News: A new era of profit for K-Street’s Trump-connected Republicans?

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

A new era of profit for K-Street’s Trump-connected Republicans?

Jul 17, 2024

Presented by

With Daniel Lippman

GOP LOBBYISTS SEE BULLISH FUTURE: As the Republican convention unfolds in Milwaukee, GOP lobbyists are anticipating a successful few years.

— Republican lobbyists told POLITICO they were optimistic about former President Donald Trump’s ticket and their party’s chances as election day approaches. And if the past is prologue, with Trump’s success, his potential administration ushers in a renewed era of profit for K Street’s Trump-connected Republicans. The triumphant days for the GOP in Wisconsin come amid dismal polling for President Joe Biden after the debate and prolonged infighting among the Democratic party over his candidacy.

— One Republican lobbyist emphasized that given the current state of the race, companies are beginning to look to retain Republican help. Already, businesses “are certainly noticing the winds in the sails of Republicans,” the person added. Lobbyists who once worked for Trump also speculated that new work will emerge should Trump win.

— “If you look at the roster of people who worked in the White House and then went downtown to lobby either in-house or multi-client,” said one former Trump White House staffer who is now a lobbyist. “It’s a small group, right? It really is not that many people when you start to add 'em up, and I think that those folks will be more in demand.”

— The person, like others, was optimistic about Trump’s odds.

— Another Republican lobbyist who worked for the Trump administration suggested that Trump’s vice presidential pick — Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) — could also be good for business given that potential clients may want help navigating his unorthodox views on issues like antitrust. Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence was seen as “a backdoor” for lobbyists when they could not get to Trump, the person added, speculating that there will be intrigue around how to get Vance’s camp’s ear.

— “‘Incredibly optimistic’ would be an understatement,” said mega-lobbyist Jeff Miller in a statement about his thoughts on the next few years. He showered Trump and his new running mate with praise.

— “President Trump will reignite the American spirit, and with that, I think we’ll witness a resurgence of innovation that will shape generations,” Miller added.

Happy Wednesday, and welcome to PI. My name is Hailey Fuchs, and I’ll be helming the newsletter for the rest of the week while Caitlin is away. Please send me all your money and politics tips and juicy moments from the convention in Milwaukee: hfuchs@politico.com. Follow me on X: @Hailey_Fuchs.

A message from Sallie Mae®:

Unlimited federal lending programs have allowed far too many students to take out loans that they can’t repay. As an education solutions company, Sallie Mae supports common sense reforms to protect students and families from overborrowing.

SPOTTED at the RNC Convention in Milwaukee: Lobbying firm giant Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck hosted a happy hour at the Milwaukee Brat House on Tuesday. Attendees, according to a tipster, included Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), Rep. Mark Alford (R-Mo.), Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio), Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.), Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.), Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), Geoff Antell, Chris Brinson, Brooklyn Tucker, and Dan Ziegler. Brownstein’s David Bernhardt, Will Dunham, Greta Joynes, Marc Lampkin, Elizabeth Maier, Brian McGuire, Bill McGrath, Quinn McKay and Jon Towers also attended.

DMFI CONTINUES SPENDING: The pro-Israel group spending heavily in Democratic primaries, Democratic Majority for Israel, is continuing its ad campaign to promote pro-Israel Democrats, per a new announcement from DMFI PAC.

— The political action committee has launched new ads to support Wesley Bell, who is challenging Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and Yassamin Ansari, who is running for Congress in Arizona.

— The ad for Bell lauds the candidate as St. Louis County’s first Black prosecuting attorney who has advocated for police reform and abortion access. The ad for Ansari emphasizes her commitment as a progressive leader to climate action and abortion access.

ONETIME BANNON ASSOCIATE CONVICTED: “An exiled Chinese businessman who once had close ties to former White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon was convicted of defrauding his online followers of more than $1 billion, federal prosecutors said Tuesday,” reports The Washington Post’s Praveena Somasundaram.

— ”Guo Wengui, also known as Miles Guo, was charged last year with wire fraud and money laundering after using money from thousands of followers to support an ‘extravagant lifestyle,’ prosecutors said in their indictment.”

— “Guo began amassing a following around 2018 through several avenues, according to prosecutors, including his web network called GTV Media Group, which researchers said spread disinformation about the coronavirus and the 2020 election.”

VANCE’S TECH TIES: “[J.D.] Vance’s stint in tech was crucial for forging connections with billionaire executives and investors, including Mr. [Peter] Thiel, Mr. [David] Sacks and Elon Musk, who owns X,” report The New York Times’ Ryan Mac and Theodore Schleifer.

— “Over and over, those men have funded Mr. Vance’s political ambitions, raised his profile among other wealthy donors and on social media, and lobbied Mr. Trump to choose him as his running mate.”

— “Before the 2022 midterm elections, Mr. Thiel gave $15 million to support Mr. Vance’s campaign for the Senate. Mr. Sacks donated $1 million to a political action committee backing Mr. Vance’s run. In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Mr. Trump cited Mr. Vance’s ‘very successful business career in Technology and Finance’ as one reason he was chosen as his running mate.”

CHECK OUT WHAT YOU MISSED IN MILWAUKEE!

Watch the full event from the CNN-POLITICO Grill at the RNC HERE.

The program featured Bayer’s Jessica Christiansen, senior vice president and head of crop science and sustainability communications, as well as a conversation with Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Rep. G.T. Thompson (R-Pa.) and POLITICO’s Meredith Lee Hill for discussions about agriculture, food policy and how these issues will impact the November election.

Jobs report

— Tina Stow is joining America's Health Insurance Plans as executive vice president of public affairs. She was previously head of communications for Optum Health and is an alum of UnitedHealth Group and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

— Clifton J. Porter II has been named president and chief executive officer of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living. He was previously senior vice president of government relations at AHCA/NCAL.

— Steve Pavlick is joining Mindset Advocacy as a principal. He was previously partner and head of policy at Renaissance Macro. Pavlick is an alum of the Trump administration.

— Keeli Archer and Dylan Smith are joining Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications as senior public affairs strategists. Archer was previously strategic communication planner and analyst at the firm Booz Allen Hamilton. Smith was previously communications director for Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).

— Maryam Cope is joining Natcast as vice president of governmental affairs. Cope is an alum of ASML.

— POLITICO Pulse reports that Dr. Peter Shin has joined the National Association of Community Health Centers as chief science officer. He was previously an associate professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University.

A message from Sallie Mae®:

New Joint Fundraisers

Crank Victory Fund (Jeff Crank, America’s Mountain PAC, NRCC)

New PACs

Chat GPT (PAC)

America’s Mountain PAC (Leadership PAC: Jeff Crank)

Ad Astra PAC (Super PAC)

Cowboy Logic PAC (Hybrid PAC)

New Lobbying REGISTRATIONS

The Rox Group LLC: General Matter Inc

The Rox Group LLC: Soaring Technologies

The Rox Group LLC: Allen Control Systems

Ledyard Group: InMarket Media, LLC

NVG, LLC: National Confectioners Association

Capitol Hill Associates: Miami Tribe Of Oklahoma

Commonwealth Strategic Partners, LLC: Atomos Space

Rich Feuer Anderson: SMBC Americas Holdings, Inc.

Holland & Knight LLP: Stillwater Critical Minerals

SplitOak Strategies LLC: CSL Behring LLC

McAllister & Quinn: Bloom Energy

Homesafe Alliance: Homesafe Alliance

SMA America: SMA America

Capitol Hill Associates: Minnesota Police And Peace Officers Association

Capitol Hill Associates: Miami Nation Enterprises

Capitol Hill Associates: Grand Portage Band Of Chippewa

Capitol Hill Associates: Bois Forte Band Of Chippewa Indians

The Peterson Group LLC: Alsym Energy

Water Strategies, LLC: Sentinel Fertigation

SL Strategies, LLC: Argentum Medical dba Bravida Medical

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: American Society Of Association Executives

The Cormac Group, LLC: American Capitol Group On Behalf Of Solution Diagnostics

Pioneer Public Affairs: Ekona Power Inc.

Oculus Strategies, LLC: Fluxworks

Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: America's VetDogs

Ward And Smith, P.A.: Town Of Morehead City

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP: Spectrohm, Inc.

Brumidi Group: Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine

Cornerstone Government Affairs, Inc.: Florida Citrus Mutual

PhronesisDC, LLC: The Center For A Free Economy

Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC: UL Research Institutes

Tax Fairness For Americans Abroad: Tax Fairness For Americans Abroad

PhronesisDC, LLC: Business Roundtable

Mr. Mark Kopec: Vifcare

Delta Development Group, Inc.: City Of Clinton SC

Capitol Pillar LLC: Rainmaker Technology Corporation

McLarty Inbound LLC: Maha Energy

Vincent Trometter: Capitol South, LLC On Behalf Of Brodart Co.

American Fintech Council: American Fintech Council

Mahr Strategies: Middle Fork Irrigation District

Quill Advisers LLC: Reinsurance Group Of America

TruSynergy: Burrell International Group (On Behalf Of Garwood Medical Devices)

Liberty Partners Group, LLC: National Organization Of Social Security Claimants Representatives (NOSSCR)

Adams And Reese, LLP: National Medal Of Honor Center For Leadership

Origin Advocacy LLC: AT&T Services, Inc.

SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, our newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW.

New Lobbying Terminations

Rubicon Advisors, LLC: Lannett Company, Inc

Efrus Federal Advisors LLC: Auterion Government Solutions

Forbes-Tate: Human Rights Campaign

Strategies 360: Thurston County, Washington

Strategies 360: Compass Health

Strategies 360: City Of Stanwood, Washington

Strategies 360: City Of Kenmore, Washington

Strategies 360: Cenate AS

Strategies 360: Atlas Agro North America Corp

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz /The Daschle Group: CDL 1000, Inc.

Prasam: Contiem (Formerly Orbis Technologies, Inc.)

Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, LLP: Muller Bohlin Associates, Inc.

Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: Medically Home

Prism Group: Smart Horizons Career Online High School (D/B/A Smart Horizons Career Online Edu

Timothy A. Glassco Consulting LLC: Francis Energy obo Cross Oak Group

Burrell International Group LLC: Otogenetics

Burrell International Group LLC: Arsenal Medical, Inc.

Tarplin, Downs & Young, LLC: AIS Healthcare

Pre LLC: Pre LLC

Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: NCR Voyix Corporation

Squire Patton Boggs: Goodnight Midstream LLC (Formerly 1804 Operating LLC)

Squire Patton Boggs: Forest City Realty Trust, Inc.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Lewis-Burke Associates, LLC: America Achieves

Squire Patton Boggs: Equinix

Capitol Point Group, LLC: Team Hallahan On Behalf Of Kongsberg Defence And Aerospace, Inc.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: PFH S.p.A.

American Defense International, Inc.: Dillon Aero, Inc.

Hutton Strategies: Occidental Chemical Corporation

Team Hallahan LLC: Kongsberg Defence And Aerospace Inc.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Romark Global Pharma, LLC

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP: Running Tide

Munk Policy & Law: Intrepid Production Corporation

Strategic Marketing Innovations: Ultra Communications

Salvo Strategies: Washington County, Pennsylvania

American Defense International, Inc.: AMPEL BioSolutions, LLC

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC: Heraeus Incorporated

The Picard Group, LLC: LHC Group

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC: Design Group Americas

Innovative Policy, PLLC: James Madison Education Fund, Inc.

FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): Advent International Corporation

FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): Nuro, Inc.

A message from Sallie Mae®:

The federal higher education financing system is doing too much for too many and not enough for those who need the most support. Complicated applications, confusing financial aid offers, and federal programs that offer virtually unlimited lending without considering the borrowers’ ability to repay is driving unsustainable federal student loan debt. We need a better, more transparent higher education financing system. See what Sallie Mae thinks.