Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Kate BradshawJune 14, 2018

The Republican state Senator from St. Petersburg fell a few slots this year. That’s not to say Jeff Brandes doesn’t have the juice he did in prior years. And like in previous years, he had a busy 2018 Session. He sponsored some 65 bills and co-sponsored dozens more. He sat on seven committees, including as chair of […]

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2018

St. Petersburg attorney Carrie Pilon is expected to challenge incumbent Republican Jeff Brandes in Senate District 24, according to planning documents obtained by Florida Politics. Pilon, a St. Pete native, is a Stetson University law grad and also holds a bachelor’s and master’s in public administration from Florida State University. She runs an injury law […]

Mitch PerryNovember 30, 2017

Like his father, state Rep. Chris Latvala of Clearwater is a proud Republican who doesn’t always toe the GOP line – a contrarian streak which sometimes gets him into trouble. Not that Latvala, son of longtime state Sen. Jack Latvala, is that worried about that perception. “My grade with the NRA is a ‘D.’ And I’m proud of […]

Mitch PerryOctober 26, 2017

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman is “a little disappointed” by how this year’s mayoral election is becoming the most expensive in the city’s history, with final totals likely to rise above $3 million. “When you really think about it, what that $3 million could have done if we were spending that money on something else,” […]

Mitch PerryJuly 27, 2016

On Wednesday afternoon at the American Jewish History Museum in Philadelphia, a host of Clinton alumni — officials who worked on Bill Clinton’s two presidential election campaigns in the ’90s as well as former White House staffers — assembled for a reunion lunch and a call to arms about telling the public about the real Hillary Clinton. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 29, 2016

Tampa-St. Petersburg Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor and three other Democratic activists stood in front of the steps of the U.S. Federal Courthouse on Tuesday with a simple message for Marco Rubio and the rest of the Republican Senate regarding Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. “We are here to ask Senator Marco Rubio to please do […]

Mitch PerryMarch 9, 2016

Despite the wooing of state Democrats, St. Petersburg City Council member Darden Rice says she will not leave her seat to challenge Republican Jeff Brandes in the state Senate District 24 race this fall. “I really like what I’m doing right now, and I really don’t have any interest in the job,” Rice said on Tuesday. After […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 23, 2015

When the Florida Legislature begins redrawing up all 40 state Senate districts in their next scheduled special session (October 26-November 6), the Senate District 22 seat is expected to change dramatically and become much more Democratic Party friendly. If that scenario plays out, current GOP incumbent Jeff Brandes is expected to bail out of that […]

Mitch PerryApril 24, 2015

Running for president means sometimes having to alter your brand, and sometimes your integrity. Case in point: Rand Paul. Nobody has been more prominent in U.S. politics being critical of drone strikes, particularly against American citizens, such as Anwar al-Awlaki, an Al Qaeda operative killed by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in 2011. In […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

Political science professor Judithanne McLauchlan endured a rough-and-tumble campaign in her first bid for political office in 2014, but the Madeira Beach-based Democrat says her continued frustration with the Florida Legislature is prompting her to seriously consider a run for the Legislature in 2016. The University of South Florida St. Petersburg teacher is looking to run […]

Tag: Judithanne McLauchlan

#8 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Jeff Brandes

Jeff Brandes expected to draw challenge from trial lawyer Carrie Pilon

Chris Latvala goes to class

Rick Kriseman ‘disappointed’ by $3M price tag for St. Pete mayor’s race

Judithanne McLauchlin on the real Hillary Clinton that she knows

Kathy Castor, other Democratic activists call on GOP Senate to give Merrick Garland a vote

Darden Rice will not challenge Jeff Brandes in SD 24

Dwight Dudley leading Darryl Rouson in potential Democratic SD 22 primary contest

Mitch Perry Report for 4.24.15 — The politics of convenience

Judithanne McLauchlan gives serious thought to HD 69 run