Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 1, 2016

Lizbeth Benacquisto raised more than $50,000 in June, bring her total fundraising haul to more than $300,000. State records show Benacquisto raised $52,600 between June 1 and June 24. The three-week haul brings the Fort Myers Republican’s fundraising total to $306,571. Benacquisto received $1,000 donations from “Working for Florida’s Families,” the political committee backing Sen. Ron […]

Jim RosicaJune 27, 2016

State Sen. Don Gaetz is telling constituents not to take the special-session-on-gun-control bait. Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who was Senate president in 2012-14, sent out an email Monday. It reprinted and linked to an op-ed he wrote for the Northwest Florida Daily News, Okaloosa County’s newspaper. It appeared Sunday. He wrote on the mass shooting at […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 24, 2016

George Gainer is on his way to the Florida Senate. The Bay County Republican won the Senate District 2 seat Friday after no other candidate qualified for the race. “I am humbled and honored to have been elected without drawing another candidate to run against me,” Gainer said in a statement. “From the first day I […]

Ryan RayMay 31, 2016

In a crowded 2nd Congressional District primary with three candidates from Tallahassee or east of it, it was Panama City’s Neal Dunn who managed to win the day among Capital City Republicans last week. The urological surgeon won a Leon County Republican Executive Committee straw poll by five points over former U.S. Attorney Ken Sukhia and 17 points over former Rick […]

Jim RosicaMay 9, 2016

Incoming Senate President Joe Negron tapped Mike Hansen to head the staff for the chamber’s Appropriations Committee, a spokeswoman said Monday. Hansen will take over when Negron officially becomes president in November. Hansen, 63, had left state government to become president and CEO of The Florida Council for Community Mental Health in Tallahassee. He served as […]

Gary FineoutMay 7, 2016

A charter school management company which has operated schools statewide was indicted this week by a Florida Panhandle grand jury, accused of fraudulently billing a charter school for supplies, equipment and services. The charges of grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white collar crime were announced Thursday by State Attorney Bill Eddins against the management […]

Ryan RayApril 23, 2016

Rep. Matt Gaetz knows voters are angry. He’s angry too. Invective against “spineless politicians” and “lawless bureaucrats” peppered the Ft. Walton Beach Republican’s campaign kick off tour around Northwest Florida on Saturday. The 33-year-old lawmaker is seeking to succeed U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, whose announced retirement from Congress has set off a chain reaction of electoral maneuvering across […]

Ryan RayApril 4, 2016

Rep. Matt Gaetz‘s campaign said Monday his U.S. House bid is picking up steam quickly, raising $350,000 during his first 10 days, including a $100,000 commitment from Gaetz himself. Gaetz is running for Congressional District 1, an open seat incumbent U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller is exiting after announcing his retirement from Congress in March. The Gaetz camp touted the big […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

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An activist group is running a radio ad in the Tampa Bay area questioning St. Petersburg-based state Sen. Jeff Brandes’ ethics. The 60-second spot from Florida Strong is called “Let’s Make a (corrupt) Deal.” It attacks the Pinellas Republican for receiving campaign contributions from companies such as Duke Energy and insurance lobbyists, and then claims that he […]

Jim RosicaMarch 24, 2016

Because of differences between federal and state campaign finance laws, Mike Haridopolos can use money left over from his failed U.S. Senate bid to run for state Senate, but Matt Gaetz, who switched from a state Senate seat to a congressional bid, is out of luck. Haridopolos, a Merritt Island Republican and former Senate President, is […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

Lizbeth Benacquisto raises more than $50K in SD 27 race

Don Gaetz: We don’t need special session for gun control

George Gainer becomes instant winner in SD 2

Neal Dunn wins Leon Republicans’ straw poll

Mike Hansen to be next Senate budget staff head

Florida grand jury indicts charter school management company

Matt Gaetz kicks off U.S. House campaign with “Fight Washington” bus tour

Matt Gaetz says he’s raised $350K in first 10 days for congressional bid

Radio ad blasts Jeff Brandes on ethics

Campaign finance laws can help or hinder candidates, like Matt Gaetz or Mike Haridopolos, switching races