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

Brendan FarringtonDecember 14, 2015

Florida’s prisons are understaffed, lack adequate prison programs, have deteriorating facilities and fences and have a high turnover rate that’s led to inexperienced officers being responsible for some of the most important duties, according to a report that sheds an unflattering light on the Department of Corrections. The 178-page report was prepared for a legislative […]

Brendan FarringtonDecember 10, 2015

A billionaire who is backing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has launched a personal campaign against fellow billionaire Donald Trump, calling him an insecure, narcissistic bully who needs to be stopped. Mike Fernandez, a Cuban-born major Republican donor from Miami who built his fortune in the health care industry, has bought full-page newspaper ads blasting […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 20, 2015

A contentious proposal to let concealed weapons permit holders bring guns on state university and college campuses was among four firearm bills that made their final committee stops Thursday and will now be before their respective legislative chambers. Two other bills will ban backyard gun ranges in densely populated areas and another will remove aggravated […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 18, 2015

A bill that would force prosecutors to prove self-defense wasn’t a factor before bringing someone using a “stand your ground” defense to trial advanced in the Senate on Wednesday despite a similar House bill being killed the day before. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal Justice approved the bill on a 5-1 vote. But its […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 15, 2015

Several Republican candidates for president Sunday accused President Barack Obama and his former secretary of state, Democratic Party front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, of failing in the fight against Islamic State militants as the terrorist attacks in Paris became a focal point of the nomination race. Carly Fiorina, the former tech CEO, criticized the Obama administration […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 13, 2015

Former Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday that he believes Hillary Rodham Clinton set up a private email server when she was secretary of state to avoid having her messages sent to the National Archives. Cheney was asked about Clinton’s emails during a Republican Party of Florida fundraising dinner. “I think she’s in big trouble,” […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 24, 2015

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump mocked former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in his own state on Saturday, saying recent campaign cuts show he’s not ready to be president. “Here’s a guy who wants to run our country, and he can’t even run his own campaign. And you know what? He’s cutting back big,” Trump told […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 15, 2015

Five major candidates for U.S. Senate addressed editors and reporters from across Florida Wednesday, acknowledging the frustration with Washington and all predicting they can do something to help change the atmosphere there and get something done. What they want to get done is where some of the differences are between the Democratic and Republican candidates […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 7, 2015

A bill that would allow churches to refuse to marry gay couples won its first approval Wednesday even though its sponsor said churches already have that right and he knows of no cases in which a church has been forced to perform a same-sex wedding ceremony. After listening to dozens of pastors, most of whom […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 5, 2015

Jeb Bush follows Donald Trump on Twitter but that’s a one-way street: Trump mainly follows people with a connection to himself. Ted Cruz‘s follow list is a big tea party, though he keeps an eye on President Barack Obama, too. Marco Rubio seems open to following everyone under the sun — Democrats, fellow Republicans, insiders […]

Brendan Farrington

Study finds Florida prisons understaffed, deteriorating

Billionaire Jeb Bush donor begins personal anti-Donald Trump campaign

Guns on campus among 4 gun bills set for full chamber votes

Senate advancing bill to change “stand your ground” law

GOP candidates use Paris attacks to take aim at Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton at Florida GOP summit

Headlining Florida GOP dinner, Dick Cheney says Hillary Clinton’s in “big trouble”

Donald Trump in Jax: Jeb Bush is embarrassing his family, can’t run a campaign and shouldn’t run country

5 US Senate candidates address Florida reporters, editors

Bill would allow Florida churches to say no to gay marriages

The Twitter follow lists of the 2016 candidates