Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersApril 17, 2018

Warning that Florida may be in violation of the Federal Voting Rights Act, state Sen. Victor Torres on Tuesday led a group of eight mostly-Hispanic Democratic lawmakers in urging Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner to respond to reports that some Florida counties are not providing Spanish-language elections materials. Torres and the others wrote to […]

Scott PowersMarch 7, 2018

An attempt by Orlando Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith to get the state to provide $1 million to help build a Pulse nightclub memorial in Orlando drew some crossover votes from Republicans (including many from Central Florida) but failed in the House Tuesday night. The proposed amendment, which would have added $1 million for […]

Scott PowersMarch 3, 2018

What are progressive Democrats to do when faced with an omnibus school safety and guns bill that has a few things they like but doesn’t have any of the major provisions they’ve insisted on, and also includes something that they worry might be a poison pill? Democratic state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado […]

Peter SchorschMarch 3, 2018

Three Central Florida Democrats will continue their efforts to curb gun violence on Saturday as lawmakers continue to grapple with the post-Parkland political environment. Linda Stewart will renew her push of an assault weapons ban during a rare Saturday floor session of the Florida Senate, while state Reps. Amy Mercado and Carlos Smith will host a gun safety roundtable with […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith picked up his campaign-fundraising pace in early January for his 2018 re-election effort in Florida House District 49, bringing in nearly $24,000 even as his only opponent dropped out of the race. Smith, of Orlando, reported that his campaign raised $23,838 in the first eight days of January prior […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 31, 2018

On the first day of FEMA’s ending of new supply shipments to Puerto Rico, some legislators highlighted the need for Florida to provide support for the islanders displaced by Hurricane Maria. A large group of Puerto Rican advocates gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday at a press conference hosted by VAMOS4PR, a network that supports […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 18, 2018

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State Rep. David Richardson announced a wave of endorsements for his congressional campaign Wednesday from his Democratic colleagues in the Florida Legislature. The Miami Beach Democrat picked up nods from Sen. Linda Stewart and Reps. Bruce Antone, John Cortes, Katie Edwards-Walpole, Patrick Henry, Kristin Jacobs, Amy Mercado, Wengay Newton, David Silvers, Emily Slosberg, Cynthia Stafford, […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 17, 2018

Mayors Buddy Dyer and Andrew Gillum have signed on to a letter to the Florida congressional delegation demanding it includes a plan to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in any proposal to keep the government running. Congress must pass a spending bill by midnight Friday or else parts of the government will shut down. […]

Scott PowersDecember 28, 2017

Housing continues to be the toughest challenge and most likely the biggest long-term challenge as Central Florida absorbs tens of thousands of people displaced from Puerto Rico because of Hurricane Maria, surmised a new task force formed by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto. There still is no clear idea how many of the more than 260,000 […]

Scott PowersDecember 27, 2017

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto announced Wednesday he is forming a Central Florida task force to advise on matters involving the the tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans who have fled the island for Central Florida to escape the island’s plight following Hurricane Maria. The regional Task Force on Puerto Rico Arrivals to Central Florida was […]

Tag: Amy Mercado

Victor Torres leads effort demanding Spanish materials in Florida elections offices

Carlos Smith’s $1M Pulse memorial amendment draws some Republicans, but fails

Amy Mercado, Carlos Smith hear opinions on schools and guns bill

Linda Stewart to try again for assault weapons ban

Carlos Smith tops Orange County legislative candidates, raising $23K

Lawmakers stress state’s need to support Puerto Ricans

14 Florida lawmakers endorse David Richardson for CD 27

Buddy Dyer, Andrew Gillum call on Congress to include DACA fix in budget bill

Puerto Rico evacuees to Florida need immediate, long-term housing, task force concludes

Returning from Puerto Rico, Darren Soto organizing advisory task force