Donald Trump pollster Jim McLaughlin joins Kevin Steele campaign for CD 14

Republican pollster Jim McLaughlin, widely described as President Donald Trump’s top pollster, is joining Kevin Steele’s campaign for Florida’s 14th Congressional District.

McLaughlin, of McLaughlin and Associates, joins the campaign as pollster and strategic advisor, Steele’s campaign announced.

McLaughlin, along with his brother John, helped elect Trump in 2016, and their firm was one of few that accurately predicted Trump’s first presidential victory even as other more prominent pollsters foretold an easy Hillary Clinton victory. Jim McLaughlin has served as a key advisor and pollster to Trump ever since.

But McLaughlin has worked on Republican campaigns at every level for decades, propelling successful campaigns from the U.S. House and Senate to the presidency.

McLaughlin is one of only two Republican pollsters ever named to Roll Call’s “Fabulous Fifty” and has been profiled as a “Mover and Shaker” by Campaigns & Elections Magazine.

He’s also a sought after commentator, appearing regularly on Fox News, CBS, NBC, CNN, and C-SPAN, and is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, the New York Post, POLITICO, and National Review.

“Jimmy McLaughlin knows the America First movement better than just about anyone, other than President Trump. He’s polled for the President through every one of his campaigns and has an extensive history of polling in Florida and Tampa Bay,” Steele said. “Jim doesn’t just predict winners, he helps create them, and we are thrilled to have him on the team.”

Steele is running for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor in CD 14. Steele launched his bid two weeks ago and followed it up the next week with a $2.5 million infusion to his campaign from his personal wealth and the campaign’s first television ad, “Forged.”

In the GOP Primary, Steele, a sitting state Representative, faces former White House staffer Bea Valenti, who worked as a domestic policy advisor to U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody.

The race drew Republican interest after mid-decade redistricting made Castor’s previously safe district more competitive for Republicans.

Under the new map, which is being challenged in court, CD 14 shifts southeast and becomes considerably more favorable to Republicans. Under the new lines, almost 55% of voters supported Trump for President while just 44% supported Democrat Kamala Harris.

While the district took a giant shove to the political right and presents Castor with what will likely be her most competitive race since first being elected to Congress about 20 years ago, it will likely still be a close race. Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted the district from “Safe Democratic” under its current lines to “Leans Republican” on the new map.