Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 7, 2018

Democrats in Florida woke up Wednesday morning dejected. Despite prospects of a blue wave, the 2018 election left them bone dry having failed to win the Florida Governorship, a Cabinet seat, or control of the House or Senate. Floridians woke up still living in a red state. But Democrats in Hillsborough County have a silver lining. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Hillsborough County Commission candidates Kimberly Overman and Mariella Smith nabbed key victories in their bids for the open District 5 and 7 countywide seats. The two wins mean Democrats will now control the commission. Smith toppled longtime Republican commissioner Victor Crist 52 percent to 45 percent with NPA Joe Kotvas taking the rest of the vote. […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

The 2018 midterm election is widely considered one of the most contentious in recent history. Like all midterm elections, it’s serving as a referendum on the party in power in Washington. But fueled by the overtly contentious Donald Trump administration, Democrats are fired up to send an anti-Trump message this election. That message is trickling […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

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Political candidates spend months rallying volunteers, knocking on doors, hobnobbing with voters at public events and, of course, raising cash. Come Election Night they’re ready, win or lose, to cut loose and either get to work or get back to their families. Whether the champagne is flowing or supporters are drowning disappointing election results at […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 30, 2018

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Hillsborough County Commission candidate Kimberly Overman wants to flip the political makeup of the board this election. She’s running to replace Republican Al Higginbotham. He’s not seeking re-election. “We have had a Republican led County Commission for well over ten years and if we continue that trend we will not survive in a competitive world,” Overman […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 23, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist and candidate Todd Marks sent out a dual-funded campaign mailer this week claiming Crist’s challenger, Mariella Smith, and Marks’ opponent, Kimberly Overman, support an $18 billion tax hike. Except there’s no factual support for that claim. “It’s a complete lie,” Smith said of the claim. “I just don’t know how they sleep […]

Joe HendersonOctober 14, 2018

I’m going to take a guess, but it looks like Ken Hagan has made Hillsborough transportation his signature issue in what is starting to look like a lifetime term on the governing body. Take the colorful mailer that said, “Ken Hagan’s plan to invest infrastructure will create jobs, improve safety and improve our quality of […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorOctober 9, 2018

Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist continues to lead his Democratic opponent in fundraising efforts, but the gap between the candidates’ cash on hand is slight. Crist has about $95,000 left in the bank with about four weeks before the November 6 election while Mariella Smith has $76,000. A third candidate in the race, Joe Kotvas, […]

Kate BradshawJune 14, 2018

The likely reason for Ken Hagan’s steep climb in the rankings this year is no mystery. A fixture on the Hillsborough County Commission since first elected in 2002, Hagan has been the face of county leaders’ campaign to woo the Rays across the bay. It’s an effort that appears to have succeeded. The team finally announced […]

Drew WilsonApril 19, 2018

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Republican businessman Aakash Patel picked up an endorsement for his Hillsborough County Commission campaign Thursday from current District 2 Commissioner Victor Crist. The two have known each other since Crist was in the state Senate and Patel, now 33, was a student at Sickles High School. Later they worked together when Crist re-appointed Patel to serve […]

Tag: Victor Crist

It’s not a Blue Wave in Florida, but Hillsborough has a silver lining

Democrats claim Hillsborough County Commission for the first time in 14 years

Tampa Bay competitive ‘blue wave’ races to watch

It’s not the party … it’s the after party! A rundown of where Tampa Bay-area candidates will be on election night

Kimberly Overman says Hillsborough can’t survive under GOP

Victor Crist and Todd Marks claim their opponents support an $18B tax hike; they don’t

Joe Henderson: Hey, guess what? Hillsborough transportation is an issue!

Victor Crist still leading Mariella Smith in fundraising battle

#9 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Ken Hagan

Victor Crist endorses Aakash Patel for Hillsborough Commission