Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2016

A contentious — and expensive — general election in Senate District 8 went the way of Republican Keith Perry over Democrat Rod Smith. With 226,438 votes counted throughout the three-county North Central Florida district, Perry was ahead 119,968 to 107,270 — a margin of 52 to 48 percent. This was a priority race for the Democratic Party, yet Perry got […]

Peter SchorschNovember 3, 2016

Clearwater Republican Sen. Jack Latvala and incoming Senate President Joe Negron buried the hatchet long ago and, according to the most recent numbers from Latvala’s political committee, the two are very much playing on the same team. On Nov. 2, the Florida Leadership Committee, which served as Latvala’s war chest during the race for the Senate presidency, put $300,000 into the Florida […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2016

Bradenton Sen. Bill Galvano’s political committee pulled in more than $360,000 between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, giving the future Senate president plenty of ammo to help his fellow Republican senators win re-election. “Innovate Florida” kicked off the three-day fundraising spree with a $100,000 check from Cuban-American billionaire Miguel Fernandez Oct. 31, followed by a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 1, 2016

State Senate candidate Rod Smith got a key endorsement from former Florida governor and U.S. senator Bob Graham Tuesday in the competitive race in Senate District 8. Graham, motivated by environmental concerns, cited those as a key reason for backing Smith. “I’m proud to support Rod Smith in his race for state Senate. He is the only […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 31, 2016

The latest finance reports in the high-profile race in Senate District 8 show that as of Oct. 21, Republican Keith Perry leads Democrat Rod Smith in cash-on-hand. Perry has $82,865 on hand of the $645,152 he had raised in the campaign through Oct. 21. The Republican raised $33,095 of that in the most recent week, a number bolstered […]

Guest AuthorOctober 26, 2016

Candidates for Florida’s newly drawn Senate District 8 outlined their disparate visions for the future to more than 300 students at a debate held at the University of Florida Tuesday evening. But one thing both men had in common was their choice to lead lives that differ dramatically from the lives their fathers led. “Happiness […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 25, 2016

With two weeks until the election and polls swinging his way, Rep. Keith Perry has opened up a serious cash-on-hand advantage over Rod Smith in the Senate District 8 race. As of Oct. 14, Perry had $107,000 on hand, an almost four-to-one edge over Smith, who has just over $27,000 on hand. In the most recent reporting period […]

Peter SchorschOctober 24, 2016

President Barack Obama, capitalizing on high approval numbers, is endorsing dozens of state legislative candidates throughout the country, part of a significant push in the effort to flip swing districts in down-ballot races throughout Florida and across the country. The roll call now includes support for Charlie Crist in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, Rod Smith in state Senate District 8, Bob Buesing in […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 21, 2016

President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind more than a dozen Democratic legislative hopefuls. The Florida Democratic Party announced Friday the president endorsed 13 Democrats running for state House and Senate. The endorsements come just 18 days before the Nov. 8 general election, and are likely meant to boost Democratic turnout. “No state is […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 17, 2016

Between them, Democrat Rod Smith and Republican Keith Perry have raised over a million dollars in their quests to win Senate District 8. Both men have enjoyed support from their state parties. And their total money raised is pretty similar. Smith actually leads Perry, barely, in terms of hard money raised: $539,570 for Smith to $537,997 for Perry. […]

Tag: Rod Smith

Keith Perry downs Rod Smith in SD 8 donnybrook

Money flow shows teamwork between former rivals Jack Latvala, Joe Negron

Bill Galvano committee brings in over $360K in five days

Bob Graham backs Rod Smith in SD 8 race

Keith Perry leads Rod Smith in cash on hand in SD 8 race

Keith Perry and Rod Smith offer different visions for Florida, while touching on the personal at SD 8 debate

Keith Perry widens money and momentum lead in SD 8 race

I’m just gonna leave this right here: Why didn’t President Obama endorse Dwight Bullard?

Barack Obama endorses 13 Democrats running for state House and Senate

Keith Perry leads Rod Smith in cash-on-hand in SD 8 race