Tallahassee lobbying firm expands Monroe County office, hires Erin Muir

Keys Weekly reported Feb. 13, 2026, that The Southern Group, a Tallahassee-based lobbying firm, has expanded its Monroe County footprint by adding Erin Muir to the firm’s Florida Keys office. Muir, identified in the report as a sixth-generation Upper Keys native and a former legislative aide, joined the office as part of the firm’s continued efforts to expand in the region.

The Southern Group’s move puts a Tallahassee lobbying presence closer to local decision makers in Monroe County, linking the firm’s state Capitol base with on-the-ground representation in the Keys. The firm’s announcement framed the hire as part of that expansion; Keys Weekly’s coverage noted Muir’s Upper Keys roots and prior legislative experience as central to the recruitment.

Erin Muir’s background as a former legislative aide and as a sixth-generation resident of the Upper Keys gives the firm both institutional access in Tallahassee and deep community ties in locations such as Key Largo, Tavernier and Islamorada. Those dual strengths could matter for Monroe County matters that require coordinating with state agencies and lawmakers, since The Southern Group is headquartered in Tallahassee and has signaled a strategic focus on growing its Florida Keys operations.

Local stakeholders will watch how the addition of Muir to the Florida Keys office translates into concrete advocacy around county-level decisions. The hire arrives amid the firm’s stated expansion efforts, and Keys Weekly’s Feb. 13 report makes clear the Southern Group is positioning staff with local lineage and Capitol experience to bridge Monroe County interests with state policymaking.

The Feb. 13 announcement also highlights a trend of Tallahassee-based firms increasing their presence in coastal counties; in this instance, The Southern Group chose a native Upper Keys figure, Erin Muir, to bolster its Monroe County arm. That combination of hometown credentials and legislative aide experience may accelerate the firm’s ability to engage with Monroe County elected officials and state representatives on behalf of clients operating in the Florida Keys.