Scott Powers, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersDecember 6, 2018

Winter Park’s U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy has received another leadership role in Congress, elected chair of “Future Forum,” a caucus of young Democrats in Congress seeking to pursue positions of interest to millennials. Murphy’s office announced Thursday that she was unanimously elected to head the 50-member group of young Democrats in Congress, just over a […]

Scott PowersDecember 5, 2018

Republican state Rep. David Smith will be heading to Tallahassee with a broad platform of ambitions covering education, the economy and the environment, but the retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel gets particularly excited about prospects he sees to improve the lot for Florida’s military veterans. Smith was elected Nov. 6 to succeed Jason Brodeur in […]

Scott PowersDecember 5, 2018

The Orange County Republican Party and Democratic Party are both heading for what may be tumultuous executive committee elections this week that have Republican Chair Charles Hart and Democratic Chair Wes Hodge each playing defense but likely heading for re-elections. Hart, who took over the party in June after the retirement of longtime Chair Lew Oliver, […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

After serving two terms, Blaise Ingoglia is stepping down as chair of the Republican Party of Florida. He announced the move Tuesday, citing the support of term limits for RPOF members. Ingoglia also serves as a state representative from House District 35 in Hernando County, In 2015, Ingoglia rose to power in what was primarily an insurgency against […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

Progressive organizer Kristellys Estanga is becoming the new legislative aide to Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando, as Ida Eskaman leaves to go into lobbying for progressive groups. Estanga, who worked on Andrew Gillum‘s Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign and Florida’s voting rights restoration amendment campaign, most recently served as senior advisor to Smith’s successful […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

When it came to talking about how far he’d come, the son of a taxi driver from the hardscrabble Orlando neighborhood Washington Shores, to Orange County’s most powerful office, newly sworn-in Mayor Jerry Demings finally cracked for a moment Tuesday. Demings, who just two hours earlier ended a 10-year tenure as Orange County sheriff and […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Mike Ertel calls his office “America’s Finest Elections Team,” and it has national awards to back him up. Now he may be in the running to become the state’s top elections official. Rumors have been swirling since Election Day that Ertel, a Republican who regularly voices a passion for voters’ […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2018

Nineteen months after the Florida Legislature apologized on behalf of the state for injustice toward four black men falsely accused of rape in 1949 and urged Gov. Rick Scott and Florida’s cabinet to expedite pardons for them, there appear to be no such pardons in the works for the Groveland Four. But there still might […]

Scott PowersDecember 3, 2018

Orange County Mayor-elect and still-Sheriff Jerry Demings has made no announcements yet on any of the imminent changes the county’s government will undergo on matters ranging from his chief of staff to departmental reorganizations when he is sworn into office Tuesday. But that doesn’t mean he’s not looking ahead. He says he is looking far […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2018

The Seminole County Republican Party, fresh off an election that saw voters turning more than ever toward Democratic candidates, has dropped two former state representatives from the executive committee, Bob Cortes and Jason Brodeur. Seminole Republican Executive Committee Chair Kathryn Townsend said Friday that both were dropped from the committee because they lost their standing […]

Scott Powers

Stephanie Murphy to chair Democrats’ Future Forum in Congress

David Smith riding new wave of veteran-advocates in the Florida Legislature

Orange County Republican, Democratic leaders dig in for re-election challenges

Blaise Ingoglia stepping aside as Florida GOP chair

Kristellys Estanga succeeding Ida Eskamani as Carlos Smith’s aide

Jerry Demings, new commissioners take control in Orange County

Mike Ertel being discussed as Secretary of State under Ron DeSantis

No pardons in line for Groveland Four as Rick Scott, clemency board postpone meeting

Jerry Demings’ eyes future to govern in Orange County

Republican battles in Seminole County: Bob Cortes, Jason Brodeur ousted from executive committee