Brian Swensen -  Former Guest Speaker at the Leadership Institute

Brian has nearly 15 years of political and corporate consulting experience where he has served in various leadership roles on the closest and most crucial campaigns in the state of Florida and United States. As one of Florida’s leading political operatives, he has a winning record of delivering results and solving complex problems.

In the 2018 Election cycle Brian worked on the Ron DeSantis for Governor Campaign and Matt Caldwell for Commissioner of Agriculture. He assisted the Ron DeSantis campaign in building its voter turnout operation, internal operations and structure, and Election Day operations that provided additional votes for many of the down ballot candidates. For Matt Caldwell, he put together the team and strategy that saw Caldwell advance past a contentious primary where he was outspent by his opponents 3-to-1.

Prior to the 2018 cycle Brian served as Senator Marco Rubio’s Deputy Campaign Manager where he built a political operation from the ground up in only 5 months. In the state of Florida where statewide contests are won or lost by less than 1% point, he led a voter turnout operation that contributed to a victory of 7.67% over their opponent.

In 2015, Brian managed the successful Lenny Curry for Jacksonville Mayor campaign, that defeated a key Clinton ally, incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown.

Brian was a part of the Bill Cassidy for U.S. Senate Campaign in 2014, where he was in charge of the political and grassroots operation that lead to the defeat of incumbent Senator, Mary Landrieu.

Prior to working in Louisiana, Brian served as Political Director for the Republican Party of Florida for three years and in 2010 served as Governor Rick Scott’s Victory Director. Before working for Governor Scott, Brian managed several state house and state senate campaigns and worked at The Leadership Institute in Arlington, VA.

Brian graduated from Florida International University where he currently sits as a member of the Alumni Board of Directors and is a graduate from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale.

Brian Swensen