Politics

Ticket to Top 20 tops $1M in second quarter

Published

3 months ago

August 31, 2025

The latest round lobbying compensation reports raised the bar to make the Top 20 to $1 million

Here’s Florida Politics’ rundown of the No. 16 through No. 20 firms in the second quarter; check out the full lobby firm rankings and stay tuned for a closer look at how the Top 5 firms fared in Q2.

A reminder: Florida Politics estimates how much firms earn based on the middle number of the per-client ranges they list on their compensation reports. Firms report contracts in $10,000 increments. Compensation reports also include firm-level ranges, giving outsiders a rough idea of their minimum and maximum earnings.

Florida Politics ranks lobbying firm earnings based on the middle number of the per-client ranges listed on compensation reports. Contracts are reported in $10,000 increments. Compensation reports also include firm-level ranges, which can give outsiders a rough idea of a firm’s minimum and maximum earnings.

Florida lobbyists and lobbying firms faced a mid-August deadline to file compensation reports for the period covering April 1 through June 30. Compensation reports for the third quarter are due to the state on Nov. 14.

No. 16: Johnson & Blanton

Johnson & Blanton landed at No. 16 in the second quarter with $1.185 million in earnings, keeping pace with a solid first quarter that brought in $1.165 million. The firm collected $4.645 million in 2024 and is well on track to beat that mark this year.

The five-person team — Jon Johnson, Travis Blanton, Marnie George, Darrick McGhee Sr. and Eric Prutsman — reported legislative receipts in the $500,000-$999,999 bracket, with a median of $735,000. The executive branch report fell in the $250,000-$499,999 range, with a median of $450,000. Combined, that produced the $1.185 million Q2 total. If clients paid at the top of both ranges, Johnson & Blanton could have collected up to $1.5 million for the quarter.

Legislative clients were led by AdventHealth at $35,000, with BayCare, the Florida Engineering Society and the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists each checking in at $25,000. On the executive side, AdventHealth again led the way at $25,000, with a group of midsized contracts at $15,000 each from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, BayCare, Dexcom, the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, Gainwell Holding Corp. and The GEO Group.

With Q1’s $1.165 million added to Q2’s $1.185 million, Johnson & Blanton has collected $2.35 million through the first half of 2025. That pace points toward an annual haul of $4.7 million, an improvement over last year’s $4.645 million

No. 17: The Griffin Group

The Griffin Group climbed to No. 17 in the second quarter with $1.07 million in earnings, improving from $985,000 in the opening quarter of 2025.

The firm reported $790,000 in legislative receipts and $280,000 in executive branch earnings, with the reports landing in the $500,000-$999,999 and $250,000-$499,999 ranges, respectively. At the high end, the firm could have collected as much as $1.5 million for the quarter, continuing its steady upward trajectory since breaking into the top ranks.

The boutique shop is led by Thomas Griffin, Robyn Metcalf Blank, Keaton Griffin and Brian Jogerst. Collectively, they represented 56 clients in Q2, an increase over prior quarters.

Legislative reports showed strong representation in health, manufacturing and consumer products. Concert Renaissance, Global Widget and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America each reported $35,000 contracts.

On the executive side, Concert Renaissance and PhRMA again stood out, with each listed at $15,000. Other clients included an array of smaller contracts across a client sheet that largely mirrored the firm’s legislative report.

Year to date, The Griffin Group has reported just over $2.05 million in earnings. That pace puts the firm on track to finish 2025 near $4.1 million, nearly doubling the $2.06 million it collected last year

No. 18: Vogel Group

Vogel Group secured the No. 18 spot in Q2 with $1.04 million in earnings, building on the $955,000 it booked in the first quarter.

The firm collected $670,000 in legislative fees and $370,000 in executive receipts, placing the reports in the $500,000-$999,999 and $250,000-$499,999 ranges. At the top end of the ranges, Vogel could have earned as much as $1.5 million for the quarter.

The firm’s roster includes five seasoned advocates: David Childs, Gary Hunter, Kyle Langan, Andrew Liebert and Eileen Stuart. Together, they handled 57 clients in the second quarter, covering a wide spectrum of industries from energy and environment to tourism and agriculture.

On the legislative side, Vogel’s top-paying clients included Evans Properties, Mosaic Fertilizer and Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, each at $35,000. The executive branch report was anchored by contracts with the Florida Water Environment Association Utility Council, Mosaic Fertilizer and NEPA Wholesale, each at $35,000.

Through the first half of 2025, Vogel Group has reported $1.995 million in earnings. If it maintains its pace, the firm would near $4 million for the year, a marked increase from the $3.1 million it earned in 2024.

No. 19 (Tie): Shumaker Advisors Florida

Shumaker Advisors Florida staked its position in the Top 20 last quarter with $1 million in earnings, rising from $815,000 in Q1.

Both the legislative and executive disclosures came in at the $500,000-$999,999 range, giving the firm a minimum of $1 million for the quarter and a potential maximum near $1.67 million.

The firm’s roster features Alan Suskey, Amy Bisceglia, Michael Johnston, Nickolas Lowe, Sandra Murman, Jim Taylor and John David White. They represented 79 clients in the second quarter, one of the larger portfolios among mid-major firms.

Top accounts on both the legislative and executive reports included Aquarian Holdings, which showed up at the $35,000 level on each report. DailyPay, Conduent, Scholar Education, Travere Therapeutics and the Florida Public Defender Association each reported $15,000 contracts.

Year to date, Shumaker has reported $1.815 million in earnings. That puts the firm on pace to finish 2025 with around $3.63 million in total pay, well above the $3.03 million it collected in 2024.

No. 19 (Tie): PooleMcKinley

PooleMcKinley tied for No. 19 with $1 million in second-quarter earnings, following $780,000 in Q1. Both reports were filed in the $500,000-$999,999 range, setting the firm’s minimum combined take at $1 million and its potential maximum just under $1.67 million.

The firm’s roster includes Will McKinley, Angela Dempsey, Fred Dickinson, Erik Kirk and Sophie Smith, who managed 54 clients in Q2. The firm’s top-paying account was Seminole Hard Rock Digital at $35,000 on both reports. A slate of recognizable companies filled out the $15,000 tier, including Comcast, Universal Orlando, Raytheon Technologies and Teva Pharmaceuticals.

While both median estimates are undercounts based on overall ranges, they indicate the firm collected slightly more for its executive branch lobbying work than it did lobbying the Legislature. PooleMcKinley’s portfolio shows a blend of Fortune 500 companies, Florida-based businesses and national trade groups.

Through the first half of the year, the firm has collected $1.78 million. If the pace continues, PooleMcKinley is on track for about $3.6 million in 2025, which would surpass the $3.1 million it reported in 2024.

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Politics

Michael Yaworsky says insurance costs are finally stabilizing for Floridians

Published

29 minutes ago

December 5, 2025

May Greene

Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky said he believes the state’s insurance industry has stabilized, adding consumers “are finding relief” and have more options “than we’ve had in decades.”

“If you were in this meeting three years ago, it was like the equivalent of a funeral. It was very depressing; it was dark. Everyone thought the end was coming,” he said Friday during the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual insurance summit. “And two years later, we are in a fantastic place, seeing nothing but success on the horizon.”

In an interview this week with Florida Politics, Yaworsky said consumers went from “massive rate hikes year-over-year to very modest rate hikes.”

In some cases, people are seeking decreases, he added.

“Over 100 carriers have filed for a 0% increase or decrease,” he said.

But it’s clear Floridians are still worried about rising property insurance costs.

“The Invading Sea’s Florida Climate Survey also found that most Floridians – 54% – are worried about being able to afford and maintain homeowners insurance due to climate change,” Florida Atlantic University said in a press release this Spring. “According to a 2023 report by LexisNexis Risk Solutions, the average premiums for Florida homeowners rose nearly 60% between 2015 and 2023, the largest increase in any state.”

Yaworsky also touted reforms that would lower auto insurance costs.

“We’ve seen a $1 billion return to policyholders because despite the best actuarially sound estimates of just how good the reforms would be and how much of an impact that would have on rate making … It has exceeded all expectations,” he said.

In October, the state announced that the average Progressive auto insurance policyholder will receive a $300 rebate.

“A billion-dollar return from Progressive is just one of the first of what will likely be others,” Yaworsky told Florida Politics. “Those consumers will be getting additional money back in addition to rate reduction to make sure that insurers aren’t overcharging people because of the reforms.”

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Politics

Ron DeSantis says GOP must go on offense ahead of Midterms to bring back ‘complacent’ voters

Published

1 hour ago

December 5, 2025

May Greene

Gov. Ron DeSantis is continuing to warn Republicans that next year’s Midterm contests may not go their way if the party doesn’t change course.

He recommends that Republicans make a strong case for what they will do if they somehow retain control of Congress next year, given that “in an off-year Midterm, the party in power’s voters tend to be more complacent.”

But DeSantis, who himself served nearly three terms in Congress before resigning to focus on his campaign for Governor in 2018, says House Republicans haven’t accomplished much, and they need to be proactive in the time that’s left.

“I just think you’ve got to be bold. I think you’ve got to be strong. And I think one of the frustrations with the Congress is, what have they done since August till now? They really haven’t done anything, right?” DeSantis explained on “Fox & Friends.”

“I’d be like, every day, coming out with something new and make the Democrats go on the record, show the contrast.”

The Governor said the economy and immigration are two issues that would resonate with voters.

On immigration, DeSantis believes his party should remind voters that President Donald Trump stopped the “influx” of illegal border crossers given passage when Joe Biden was in power.

After providing contrast to some of his policy wins through the end of 2023 in Florida, DeSantis suggested that the GOP needs to blame the opposition party regarding continued economic struggles.

“Democrats, they caused a lot of this with the inflation and now they’re acting like … they had nothing to do with it,” he said.

DeSantis’ latest comments come after Tuesday’s narrow GOP victory in deep-red Tennessee, in yet another election where a candidate for Congress underperformed President Donald Trump.

Republican Matt Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn by roughly 9 points in the Nashville area seat. That’s less than half the margin by which Trump bested Kamala Harris in 2024. This is after U.S. Reps. Randy Fine and Jimmy Patronis won by smaller margins than expected in Special Elections in Florida earlier this year.

Though partisan maps protect the GOP in many cases, with just a seven-vote advantage over Democrats in Congress there is scant room for error.

Bettors seem to believe the House will flip, with Democratic odds of victory at 78% on Polymarket on Friday morning.

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Politics

Ron DeSantis again downplays interest in a second presidential run

Published

2 hours ago

December 5, 2025

May Greene

The question won’t go away.

Gov. Ron DeSantis may be out of state, just like he was when he ran for President in 2024, but that doesn’t mean he’s eyeing another run for the White House.

“I’ve got my hands full, man. I’m good,” he told Stuart Varney during an in-studio interview Friday in New York City, responding to a question about his intentions.

DeSantis added that it was “not the first time” he got that question, which persists amid expectations of a crowded field of candidates to succeed President Donald Trump.

“I’m not thinking about anything because I think we have a President now who’s not even been in for a year. We’ve got a lot that we’ve got to accomplish,” the term-limited Governor told Jake Tapper last month when asked about 2028.

It may be for the best that DeSantis isn’t actively running, given some recent polls.

DeSantis, who ran in 2024 before withdrawing after failing to win a single county in the Iowa caucuses, has just 2% support in the latest survey from Emerson College.

Recent polling from the University of New Hampshire says he’ll struggle again in what is historically the first-in-the-nation Primary state. The “Granite State Poll,” his worst showing in any state poll so far, shows the Florida Governor with 3% support overall.

In January 2024, DeSantis had different messaging after leaving the GOP Primary race.

“When I was in Iowa, a lot of these folks that stuck with the President were very supportive of what I’ve done in Florida. They thought I was a good candidate,” DeSantis said. “I even had people say they think that I would even do better as President, but they felt that they owed Trump another shot. And so I think we really made a strong impression.”

But that was then, this is now.

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