Al Cárdenas

Alberto Remelio Cardenas y Pardo (born January 3, 1948) is a Cuban-American lawyer, politician and conservative activist who is a partner in the law firm of Squire Patton Boggs[1] and in the Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners.[2] He has been named as one of Washington D.C.'s top lobbyists by The Hill newspaper. Cardenas is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Florida A&M University.

Al Cárdenas
Cardenas in September 2011
Chairman of the American Conservative Union
In office
2011–2014
Preceded byDavid Keene
Succeeded byMatt Schlapp
Chairman of the Florida Republican Party
In office
1999–2003
GovernorJeb Bush
Preceded byTom Slade Jr.
Succeeded byCarole Jean Jordan
Personal details
Born
Alberto Remelio Cardenas y Pardo

(1948-01-03) January 3, 1948
Havana, Cuba
NationalityUnited States
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
Diana M Lora Cardenas
​
(
m. 1979; div. 2018)

​
(
m. 2019)
Alma materMiami Dade Community College (AA)

Florida Atlantic University (BA)

Seton Hall University (JD)
OccupationLawyer, lobbyist
Known forChairman of Florida Republican Party; Chairman of American Conservative Union

Life and career

Cárdenas was born in Havana, Cuba. He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and received his associate's degree from Miami Dade Community College, a bachelor's degree from Florida Atlantic University, and his Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University.[3] He is an alumnus of Florida Atlantic University's Eta Mu chapter of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

Cardenas has been active in the Republican Party throughout his career. He was responsible for the transition of the United States Department of Commerce at the beginning of the Ronald Reagan administration, and was appointed the first U.S. ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis in 1983. He served on the board of the Federal National Mortgage Association from 1985 to 1990, as an appointee of Reagan and George H. W. Bush.[1]

Cardenas served three terms as Vice-Chairman and two terms as Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. He was also appointed to the Executive Committee of the Republican Party, the highest policy-making board at the Republican National Committee. He was the first Hispanic to lead a major state party and remains the only Hispanic Republican Party Chairman in Florida history.[4] He represented Florida as a delegate at every Republican National Convention held from 1976 to 2008.[1]

During CPAC 2011, Cardenas transitioned into the chairmanship of the American Conservative Union, with then-chairman David Keene's retirement. On June 1, 2014, Cardenas resigned[5] as American Conservative Union Chairman. He was succeeded by Matt Schlapp.[6]

Cardenas was a senior adviser and fundraiser for the 2016 Jeb Bush presidential campaign until it was suspended.[7] He was ranked #23 in "Newsmax's 50 Most Influential Latino Republicans" in 2017.[8]

Cardenas married on 4 May 1979 in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida, Diana M Lora Cardenas and they had four children. They divorced September 20, 2018, amidst rumors of Cardenas having an affair with Ana Navarro.

On March 2, 2019,[9] Cardenas married CNN contributor Ana Navarro.[10]

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References
  1. "Al Cárdenas". Squire Patton Boggs. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  2. "Al Cardenas". The Advocacy Group at Cardenas Partners. Retrieved 4 March 2016.
  3. "Board of Trustees – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University". Florida A&M University. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  4. "Professional Directory – Alberto R. Cardenas". Tew Cardenas LLP. Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2006-11-25.
  5. McLaughlin, Seth (2014-05-20). "Al Cardenas resigns as American Conservative Union chairman". Washington Times.
  6. Glueck, Katie (2014-06-19). "Matt Schlapp elected ACU chairman". Politico.
  7. Misak, Michael (2014-11-20). "With 2016 Looming, Jeb Bush Is Focused On Making Money". Huffington Post.
  8. Morales, Jordan, Newsmax's 50 Most Influential Latino Republicans, Newsmax, March 28, 2017. Retrieved 2017-22-17.
  9. Marr, Madeline (2019-02-19). "CNN contributor Ana Navarro celebrates her bridal shower with a drag brunch in Miami". Miami Herald.
  10. Stone, Natalie (2019-03-02). "CNN's Ana Navarro Marries Al Cardenas in Miami Beach: All the Details!". People.
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