Mayor’s Partner Ana Cruz Celebrates #1 Lobbyist Spot

TAMPA — “Ballard Partners soars to #1 in the nation,” wrote Ana Cruz, who is a managing partner at the lobbying firm. “That’s right—Número Uno. Florida roots. D.C. results. To every client who put their trust in us—thank you. This milestone is yours, too.”

She was celebrating Politico’s new ranking of lobbyist income for Q2 of 2025. “Ballard dethrones Brownstein,” declared Politico, placing the Florida-based firm at the top of their list with $20.6 million in revenue for Q2.

Cruz worked in Democratic politics for years, serving as ED of the Florida Democratic Party and working for Senator Bill Nelson and then-Representative Bob Henriquez. She was a staffer for Al Gore when she first met her partner Jane Castor who currently serves as Mayor of Tampa.

Ballard Partners was founded in 1998 by UF graduate Brian Ballard, who cut his teeth in Florida Republican politics. He became a Florida powerhouse and then opened a DC office in 2017 after raising money for Donald Trump. Ana Cruz joined the Republican-aligned lobbying firm in 2016.

The Politico rankings feature other firms with a strong Florida presence, including Mercury Public Affairs. City of Tampa Communications Director Adam Smith worked at Mercury immediately before taking his job at the city. He swapped places with Ashley Bauman in 2021 when she left the Tampa Communications Director job for a role at Mercury.

Florida has long been known as a lucrative state for lobbyists. As the state has trended rightward, Republican-aligned lobbyists like Ballard have thrived and grown their national influence.