Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 5, 2015

The fantasy sports industry is turning to one of Florida’s most prominent governmental affairs firms for a real-world assist with state government. DraftKings Inc., FanDuel Inc., and the Fantasy Sports Trade Association have retained Ballard Partners to represent them before the Florida Legislature and the executive branch. DraftKings, based in Boston, and FanDuel, operating from New […]

Peter SchorschJune 22, 2015

There are few people in Florida politics with more influence than Susie Wiles. She’s a managing partner for mega-lobbyist Brian Ballard; she ran the 2010 campaign of little-known outsider, now two-term Gov. Rick Scott; and she has been a gubernatorial appointee to the Republican Party of Florida’s Executive Committee. Wiles’ reach extends outside of Florida […]

Phil AmmannMay 29, 2015

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia has announced a partial list of the 2016 GOP Finance Committee. In a statement Friday, the Hernando County lawmaker said he expects the group to “jumpstart the party’s fundraising efforts for the 2016 election cycle” with a goal of delivering Florida’s 29 electoral votes to a Republican presidential […]

Ryan RayApril 29, 2015

The Senate has passed a Palm Beach County local bill — HB 1213 sponsored by Rep. Lori Berman — that serves as a key component of a multilayered arrangement between state and local governments in their quest to land the spring training operations of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. In […]

Ryan RayMarch 31, 2015

It’s been said many times and many ways but in light of the host-committee dynamics behind Marco Rubio‘s April 7 breakfast fundraiser in Tallahassee, it bears repeating: the road to Florida’s 2016 GOP presidential contest may well run through the Las Vegas estate of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Rubio was reportedly on the outs with the Adelson people after declining an invitation […]

Ryan RayMarch 31, 2015

It’s been said many times and many ways but in light of the host-committee dynamics behind Marco Rubio‘s April 7 breakfast fundraiser in Tallahassee, it bears repeating: the road to Florida’s 2016 GOP presidential contest may well run through the Las Vegas estate of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Rubio was reportedly on the outs with the Adelson people after declining an invitation […]

Ryan RayMarch 12, 2015

Meredith O’Rourke, chief fundraiser for Gov. Rick Scott, is set to join the growing America Leads political committee as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his allies staff up for a 2016 White House bid. There the well-thought-of O’Rourke will join the likes of longtime GOP staffers such as former Republican Governors Association executive director Phil Cox, who will lead the super PAC, […]

Ryan RayMarch 12, 2015

Meredith O’Rourke, chief fundraiser for Gov. Rick Scott, is set to join the growing America Leads political committee as New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and his allies staff up for a 2016 White House bid. There the well-thought-of O’Rourke will join the likes of longtime GOP staffers such as former Republican Governors Association executive director Phil Cox, who will lead the super PAC, […]

Ryan RayFebruary 20, 2015

Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals have opted to retain Ballard Partners to represent them in Tallahassee this Legislative Session as the club navigates a tricky land proposal requiring city, county and state cooperation. The Nats — along with the Houston Astros, who have also hired Ballard — are pursuing a delicate and process-intensive initiative that would re-designate a tract of […]

Ryan RayFebruary 12, 2015

Much has been made of the fraught relationship between Jeb Bush and the man who was once seen as his dauphin and natural successor as de facto head of the Florida Republicans Sen. Marco Rubio. Rubio spoke with Ben Terris and Ed O’Keefe of the Washington Post to clarify the nature of their relationship, and perhaps to put more daylight in between […]

Tag: Brian Ballard

DraftKings, FanDuel, Fantasy Sports association draft Ballard Partners for lobbying assist

Tax troubles for Jacksonville insider Susie Wiles?

RPOF picks first group of 2016 Finance Committee members

Senate OKs bill to ease Astros, Nationals path to West Palm Beach

Marco Rubio’s Tallahassee fundraiser: a keyhole into the “Sheldon Adelson primary”?

Marco Rubio's Tallahassee fundraiser: a keyhole into the "Sheldon Adelson primary"?

Chris Christie lands top Florida fundraiser Meredith O’Rourke

Chris Christie lands top Florida fundraiser Meredith O'Rourke

Ballard Partners inks Washington Nationals amid West Palm Beach stadium land deal

Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio: close, but not that close