A sherpa is an experienced Washington D.C. political consultant brought on to guide an administration's nominee to Senate approval.
Sherpa is a word taken from the language of the Sherpa, a nomadic people of the Himalayas. It literally means . The English word sherpa originally referred to people hired as porters and guides by climbers of the Himalayan Mountains. Sherpas have a long history of helping to navigate difficult mountain terrain. Senate confirmation has been compared to mountain climbing: dangerous and exhausting. Like the Himalayan climbers, nominees need guides "through the obstacle course of interviews and hearings".
Supreme Court and top Cabinet post nominations have become increasingly partisan and contentious. Nominees for these positions now have designated sherpas who have extensive political experience and are reliable. Sub-cabinet nominees are generally handled by department level political staff. The role of chief strategist and stage manager, to get someone confirmed, is unpaid, largely out of public view and without official title. The role has many facets: