Fundraising Effort
2024 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
•Best Online Video for Public Affairs Campaign or Issue Advocacy – Infrastructure
•Best Major Donor Fundraising Effort
2023 Arizona Capitol Times
• Leader of the Year in Public Policy — Chuck Coughlin
• Best Polling Firm – HighGround Inc.
2023 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold Best Radio Campaign
• Silver Direct Mail – Public Affairs/ Issue Advocacy Division
• Silver Outdoor/Yard Sign
2023 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Most Original/Innovative Collateral Item – Independent
• Best Online Video – 30 Seconds
• Best Online Video for Public Affairs Campaign or Issue Advocacy – Infrastructure
2022 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Lobbying Firm – HighGround Inc.
• Best PR Firm – HighGround Inc.
2022 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Public Affairs Firm of the Year – Fewer than 50 Employees
• Best Online Video for Public Affairs – Economic Policy
• Best Outdoor Advertising Creative
2022 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Best Use of Newspaper – Small Budget Campaign
• Silver Newspaper – Full Page
2021 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Lobbying Firm – HighGround Inc.
• Best Pollster – Paul Bentz
2021 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Lit Piece (Independent/Other)
• Best Website for Issue Advocacy or Public Affairs Campaign
• Best Online Video – 2 Minutes or Under (Independent/Other)
2021 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Silver “Direct Mail – Ballot Initiative Division
• Bronze “Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda – Best Use of Collateral”
• Bronze “Collateral -Yard/Outdoor Sign”
2020 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Online Video – 2 Minutes or Under (Independent/Other)
• Best Online Video – Longform (Longer than 2 Minutes) (Independent/Other)
2020 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Pollster – Paul Bentz
2019 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Campaign Logo & Branding – Organization/PAC
• Most Original/Innovative Collateral Item
2019 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold “Best Logo”
2019 Arizona Capitol Times
• Leader of the Year – Chuck Coughlin
• Best Pollster – Paul Bentz
• Best Capitol/Political Lawyer – Jeff Kros
2018 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Toughest Republican Direct Mail Piece
• Best Earned Media Around a Single Event
2017 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Newspaper Ad for Candidate Campaign
• Best Use of Virtual or Augmented Reality
2017 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold “Phones- Candidate Division Automated Calls- Local”
• Silver “Collateral Yard/Outdoor Sign”
• Silver “Field Walk/Handout Piece”
• Silver “Miscellaneous Best Use of Unusual Phone Techniques”
• Bronze “Direct Mail – Public Affairs Division for Local”
2016 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Mail Piece for Public Affairs/ Issue Advocacy Campaign – Statewide/Local
• Best Lit Piece
• Best Newspaper Ad for Public Affairs/Issues Advocacy Campaign
• Best Public Affairs Campaign
• Best Newspaper Ad of 2015
2016 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold “Best Use of Humor Overall Ballot Initiative Division
• Silver “Newspaper Insert”
• Silver “Best Direct Mail Campaign Overall Public Affairs Division”
2016 AZ Capitol Times
• Best Independent Expenditure/Ballot Measure Campaign
2015 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Yard & Outdoor Signs
• Best Lit Piece
• Best Automated Phone Call for County, Local, Mayor or Judicial Candidate
2015 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold “Best Use of Unusual Phone Techniques Phones/Candidate Division”
• Silver “Automated Calls Local/ Municipal/ Regional (Non-Mayoral) Phones/Candidate Division”
• Silver “Automated Calls Independent Expenditure Congressional/Legislative/Local Phones – Candidate Division”
2014 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Yard & Outdoor Signs
• Best Collateral Item/Sign
2014 American Association of Political Consultants:
• Campaign Excellence Award for Public Affairs/Advocacy Campaign of the Year
2014 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Internet Web Video State/Local Public Affairs Division
2014 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Political Operative – Chuck Coughlin
2013 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Best Signature and Collateral Material Yard & Outdoor Signs
2013 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Honorable Mention “Direct Mail Ballot Initiative County Campaigns”
• Bronze “Collateral Ballot Initiative Yard & Outdoor Signs”
2013 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Political Operative – Chuck Coughlin
2012 Campaign & Elections Reed Awards:
• Toughest Direct Mail Piece
2012 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Silver “Collateral Candidate Yard & Outdoor Sign
• Honorable Mention “Collateral Candidate Yard & Outdoor Sign
2012 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Political Operative – Chuck Coughlin
2011 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Silver “Phones Ballot/ Initiative Automated Calls – State/ Local”
• Bronze “Internet – Candidate Web Video – Best Use of Humor”
• Bronze “Collateral – Overall Yard/Outdoor Sign”
2011 Campaign & Elections Special Categories
• Best Use of Email/Viral Marketing
2010 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Silver “Direct Mail -Ballot/Initiative Bilingual/Multilingual/ Foreign Language”
• Bronze “Collateral – Ballot/Initiative Logo
2010 Arizona Capitol Times
• Best Political Operative – Chuck Coughlin
2009 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Silver “Internet – Ballot Presentation Online Advertising for State Campaigns
• Honorable Mention “Newspaper- Ballot for City Campaigns”
2008 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Bronze “Newspaper Insert”
• Bronze “Newspaper – Full Page – State/Local Ballot Measure”
2008 Arizona Newspaper Association:
• First Place “Excellence in Advertising Best Agency Produced Political Ad”
• First Place “Excellence in Advertising Best Agency Produced Newspaper Ad”
2008 Arizona Capitol Times
• Person you would least want as a political opponent – Chuck Coughlin
2007 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold “Internet – Website Initiative/ Referendum/ Constitutional Amendment Statewide
• Silver “Internet Communications/ Advertising – Persuasion Online Advertisement – Initiative/ Referendum/ Constitutional Amendment”
• Bronze “Phone Calls – Best Use of Humor”
• Bronze “Phone Calls – Initiative/Referendum/Constitutional Amendment
• Local/ Municipal/ Regional”
2007 Arizona Newspaper Association:
• First Place “Excellence in Advertising Best Agency Produced Political Ad”
2006 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Bronze “Newspaper – Full Page Local Ballot Measure”
2006 Arizona Capitol Times
• Person you would least want as a political opponent – Chuck Coughlin
2005 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• Gold “Internet – Website Initiative/ Referendum/ Constitutional Amendment”
• Gold “Radio – Initiative/ Referendum”
• Bronze “Internet – Most Innovative Use of Technology”
2004 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• First Place “Internet/ Electronic Media Local Initiative/ Referendum Website”
2004 Center for Transportation Excellence
• Transit Initiative Award for Most Innovative Use of the Web
2003 AAPC Pollie Awards:
• First Place “Joe Arizona- Coalition for Arizona”
• First Place “This is the State of Arizona…Just Kidding” Coalition for Arizona
• First Place “Chris is Missing” Jan Brewer for Secretary of State
• Second Place ““Joe Arizona, Do the Math” Coalition for Arizona
• Honorable Mention “Best Overall Internet Campaign”
2003 Public Relations Society of America:
• PRSA Copper Anvil Award Public Affairs Award of Merit
• PRSA Copper Anvil Award Innovative Use of Technology Award of Excellence