One factor trumped the rest when it came to success on K Street in 2025: connections to the president and his circle.
Checkmate Government Relations tells the story. The shop reported a 31,638% federal lobbying revenue jump last year, according to a Bloomberg Government analysis, raking in more than $22 million from clients such as the Sports Betting Alliance,
Ches McDowell, the firm’s managing partner, is a hunting buddy of the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr. Checkmate lobbyist Chris LaCivita Jr.'s father co-led the 2024 campaign. And another Checkmate staffer worked ...