Born and raised in Florida, with extensive campaign, consulting, and lobbying experience from every county on Florida’s East Coast. Carlos has managed multiple campaign field offices at the Director-level and has strong experience in Presidential, U.S. Congressional, Florida Legislative, and municipal elections.
Before starting with the Leadership Institute, he worked as a Digital Fundraising Specialist for Majority Strategies, one of the nation’s premier full-service consulting firms, where he demonstrated a proven track record of success and won two Reed Awards in 2023 (Best Fundraising Email Copy for Statewide Race & Best Use of personalization in Fundraising).
Carlos also worked as the in-house lobbyist and Director of Political Affairs for Associated Builders & Contractors FL East Coast Chapter and as a Regional Field Director managing multiple field offices for the Republican Party of Florida and the Congressional Leadership Fund Super PAC.
Locally, he has privately worked as a freelance General Political Consultant, managing multiple municipal campaigns throughout South Florida, including in the city of Boca Raton. Mr. Cardenas managed all aspects of the current Mayor Scott Singer’s last two re-election campaigns, winning with 89% of the vote and achieving the highest vote total in Boca Raton’s history.