Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonAugust 28, 2018

Joe Wicker cruised to a solid victory Tuesday night over long-time political face Ronda Storms to secure the Republican nomination in HD 59. Wicker had 54 percent of the vote to Storms’ 46 percent. Storms called Wicker to concede, saying she congratulated him and adding, “Obviously this is not the result I wanted, but God […]

Drew WilsonAugust 3, 2018

Florida Realtors PAC, the political arm of the state’s largest professional trade association, gave its blessing to another five candidates running for state legislative seats in the fall. Making the cut in the new round of endorsements were five state House candidates, three of them Republicans and two of them Democrats. In southeastern Hillsborough County’s […]

Kate BradshawJune 15, 2018

Whether it’s a string of good decisions — or that she has had an impossibly charmed life in politics thus far — Congresswoman Kathy Castor doesn’t really seem capable of having a bad year. Yet the Tampa Democrat has certainly been an underdog more than once; first, as a Hillsborough County Commissioner in the Ronda Storms era, […]

Peter SchorschMay 17, 2018

Money talks, and for candidates just a few months away from the primary and general elections, it can speak volumes. This edition brings you up to speed on state House candidate money chases in the Bay area. It’s early yet, but monthly fundraising hauls — and spends — provide valuable insights into how things might […]

Joe HendersonMarch 9, 2018

The last time I saw Ronda Storms was more than five years ago. I was interviewing her about her campaign for Property Appraiser in Hillsborough County. She won the Republican primary but thumped by nine points in the general election by Bob Henriquez. We met at Starbucks in Valrico, about 15 miles east of downtown […]

Joe HendersonMarch 9, 2018

Republican Ronda Storms, whose controversial career has included two terms each in the Florida Senate and Hillsborough County Commission, has decided to attempt a political comeback. Storms announced Friday on her Facebook page that she will run for HD 59, a seat currently held by Ross Spano, who is running for the Republican nomination for Attorney […]

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2017

Legislation that would effectively kill the controversial Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission (HB 647) passed in the Florida House on Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Tampa Bay Republican Jamie Grant, was first introduced as a local bill at the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation meeting last December. Although the PTC has reaped a slew of negative news stories over the […]

Joe HendersonNovember 18, 2016

All politicians start out by saying how they want to make a difference. Well, Kevin Beckner did. His now-former colleagues at the Hillsborough County Commission acknowledged that Wednesday during his final meeting as a member of the board. He is leaving because of term limits after serving eight years. Yes, Beckner was the first openly […]

Peter SchorschOctober 4, 2016

Jackie Toledo, the oft-controversial Republican running for Florida House District 60, has a major fundraiser planned for Tuesday. And while the invitation for the event is studded with dozens of local Republican heavyweights, I’m still not sure what to make of Toledo. Is she, as I want to believe, the latest in a line of […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2016

Eleven years to the day after the Hillsborough County Commission stunningly voted to ban all “gay pride” events, that same government body on Wednesday approved hanging the rainbow gay pride flag from the top of County Center for the rest of the month, in a tribute to those who were massacred at the Pulse gay nightclub in Orlando on Sunday […]

Tag: Ronda Storms
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Joe Wicker cruises past Ronda Storms in GOP HD 59

Florida Realtors release third wave of legislative endorsements

#6 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Kathy Castor

Ninja Bow — Tampa Bay campaign finance roundup — April 2018

Joe Henderson: Ronda Storms is back; don’t underestimate her

Ronda Storms announces HD 59 bid

It’s the end of the road for the Hillsborough Public Transportation Commission

Joe Henderson: Kevin Beckner made a difference, which should never be forgotten

What to make of House candidate Jackie Toledo?

Hillsborough County Commissioners approve placing rainbow flag above County Center for the rest of June