This chapter discusses the rise of the provincial jao pho as a new ‘player’ in the Thai socio-economic and power structure during the period of economic growth and democratic expansion, and analyses their role in political corruption and the development of democratic politics. The chapter begins with some explanation of the term jao pho, presents some case studies from five upcountry provinces, and them analyses the phenomenon of the modern jao pho in terms of their economic background, their sources of informal influence, their role in local politics, and their penetration of national politics. The chapter ends with discussion of the regional distribution of the jao pho, and of the impact of their rise on the development of Thailand’s democracy.