Drew Wilson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJuly 18, 2018

A proposed ballot amendment to allow unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in partisan primaries didn’t get the green light from the Constitution Revision Commission this year, but on Wednesday a group committed to getting the proposal in front of voters in 2020. Florida Fair and Open Primaries said it was launching two petition drives to […]

Drew WilsonJuly 18, 2018

If the Republican primary for Governor were today, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis would win in a blowout. A new survey conducted by St. Pete Polls found the Ponte Vedra Republican pulling a full 50 percent of likely GOP primary voters while the heretofore frontrunner, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, is registering at 30 percent. About one […]

Drew WilsonJuly 18, 2018

altman_thad_7575030_ver1.0_640_480-1024x1024.jpg

The political arm of the Florida Medical Association announced Tuesday that it’s backing Indialantic state Rep. Thad Altman for another term in Brevard County’s House District 52. “The FMA PAC is proud to support Rep. Thad Altman for re-election. Rep. Altman has worked closely with the FMA on many issues during his time in both […]

Drew WilsonJuly 17, 2018

Just days after his Republican primary rival hit the airwaves, Berny Jacques is rolling out his own TV ad in the race to succeed term-limited state Rep. Larry Ahern in House District 66. “For over a year now, our campaign has been talking directly with the voters of Pinellas, spreading our message of principled conservatism […]

Drew WilsonJuly 17, 2018

Republican Aakash Patel announced Tuesday that the first TV ad backing his Hillsborough County Commission campaign is already hitting the airwaves. The 30-second spot, entitled “A Better Hillsborough,” features a half dozen Hillsborough residents saying what they are looking for out of the next commissioner to hold the countywide District 7 seat. “My county commissioner […]

Drew WilsonJuly 17, 2018

A group connected to activist Tom Steyer has opened a state-level political committee, signaling that the San Francisco billionaire has more plans for the Sunshine State in 2018. NextGen Climate Action Committee was added to the Florida Division of Elections political committee database on Tuesday. The national version of the climate change-focused group is one […]

Drew WilsonJuly 17, 2018

Florida’s 15th Congressional District is a safe Republican seat by nearly every metric, but that didn’t stop Lakeland Democrat Kristen Carlson from outraising the 10 other candidates vying to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross. Carlson, a former prosecutor and former general counsel to the Florida Department of Citrus, raised just shy of $250,000 during […]

Drew WilsonJuly 17, 2018

Land O’ Lakes Republican Ardian Zika announced Monday that two chapters of the Florida Police Benevolent Association have endorsed his bid to succeed House Speaker Richard Corcoran in Pasco County’s House District 37. “The West Central Florida Political Benevolent Association and the Tampa Police Benevolent Association is proud to inform you of our endorsement for […]

Drew WilsonJuly 16, 2018

Two firefighter unions announced Monday that they were backing Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young in her re-election bid for Senate District 18. The Florida Professional Firefighters and Tampa Firefighters Local 754 are the latest first responder groups to endorse Young, who had previously earned the support of several other first responder groups, including five police […]

Drew WilsonJuly 16, 2018

The Florida Retail Federation announced Friday that it was backing Destin Republican Rep. Mel Ponder’s re-election bid in Okaloosa County’s House District 4. “Representative Ponder is a successful small business owner and fought on behalf of the thousands of other small business owners throughout Florida during his first term in the House,” said FRF President/CEO […]

Drew Wilson

Push to put open primaries amendment on 2020 ballot begins

Outlier or not, new poll gives Ron DeSantis a 20 point lead(!) over Adam Putnam

FMA says Thad Altman is just what the doctor ordered for HD 52

Berny Jacques tees up first TV ad for HD 66 bid

Aakash Patel rolls out first ad for Hillsborough Commission bid

Tom Steyer’s ‘NextGen Climate’ opens state-level political committee

Kristen Carlson tops CD 15 field in Q2 fundraising while Ross Spano goes on spending spree

Two more police unions back Ardian Zika for HD 37

Dana Young lands firefighter support in SD 18

Florida Retailers back Mel Ponder for re-election