Think of it as ex-Gov. Scott Walker's campaign in exile.

The two-term Republican governor was recently named the national honorary chairman of the Institute for Reforming Government, a policy shop said to be interested in trying to "simplify government at every level."

But here's what the announcement didn't say:

The new nonprofit was founded and is operated by a collection of old Walker and GOP hands.

State records show Kate Lind, Walker's former campaign treasurer, is the registered agent who filed the paperwork creating the institute, which can't engage in partisan politics.

The organization is a client of Platform Communications, a consulting firm founded and headed by Keith Gilkes, Walker's former chief of staff and campaign manager. Brian Reisinger, Walker's former campaign spokesman, is a vice president at Platform.

The institute lists Platform's Madison address as its headquarters.

The board has more Walker allies.

Laura Gralton, the fundraiser for Walker's campaign, is on it. So is Walker's longtime friend Jim Villa. A third member is Bill Johnson, a former finance director for the Republican Party who has given $5,000 to Walker's campaign. Katie McCallum, a former GOP spokeswoman who heads the state Ethics Commission, served on the board before recently stepping down.

The gang, in short, is all here.

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"It isn't surprising that Scott Walker is once again trying to find the next stepping stone for his political ambitions," said Democratic Party spokeswoman Courtney Beyer, whose office was unaware of the new group's ties to Walker's old allies.

"That Walker had to resort to a 'leadership' role in a hollow group fabricated by his friends shows just how desperate he is to retain relevance after Wisconsin voters made their thoughts on him clear last November."

Walker, who lost to Tony Evers last year, did not respond to questions sent to his spokesman.

But Rob McDonald, chairman of the institute, said his nonprofit is hiding nothing. Public records show who exactly is working for the organization, said McDonald, who served a term as a Milwaukee County supervisor during Walker's time as county exec.

"The Institute for Reforming Government was formed in 2017 to promote the kind of reforms Wisconsin accomplished over the past eight years, so it made sense for Gov. Scott Walker to later join our efforts when his term was over," McDonald said.

"We're honored that he agreed and proud of our organization’s board and officers, who represent all corners of Wisconsin’s conservative movement," McDonald continued. "In fact, we would have gladly provided any of the information in this story if anyone would have asked."

The organization is a 501(c)(3), meaning it is not allowed to spend money on political candidates and can lobby on only a limited basis. Donations to the nonprofit are tax deductible.

The institute has yet to file federal tax forms listing its donors and documenting its spending. Those should be filed soon.

It's also clear that this is just one of many projects for all involved, including Walker.

For instance, he is also national finance chairman of the National Republican Redistricting Trust, which will coordinate the party's redistricting strategy after the 2020 census. He is national chairman of the Center for State-led National Debt Solutions, a nonprofit campaigning to convene a constitutional convention to enact a federal balanced budget amendment.

Also, he joined the Worldwide Speakers Group, where his speaking fee ranges between $15,000 and $25,000 per engagement. He also occasionally fills in as an on-air host of Mark Belling's conservative talk show on WISN-AM (1130).

It was his remarks during one of those radio shows that hacked off a fellow Republican, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, leading Walker to be bounced as a speaker at the GOP's 5th District Congressional Caucus last month.

All this activity allows Walker to keep his political options open.

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He recently told a group in Wauwatosa that he is taking GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson at his word that he won't run for a third term in 2022, suggesting the ex-governor is looking at that as an option. But last month, he told the Washington Post that he is mulling another gubernatorial bid in three years.

"As you know, I think six months is a lifetime in politics," he said. "I’m not ruling anything out. My wife … told me, 'Don’t pretend you wouldn’t ever be running again.'"

Whatever he ends up doing, one thing is clear.

Walker won't have to go far to assemble his old campaign team.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.