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Aug 14, 2023 · By Tristan Wood. | August 14, 2023. DeSantis’ campaign woes have led to a shakeup of his administration that has given immense power to one long-time Republican power player. Alex Kelly, the secretary of the state’s new Department of Commerce, is also now the governor’s acting chief of staff.
- Generra Peck
- Ryan Tyson
- Phil Cox
- Taryn Fenske
- Nick Iarossi
- Casey Desantis
- James Uthmeier
- Brian Ballard
- Adam Laxalt
- Chris Spencer
Campaign manager
Peck led the day-to-day operations of DeSantis’ 2022 midterm reelection campaign that saw him win by nearly 20 percentage points over Democrat Charlie Crist, a former governor. Peck had as much influence over the campaign as anyone but did so with very little attention or headlines. She’s a classic behind-the-scenes operator — but one who was instrumental to DeSantis’ campaign success. She is very likely to remain a part of Team DeSantis for the foreseeable future. She previously helped lead...
Campaign senior adviser
Tyson is one of Florida’s best known Republican pollsters and has worked for GOP candidates and organizations across the country. He quickly became a key cog in DeSantis’ campaign operation, taking on polling and broader advisory roles. He was among the staffers updating DeSantis’ VIPs and donor-types on election night, underscoring the central position he played in the campaign. Prior to joining DeSantis’ team, he worked for Associated Industries of Florida, one of the state’s largest busine...
Campaign general consultant
Cox was among the campaign’s first hires, joining the team in March 2021 and serving as its top big picture consultant throughout the duration of the campaign. He is expected to remain a key part of DeSantis’ political operations moving forward. Cox, like many other DeSantis campaign staffers, largely stayed out of the headlines. But the campaign tapped him to do an interview with Business Insider in October 2022 to publicly push back against the idea that DeSantis has a gruff personality and...
DeSantis administration communications director
Fenske has led the DeSantis administration’s messaging efforts from April 2021 to the present, a time that coincided with DeSantis’ rise through the national Republican ecosystem. During that period, DeSantis championed controversial policy proposals that energized the GOP base but were demonized by Democrats nationally. Those included a series of so-called “election integrity” proposals, legislation and administration rules targeting transgender youth and a plan to fly mostly Venezuelan asyl...
Owner, Capital City Consulting
Iarossi and other members of his firm, including fellow Capital City lobbyist Scott Ross, played a huge role in DeSantis’ early 2018 campaign, and have been among the lobbyists closest to the governor since. Iarossi backed DeSantis early in the 2018 election cycle when few thought he could beat then-Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who was the heavy favorite to win the GOP primary and the pick of nearly all of Florida’s Republican establishment and donor class. Iarossi remains both an in...
Wife
Casey DeSantis is unquestionably the most important person influencing DeSantis’ policy and political operations. The former Jacksonville television personality is seen as perhaps the most powerful first lady in Florida political history, taking both public positions on key issues like mental health funding as well as more behind-the-scenes duties, including playing a leading role in changing the makeup at the Republican Party of Florida to bring in people seen as DeSantis loyalists. She is t...
Chief of staff
Uthmeier is considered the most influential of DeSantis’ three chiefs of staff and led the governor’s office during much of the time when DeSantis became a post-pandemic political star. DeSantis’ first two chiefs of staff were longtime operative-types, while Uthmeier is seen as further right on the political spectrum and a better fit for DeSantis, who is championing a policy portfolio directed, in large part, to those on the Republican Party’s right flank. As DeSantis has focused on bigger pi...
Lobbyist, GOP fundraiser
Ballard leads one of Florida’s largest lobbying firms and has been a staple in Republican politics for years. Though he didn’t support DeSantis in the 2018 gubernatorial primary, he quickly became part of DeSantis’ inner circle, including serving as the co-chairman of DeSantis’ 2018 inauguration celebration. One of his lobbyists, Adrian Lukis, who was a former DeSantis chief of staff, served as a co-chair of DeSantis 2022 inauguration events.
Longtime friend, former Nevada Attorney General
Laxalt is considered one of the closest friends of DeSantis, who has a reputation of not having many close friends or associates. The two were roommates at the Naval Justice School and have remained close friends, including continuing to talk on the phone regularly. DeSantis gave Laxalt’s failed U.S. Senate campaign a boost in April when he traveled to Nevada to rally for his campaign and raise money.
Director of Policy & Budget, Executive Office of Governor
Spencer is the administration’s point person on building and developing state spending proposals, which is the lifeblood that runs through nearly every policy decision. During the 2022 legislative session, Spencer oversaw the crafting of a $112 billion budget, the largest in state history. He then led the effort to veto a record $3.1 billion in lawmaker-approved spending projects. Having a huge degree of control over such a heavy veto pen comes with a large degree of power and influence.
Aug 8, 2023 · TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is shaking up his campaign leadership, bringing in James Uthmeier, his longtime chief of staff, as his new presidential campaign manager, the...
James Uthmeier is the campaign manager for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' (R) 2024 presidential campaign. Uthmeier worked as the chief of staff for DeSantis' gubernatorial administration from October 2021 through August 2023.
Aug 8, 2023 · DeSantis is bringing on James Uthmeier, his chief of staff from his state office, to serve as his campaign manager, replacing Generra Peck, who led DeSantis’ reelection campaign last year before jumping into the same role on his presidential bid. Peck will stay on as a strategist.
Aug 8, 2023 · Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is replacing his campaign manager with one of his most trusted advisers, his gubernatorial office Chief of Staff James Uthmeier, according to two people familiar...
- Miami Herald Senior Political Correspondent
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Sep 23, 2021 · Adrian Lukis, DeSantis’ current Chief of Staff will be departing the administration, and the decision was amicably made. Daniel Molina. |. September 23, 2021. This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced that he had picked Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo as Florida's be Surgeon General.
