Brad Herold is stepping down as executive director of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) to manage U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis’, R-Fla., bid to replace U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.
On Sunday, DeSantis announced Herold as his campaign manager. Herold is an old hand in Florida politics, having worked at the RPOF and as Rubio’s deputy state director among other positions. In 2014, Herold managed Mike McFadden’s unsuccessful bid to topple U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn.
DeSantis said he was “excited to have Brad on our team” and insisted the hire would help his campaign.
“Brad is an experienced manager and strategist who has a strong work ethic and deep Florida roots," DeSantis said on Sunday. "We're building a grassroots network of thousands of Floridians who want to keep Americans safe from threats at home and abroad, shakeup the status quo in Washington, and rescue the country from its current malaise. Our campaign will continue to grow in the coming months and build on our momentum to 2016."
Herold will leave the RPOF later this month with his last day there on Jan. 15. State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, the chairman of the RPOF, announced on Sunday afternoon that George Riley from the RPOF staff was promoted to serve as acting executive director.
“Brad Herold has played a vital role of our state party’s preparation for the 2016 election and has been an instrumental part of the dynamic team that continues to reform and expand our great party," Ingoglia said. “We're grateful for his hard work and want to congratulate him on his new role.
“Additionally, we are excited to announce that George Riley will take over as acting executive director of the RPOF,” Ingoglia continued. “Riley has served in various roles with the state party since 2008 – from field director, regional victory director, to member relations director, political director and for the past year as the director of party development. His experience will be a key asset as we continue to grow our operations to ensure that we deliver Florida's 29 electoral votes to the Republican presidential nominee."
DeSantis faces U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and businessman and Army veteran Todd Wilcox in the Republican primary. Former Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum and conservative leader Dan Bongino, who ran for federal office in Maryland in 2012 and 2014, are considering entering the Republican primary field.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
