Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannDecember 7, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round in the Florida House. On: Alexis Calatayud became a legislative assistant, and Ryan Fernandez became district secretary, for Miami Republican Rep. Vance Aloupis. Off and on: Gloria Perez became district secretary for Lithia Republican Rep. Mike Beltran. Perez previously […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 4, 2018

Late last week, state Sen. Travis Hutson honored his colleague, the late Sen. Dorothy Hukill, by introducing legislation that would help Florida students gain financial literacy. The St. Johns County Republican filed SB 114, which would “amend Florida Statute to require all students entering the 9th grade beginning in the 2019-2020 school year complete one-half credit dedicated […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2018

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As expected — and scripted — the Florida Senate unanimously elected Bill Galvano as President of the GOP-controlled chamber for the 2019 and 2020 Legislative Sessions. The move came at a constitutionally mandated “organization session” on Tuesday after the 2018 general elections. Outgoing President and Stuart Republican Joe Negron passed the gavel, and 10 new members also took seats […]

Jacob OglesNovember 6, 2018

It’s no easy task running for office when your name doesn’t appear on the ballot. But replacement candidates who stepped in this year for deceased had to do just that. In Florida Senate District 14, Tommy Wright stood up after the withdrawal of Republican state Sen. Dorothy Hukill, who died days after ending her candidacy. […]

Jacob OglesNovember 2, 2018

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A barrage of Republican advertising in state Senate District 14 offers input on Democrat Mel Martin’s political agenda — whether real or imagined. Mailers picture comparisons of Martin’s platform to government funding for cougars in treadmills, and assign views on term limits Martin never stated. But one thing largely absent from political discourse in the […]

Drew WilsonOctober 28, 2018

Republican Tommy Wright beat out Democrat Melissa “Mel” Martin in his inaugural campaign finance report, though neither candidate reeled in a large haul for the week ending Oct. 19. Wright and Martin are competing for Senate District 14, which turned into an open seat following the death longtime Republican lawmaker Dorothy Hukill. Wright, a New […]

Jacob OglesOctober 17, 2018

Democratic state Senate candidate Mel Martin issued a demand to debate new Republican opponent Tommy Wright in the race to succeed the late Dorothy Hukill. “The voters of Senate District 14 are long overdue a debate on the issues that affect their families and communities,” Martin said. “They deserve to hear from both of us […]

Jacob OglesOctober 15, 2018

Democratic candidate Mel Martin has yet to meet her new Republican opponent in the Senate District 14 race, Tommy Wright. But so far, she doesn’t like what she’s hearing. When Martin heard Wright pitched to Republican Executive Committee leaders that he would “carry the Republican seat,” that’s all she needed to know. “To me, that’s indicative of the […]

Jacob OglesOctober 12, 2018

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Republican leaders named New Smyrna Beach businessman Tom Wright as the replacement nominee in state Senate District 14, replacing the late state Sen. Dorothy Hukill. “I believe I have the skills, life experience, and record of success to strongly support our community as the Republican nominee for Florida Senate,” Wright wrote in a letter to […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2018

The Republican Party of Florida on Tuesday informed the Florida Department of State that it was beginning the process of selecting Sen. Dorothy Hukill’s replacement ahead of the November election for Senate District 14. Hukill died Oct. 2, just days after announcing that she could no longer campaign due to a recurrence of cancer first […]

Tag: Dorothy Hukill
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round (House version)

Fitting tribute: Travis Hutson honors Dorothy Hukill with financial literacy bill

Pledging to be a ‘facilitator,’ Bill Galvano becomes Senate President

Running on a memory: Replacement candidates’ difficult campaign role

Attacks step up on Mel Martin, but little promo for Tommy Wright

Light fundraising week for SD 14 hopefuls

Mel Martin demands debate with new SD 14 opponent Tommy Wright

Mel Martin considers new SD 14 opponent ‘a business decision’

Tom Wright named as replacement nominee for Dorothy Hukill

Florida Republicans begin replacement process for Dorothy Hukill