Brian D. Ballard
Brian Ballard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 or 1962 (age 63–64) |
| Education | University of Florida (BS, JD) |
| Employer | Ballard Partners |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
Brian D. Ballard (born 1961 or 1962) is an American lobbyist and founder of lobbying firm Ballard Partners, based in Tallahassee, Florida. Ballard began his career working for Florida governor Bob Martinez and was his chief of staff until 1990. In 1998, Ballard founded a Florida lobbying firm, Smith & Ballard, with Jim Smith, his father-in-law and former Secretary of State of Florida. The firm became Ballard Partners when Smith left in 2011.
Ballard is a major fundraiser for Republican Party political campaigns including the presidential campaigns of John McCain, Mitt Romney, and Donald Trump. In 2017, Ballard opened an office in Washington, D.C., and became among the most powerful lobbyists on K Street, representing more than a hundred corporations and several countries. With Trump's return to the White House, Ballard again gained many clients for his federal lobbying firm.