Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 17, 2017

When Jacksonville political consultant Susie Wiles signed on with the Donald Trump campaign, many locals — who thought it was the year of Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio — wondered what she was doing. Through March of 2016, Wiles was the sole high-profile Jacksonville Republican on the Trump train. Her role shifted, and she took control of the Sunshine State operation […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 2, 2017

Ballard Partners will continue its representation of daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies into 2017, according to lobbying registration records reviewed Monday. Brian Ballard and the lobbyists who work for him, including former state Rep. Chris Dorworth, have begun registering their representation for the 2017 Legislative Session, some effective as early as this week. Chief among those interests are DraftKings and FanDuel, the DFS giants who announced […]

Peter SchorschDecember 15, 2016

Ballard Partners on Thursday announced a “strategic alliance” with the Chicago-based All-Circo political consulting firm. “It gives us a marketing opportunity in a very important part of the country,” firm president Brian Ballard said. “We try to find the ‘best of class’ wherever we go.” John J. Kelly Jr., All-Circo’s president and owner, has been […]

Staff ReportsDecember 8, 2016

Florida State University says it is beginning renovations on the downtown building that will be the new home of schools named after the late car dealer and philanthropist Jim Moran. The site, donated by lobbyist Brian Ballard and his wife Kathryn, will host the College of Business’s Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship and the university’s new interdisciplinary Jim […]

Gary FineoutNovember 28, 2016

He was opposed by the Republican establishment. During a contentious campaign, he spoke forcefully about the need to crack down on immigration. And he used millions of his own money to bolster his political career. President-elect Donald Trump? No, Rick Scott, the current governor of Florida. While they are oceans apart in temperament and public […]

Peter SchorschNovember 23, 2016

It’s time to talk turkey. And stuffing, pie and football. Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the winter holiday season; the first stop in a month of non-stop holiday parties and celebrations. It’s also a day for Americans to reflect on what they’re grateful for, something that is especially important in these tense times. But it’s […]

Peter SchorschNovember 22, 2016

Second in a series. Most people are familiar with this joke about lawyers. Q: What do you call 2,000 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean? A: A good start. Well, to newly installed House Speaker Richard Corcoran, if you substitute “lobbyists” for “lawyers” in that joke, it’d be twice as funny. Despite his brother being a lobbyist, Corcoran does […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

The inaugural committee for Donald Trump has a Florida feel, with the president-elect tapping two prominent Floridians to serve as its finance vice chairs. Trump tapped former Ambassador Mel Sembler and Brian Ballard to serve as vice chairs of his inaugural committee. The two men join more than a dozen other high profile Trump supporters […]

Peter SchorschNovember 10, 2016

Tuesday’s slate of general elections in Florida certainly provided a list of winners and losers, and I’m not just talking about the candidates. Here is my list of the real winners and losers coming out of Election Day. Winners Rick Scott — The Naples Republican was an early backer of the president-elect, comparing Trump’s rise to his own 2010 gubernatorial […]

Phil AmmannOctober 30, 2016

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Donald Trump may have said he was scaling back on high-dollar fundraising — ending with a Las Vegas luncheon held last week — but it didn’t mean he wasn’t quite done raising money. The Republican nominee, joined by Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus and former ambassador Mel Sembler, among others, returns to Florida for a breakfast […]

Tag: Brian Ballard
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Susie Wiles, architect of Donald Trump’s Florida win, heads to D.C. for inauguration

Ballard Partners will continue repping daily fantasy sports sites

Ballard Partners teams up with leading Illinois influence shop

Jim Moran building renovations on track in Tallahassee

Rick Scott may serve as model, and warning, for Donald Trump

Thanksgiving 2016, as brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and political organizations

How to get around Richard Corcoran’s new rules — Volume 2

Donald Trump presidential inaugural committee has a Florida feel

A rundown of the real winners and losers from Florida’s general election

Despite end of formal fundraising, Donald Trump to hold breakfast event at Doral Wednesday