Brendan Farrington, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Brendan FarringtonSeptember 9, 2016

The Florida Supreme Court reduced the sentence of a death row inmate Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court ordered it to reconsider his intellectual abilities based on factors other than his IQ. Freddie Lee Hall, 71, will now serve a life sentence for the 1978 murder of a 21-year-old pregnant woman who was abducted while […]

Brendan FarringtonAugust 31, 2016

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Republican Sen. Marco Rubio‘s presidential aspirations and insistence that he was done with the Senate didn’t hurt him with GOP voters, now it’s time to see if the rest of Florida will be as forgiving as he seeks a second term. Rubio easily won the Republican nomination to retain his seat and will be challenged […]

Brendan FarringtonAugust 23, 2016

A dangerous, erratic, con man with the worst spray tan ever. That’s how Sen. Marco Rubio described Donald Trump when they were both seeking the Republican presidential nomination. Now that Trump is the nominee and Rubio is running for re-election, his tone is different. He’s no longer criticizing Trump, but he isn’t exactly gushing praise. […]

Brendan FarringtonAugust 1, 2016

Republicans aren’t waiting until the primary to start attacking Democratic Senate candidate Patrick Murphy in an effort to define him before he can define himself, a sign they believe the U.S. congressman will be the nominee and the tougher candidate to beat in November. The race in Florida is being closely watched since it could […]

Brendan FarringtonJuly 29, 2016

Florida Democrat Alan Grayson vowed to stay in the state’s Senate race despite calls from party leaders to stand down over abuse claims from his children’s mother, and he alleged she was the abuser who repeatedly hit him and their five children. Grayson previously has made the same claims in court documents during a messy […]

Brendan FarringtonJuly 26, 2016

The furor over leaked emails not only got U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz heckled out of her speaking role Monday at the Democratic National Convention; it’s also providing fodder for her congressional primary opponent. Wasserman Schultz announced her resignation as Democratic National Committee chair for the sake of party unity after the e-mails indicated that […]

Brendan FarringtonJune 23, 2016

Florida’s Key West is one of the most gay-friendly places in the country. The Florida Panhandle – many locals call it the Redneck Riviera – is a different story. The massacre of 49 people in a gay nightclub happened between these extremes, forcing many Floridians to reconsider their assumptions about the state’s evolving culture. Key […]

Brendan FarringtonJune 22, 2016

Either the African-American woman who founded what’s now Bethune-Cookman University, the founder of Publix supermarkets or the woman credited with saving the Everglades will replace a Confederate general’s statue that represents Florida in the U.S. Capitol. The three Floridians were selected Wednesday by a committee that reviewed 130 recommendations made by the public. The Legislature […]

Brendan FarringtonJune 14, 2016

As in mass shootings elsewhere, the massacre of 49 people at an Orlando nightclub is raising questions about access to guns — assault rifles, in particular. In Florida, buying one is no problem as long as you’re 18, a legal resident of the United States, aren’t a felon or a domestic abuser and have no documented […]

Brendan FarringtonJune 6, 2016

Residents on Florida’s Gulf coast filled sandbags, schools planned to close early and Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency as Tropical Storm Colin gained speed and churned toward the state Monday, threatening serious flooding. A large portion of Florida’s western and Panhandle coast was already under a tropical storm warning when the National […]

Brendan Farrington

Death to life: Florida reduces disabled murderer’s sentence

After easy win, Marco Rubio has bigger challenge to keep seat

Marco Rubio on Donald Trump: First a con man, now better than Hillary Clinton

GOP hits Patrick Murphy in Florida Senate race, and Barack Obama hits back

Alan Grayson vows to stay in Senate race, calls ex an abuser

Heckled offstage, Debbie Wasserman Schultz now faces tough re-election

From Key West to Pensacola, Florida’s LGBT attitudes differ

Florida now has three suggestions to replace Confederate statue

Want to buy an assault rifle in Florida? No problem

Tropical Storm Colin gains strength as it nears Florida; Gov. declares emergency