Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressApril 20, 2017

The “America First” president who vowed to extricate America from onerous overseas commitments appears to be warming up to the view that when it comes to global agreements, a deal’s a deal. From NAFTA to the Iran nuclear agreement to the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump‘s campaign rhetoric is colliding with the reality of […]

Darryl PaulsonMarch 9, 2017

As a lifelong Republican and a former Fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, I have always preferred voting for the Republican and conservative candidate. Preferably, the candidate is both Republican and conservative, although that is not always the case. For only the second time in my life, I did not vote for the Republican presidential […]

Associated PressDecember 13, 2016

President-elect Donald Trump is considering major Republican fundraiser Wayne Berman as the U.S. Trade Representative. That’s according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. Berman is a senior adviser at the Blackstone Group and was a strong supporter of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio‘s failed 2016 presidential campaign. He served in the Commerce Department during […]

Mitch PerryNovember 28, 2016

For the first time time since September of 2011, the University of South Florida’s football program is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. This comes after the Bulls defeated cross I-4 rival UCF at Raymond James Stadium. They’re tied at 24, and have finished their regular season at 10-2, their most impressive record since […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2016

Enthusiasm gap for Donald Trump? With President Barack Obama across town at the University of North Florida, the GOP presidential nominee couldn’t fill the 6,500-person capacity Jacksonville Equestrian Center. “Great crowd, thank you very much,” Trump said to kick off the event, before discussing poll numbers favorable for him, then launching into his usual critiques of the […]

Larry GriffinOctober 28, 2016

Compared to the throngs of people coming to see President Barack Obama at UCF’s CFE Arena on Friday afternoon, the crowd protesting the Trans-Pacific Partnership was small. But their passion for politics, inspired by Bernie Sanders, was large and solidified enough to convince you that, one day, they could make the change they desired. Once called the “Knights […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 18, 2016

Neither Sen. Marco Rubio nor Rep. Patrick Murphy debated primary opponents. So it stood to reason their debate Monday night would be one to watch. And indeed it was. For an hour in Orlando at the University of Central Florida, the Republican incumbent and his Democratic challenger traded shots on issue after issue, finally bringing to life the cyberspace […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 12, 2016

There is a marked difference between the primary and the General Election in Jacksonville’s 2016 congressional races. While there were debates and forums galore before both the Republican primary in Florida’s 4th Congressional District and the Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, there has been nothing of the sort since the nominees were decided. One […]

Mitch PerryOctober 12, 2016

It’s painful today for me, folks. I stayed up past midnight this morning to see the Chicago Cubs come from behind with four runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the San Francisco Giants, 6-5, and advance to the National League Championship Series this weekend, where they’ll play either Washington D.C. or […]

Associated PressSeptember 27, 2016

She was at her best. He was not at his worst. Weeks of Super Bowl-style hype aside, Monday night’s 90 minutes of heated clashes between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump probably didn’t shove many undecided voters off the fence. If Clinton aimed to push her famously unpredictable opponent into a made-for-sharing disqualifying moment, she didn’t […]

Once critical of global deals, Donald Trump slow to pull out of any

Repeal and replace — The end of traditional conservatism

Donald Trump looking at top Marco Rubio backer as U.S. Trade Representative

Mitch Perry Report for 11.28.16 -While USF football soars, attendance doesn’t

Donald Trump delivers the usual to half-empty hall in Jacksonville

Progressive Action at UCF group stages protest against TPP outside Barack Obama rally

Marco Rubio and Patrick Murphy trade blows in first debate

Glo Smith, Al Lawson clash in chippy congressional debate

Mitch Perry Report for 10.12.16 — Is there still no crying in baseball?

Analysis: In debate, Hillary Clinton was prepared, Donald Trump was Trump