JAMES PERICOLA NAMES VETERAN POLITICAL AND PUBLIC-AFFAIRS STRATEGIST STEVE CISNEROS CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR FOR FINAL STRETCH OF FLORIDA’S 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACE
Both Served in the Clinton Administration; Cisneros Brings More Than Three Decades of Government, Public-Affairs and Political Experience to Pericola Campaign Ahead of November 3 General Election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Leland Hardy – Strivers Row Media, Inc.
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Winter Garden, FL • Congressional District 11 — September 21, 2026 — Strivers Row Media — James Pericola, Democratic nominee for Florida’s open 11th Congressional District, today announced that veteran government-relations and public-affairs strategist Steve Cisneros has joined his campaign as Campaign Director, assuming a senior leadership role as the campaign enters the closing stretch ahead of the November 3 general election.
Cisneros brings more than three decades of experience spanning government relations, public affairs, legislative advocacy, community engagement and politics at the federal, state and local levels. Both Cisneros and Pericola previously served in the Clinton administration.
“Steve brings decades of experience, relationships and an understanding of how government, campaigns and communities intersect,” Pericola said. “We both had the privilege of serving during the Clinton administration, and I have known the judgment and experience he brings to the table. With the general election approaching, I am pleased that Steve has agreed to take on this leadership role and help direct our campaign through the closing stretch.”
Cisneros has advised organizations on government and public affairs and served in positions involving federal, state and local government. His career has included work in Washington and across several states, as well as service as executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission.
“This campaign is entering an important phase, and my focus is straightforward: disciplined execution, direct engagement with voters and making certain that Floridians have every opportunity to hear where the candidates stand on the issues affecting their families and communities,” Cisneros said. “James and I share the experience of having served in the Clinton administration, and I look forward to bringing everything I have learned over more than three decades in public affairs and government to this campaign.”
Pericola is an attorney and former presidential appointee whose career has included public service, congressional staff work and senior government-affairs positions. During the Clinton administration, he served as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, working with the White House, Congress and federal agencies on transportation-safety matters and responses to major aviation incidents.
The November 3 general election for Florida’s 11th Congressional District is an open-seat contest. Pericola is the Democratic nominee; Joe Strada is the Republican nominee; and Ralph Groves is the Libertarian nominee.
Pericola said the campaign will use the remaining weeks to continue communicating its positions directly to voters throughout the district and to participate in opportunities for public discussion of the issues. “This race pits me as a fighter against the billionaire class and a fighter FOR Floridians, against Joe Strada who doesn’t feel the pain of soaring gas prices, and who refuses to debate on any issues, let alone the issues of affordability, safe streets, education for our kids, and the myriad other issues Floridians truly care about,” stated Pericola.
Pericola has also pressed Strada to engage directly with voters. Spectrum News reported that Strada declined its July 29 candidate forum, conducted in partnership with AARP, while the Orlando Sentinel reported that Strada was the only major-party District 11 candidate who did not respond to its interview requests for its July voter guide.
“Voters deserve a serious campaign in which the candidates make their positions clear, answer questions and engage directly on the issues,” Pericola said. “That is the kind of campaign we intend to run through Election Day.”
“People expect you to go out there and talk to them, not just invade their homes with expensive ads and mailers,” Pericola told the Orlando Sentinel.
ABOUT JAMES PERICOLA
James Pericola is the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives in Florida’s 11th Congressional District. An attorney and former presidential appointee, Pericola has more than 30 years of experience encompassing public service, congressional staff work and government affairs. He served in the Clinton administration as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and previously worked for U.S. Senator Bob Graham.
For additional information about James Pericola and his campaign, visit JamesPericola.com.
ABOUT STEVE CISNEROS
Steve Cisneros is a veteran government-relations and public-affairs professional whose career spans more than three decades of work involving federal, state and local government, legislative advocacy, stakeholder engagement and public affairs. He previously worked in the Clinton administration and served as executive director of the Kansas Hispanic and Latino American Affairs Commission. Cisneros is affiliated with HudBella Government Affairs and is based in Florida.
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Paid for by James Pericola for Congress.