Longtime Florida lobbyist Brian Ballard set up a Washington office for his firm not long after Donald Trump’s first White House victory in 2017.
Ballard Partners was founded by Brian Ballard in 1998 after his tenure serving as chief of staff in the Florida governor’s office. A well-known political insider, he has co-chaired three inaugurations for Republican governors of Florida and chaired the Florida Finance Committee for three GOP presidential candidates.
With Brian Ballard at the helm, Ballard Partners has developed a reputation for its Republican connections. With a staff that includes a number of former elected officials from that party, this reputation is well earned, particularly in light of Brian Ballard’s continued involvement with the current administration,
Despite these connections, Ballard Partners’ team of more than 70 highly experienced government relations consultants is bipartisan and includes a number of prominent Democrats. Robert Wexler, a former US congressman, co-heads the firm’s operations in Tel Aviv; former Gavin Newsom legislative affairs secretary Anthony Williams leads the firm’s Sacramento office; former Barack Obama senior advisor Michael Alvarez is the managing partner of the Chicago office; and Tracie S. Pough brings her experience as chief of staff to Congressman Debbie Wasserman Schultz to serve Ballard clients in Washington, DC.
For Ballard Partners, political affiliation comes second to exceeding the expectations of clients. Let’s take a look at four more Democratic-aligned consultants who are helping Ballard Partners do just that.
Michael Larosa
Michael Larosa is the former press secretary to First Lady Jill Biden. Over his tenure advising Dr. Biden and serving as her chief spokesperson, he brought what she called “an encyclopedic knowledge of politics and media to my team.” Larosa holds distinction as the first openly LGTBQ person to serve as press secretary to a First Lady.
During his time in the White House, Larosa carried out additional responsibilities as a special assistant to President Biden and, prior to that, was the chief spokesperson for Dr. Biden during the 2020 Democratic primaries, the 2020 presidential campaign, and the Biden-Harris transition team. A graduate of Seton Hall University and American University, he joined Ballard Partners as a partner in the Washington, DC, office in 2023.
Eugene O’Flaherty
Eugene O’Flaherty leverages decades of experience in Massachusetts politics to lead Ballard Partners’ Boston office. He also co-chairs the firm’s Cannabis Practice Group.
An experienced legislator, O’Flaherty served for 17 years in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he was the longtime chair of the Judiciary Committee. His accomplishments include leading the implementation of the Goodridge v. Department of Public Health decision that made Massachusetts the first US state to legally recognize gay marriage.
O’Flaherty later accepted an appointment to serve as corporation counsel for the City of Boston. In this cabinet-level position, he served as the chief legal officer to Mayor Martin Walsh and provided legal advice to many members and departments of the Boston city government.
John O’Hanlon
An accomplished attorney, G. John O’Hanlon has personally represented clients and interests before the highest levels of US government, including the Senate, House of Representatives, and White House. He is the co-founder of the Washington Group, where he made his name representing globally known companies and organizations.
Outside of his law career, O’Hanlon has brought his political, advocacy, and business experience to Democratic organizations like the Democratic National Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as well as the Jefferson Trust. A graduate of Northeastern University and the Georgetown University Law Center, he is a partner in Ballard Partners’ Washington, DC, office.
Tola Thompson
Tola Thompson is a trusted staffer who has spent the bulk of his career in government on Capitol Hill. His background includes managing a legislative portfolio for Representative Carrie Meek, then a member of the House Appropriations Committee, and serving as chief to staff to Representative Al Lawson, then a member of the Financial Services Committee.
Over his time in government, Thompson forged relationships with several prominent Democrats, including key members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Now a partner in Ballard Partners’ Washington, DC, office, he previously gained experience in government relations managing the legislative agenda of Florida A&M University.
Conclusion
Ballard Partners continues to strengthen its bipartisan reputation by bringing together professionals with deep experience across Democratic and Republican administrations. The Democratic consultants profiled above add significant breadth to the firm’s policy, legislative, and strategic capabilities. Their backgrounds in Congress, state government, federal agencies, legal advocacy, and national campaigns give the firm a wide lens through which to address client priorities.
In an environment where government relations increasingly requires collaboration across party lines, these partners help ensure Ballard Partners delivers informed, credible, and effective representation. Their collective expertise reinforces the firm’s commitment to serving clients with integrity, depth, and a results-focused approach.
