Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Former state Rep. Mike Hill defied the polls and a significant fundraising deficit to emerge victorious in the Republican primary for Escambia County’s House District 1 Tuesday. Hill received 48 percent of the vote in the three-way primary, defeating rising GOP star Rebekah Bydlak by 3 points, while and Lisa Doss took the balance of the vote. […]

Phil AmmannAugust 28, 2018

Senate President-designate Bill Galvano is cheering Ed Hooper on his victory in Senate District 16, which consists of parts of Pasco and Pinellas counties. Hooper, a former state legislator from Clearwater, handily defeated Palm Harbor restaurateur Leo Karruli in the Republican primary, 79 to 21 percent. “I would like to extend my congratulations to Ed Hooper tonight […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Three Republicans and two Democrats competed Tuesday for their party’s nomination to succeed former state Rep. Larry Metz, who gave up Lake County’s House District 32 in March to accept a judicial appointment from Gov. Rick Scott. HD 32 has a hefty Republican lean, and the GOP fielded Shannon Elswick, Anthony Sabatini, and Monica L. […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Three Republicans competed in the primary to succeed exiting House Speaker Richard Corcoran in Pasco County’s House District 37, and with the election in the books, Land O’ Lakes businessman Ardian Zika earned the nomination. With 35 of 36 precincts reporting, Zika led his closest opponent, Elle Rudisill, 57-26 percent. The third Republican vying for the […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Belleair Bluffs businessman Nick DiCeglie defeated Seminole lawyer Berny Jacques in Tuesday’s Republican primary for House District 66. At 7:25 p.m., DiCeglie holds a 60-40 percent lead over Jacques with more than two-thirds of the vote counted. DiCeglie pumped $125,000 in candidate loans into his bid in the closing weeks of the primary race to surpass […]

Drew WilsonAugust 27, 2018

Democratic state House candidate Amol Jethwani has been successful in getting young voters energized for down ballot races in Gainesville, a quality that hasn’t gone unnoticed by established Democratic politicians such as St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, who has endorsed his bid for House District 21. Though he surely has a promising future in politics, […]

Drew WilsonAugust 27, 2018

There’s a new hit job showing up in Pinellas County mailboxes painting House District 66 candidate Nick DiCeglie as a “lifelong Democrat” who has contributed to “pro-amnesty liberals like Charlie Crist.” If that’s the case, the Republican Party of Pinellas County has a problem on its hands — DiCeglie is the chair. But it’s not […]

Drew WilsonAugust 26, 2018

Madeira Beach attorney Ray Blacklidge raised another $13,800 between his campaign and committee over the past two weeks, building on his fundraising edge over Republican primary opponent Jeremy Bailie. Blacklidge and Bailie are running to replace exiting Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters in Pinellas County’s House District 69. Peters announced last year that she would not […]

Drew WilsonAugust 25, 2018

Miami attorney Jason Pizzo put some more of his own money down heading into the final five days before the Democratic primary for Senate District 38. Pizzo, a former prosecutor, lent his campaign another $30,000 and added $18,179 in outside money during the reporting period covering Aug. 11 through Aug. 23, bringing his to-date fundraising […]

Drew WilsonAugust 24, 2018

A slew of campaign mailers and TV ads pushing for Gainesville Democrat Olysha Magruder in Senate District 8 were outed as being tied to GOP operatives Thursday night, prompting TV stations in the Gainesville media market pull the pro-Magruder ads from the airwaves. Gainesville physician Kayser Enneking, who is running against Magruder in Tuesday’s Democratic […]

Tag: 2018 legislative races
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Mike Hill wins House comeback bid by a narrow margin

Senate President-designate Bill Galvano congratulates Ed Hooper on big SD16 win

Anthony Sabatini, Cynthia Brown emerge from HD 32 primary election

Ardian Zika secures HD 37 Republican nomination with ease

Nick DiCeglie cruises past Berny Jacques in HD 66 Republican primary

House candidate spends campaign cash on haircuts, clothes and burritos

Direct mail round-up: Nick DiCeglie slammed as ‘lifelong Democrat’

Ray Blacklidge maintains fundraising edge ahead of HD 69 Republican primary

Jason Pizzo pours another $30K into campaign ahead of SD 38 primary

With GOP ties revealed, TV stations pull Olysha Magruder ads