Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 28, 2018

It’s been nearly 25 years since a Democrat presided over the Florida Senate, but if the plans of party leaders and operatives come together, the president’s gavel could be theirs as soon as November. The Florida Democratic Party and the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, the recently-established campaign arm of the Senate Democrats, are aggressively working to […]

Peter SchorschMarch 19, 2018

Up until the moment a special master’s report found credible evidence of Jack Latvala‘s sexual misconduct, I was a defender of the Republican state Senator’s right to due process and, to some extent, an opportunity to confront his accusers. But after former Judge Ronald Swanson issued a report that Latvala inappropriately touched a top Senate […]

Ana CeballosMarch 14, 2018

After years of being a persistent—sometimes annoying—presence in committee rooms across the Capitol, only one thing was able to make Tallahassee’s best-known gadfly hang up his corduroy jacket: a snowball of scandals. “Latvala, Clemens, Artiles—all this happened in one year. In one year! No, that is not acceptable and it was too much. It was […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 9, 2018

Disgraced former Sen. Jack Latvala has withdrawn his bid for the Governor’s Mansion. The Clearwater Republican sent a formal termination of his gubernatorial campaign Friday to Secretary of State Ken Detzner. The Florida Division of Elections website indicates that Latvala’s campaign is no longer active. The move comes a little more than two months after he […]

Mitch PerryMarch 2, 2018

After the Parkland mass shooting two weeks ago, Bernie Fensterwald is more determined than ever to win in Senate District 16. As proof, the Dunedin Democrat is putting $25,000 of his own money into the campaign. “I’m 100 percent committed to this race, and I’m willing to prove it,” Fensterwald announced Friday. “The tragedy in Parkland […]

Mitch PerryMarch 1, 2018

Palm Harbor resident Leo Karruli has entered the race for state Senate District 16, the seat recently vacated by embattled Sen. Jack Latvala. Karruli, 50, owns Leo’s Italian Grill on U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor. He is a Queens, New York native who moved to Pinellas County in 1991. In a brief phone interview with Florida Politics, Karruli said […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2018

With Democrats and Republicans sharply divided on the issue of gun control and gun rights, it’s little surprise that less than 24 hours after 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz shot and killed 17 people at a Broward County school, the issues would come up in a race for a contested open seat in the Florida Senate. Democrat […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 12, 2018

The checks are in the mail. Or at least they will be. According to sources close to former state Senator Jack Latvala, the process of refunding contributions to his campaign for Governor has begun. Latvala announced last fall that he would run for Florida governor. A prodigious fundraiser, the veteran lawmaker quickly raised nearly $1 […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 1, 2018

Rep. Kathleen Peters‘ attempt to amend an House ethics reform bill resulted in virtual fireworks Thursday, with a prominent lobbyist saying Peters was targeting him and a lawmaker bemoaning “political gymnastics” that temporarily gummed up the measure. One of Peters’ amendments would have banned sitting lawmakers and their immediate family members from working for lobbying firms. The […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 30, 2018

The Senate Regulated Industries Committee narrowly voted in favor of a bill Tuesday that aims to put franchisees on a level playing field with their franchisor. SB 1076, known as the “Small Business Parity Act,” would shield business owners from restrictions on selling their franchises or passing them on to an heir, and would give […]

Tag: Jack Latvala

Florida Democrats look to expand number of state Senate seats in play

Tampa Bay Times editorial board disgustingly misframes the Jack Latvala scandal

‘It was time for a sabbatical’: Scandals drive Brian Pitts away

Jack Latvala officially out of Governor’s race

After Parkland, Bernie Fensterwald determined to win state Senate race

Restaurateur Leo Karruli files to run for Jack Latvala’s Senate seat

In wake of Parkland shooting, gun control become an issue in state Senate race

Jack Latvala begins refunding money to gubernatorial campaign contributors

‘Political gymnastics’: House panel kills Kathleen Peters’ ethics proposals

Franchisee bill squeaks by first Senate panel