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

Drew WilsonMay 16, 2018

The state’s largest teacher union announced Wednesday that it is backing House Minority Leader Janet Cruz in her bid to unseat Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young in Senate District 18. “Rep. Janet Cruz has been a tireless champion for our educators, students, and parents,” said Florida Education Association President Joanne McCall. “While Republicans, including Senator […]

Drew WilsonMay 16, 2018

Auburndale Republican Neil Combee announced another half-dozen endorsements for his campaign to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross in Florida’s 15th Congressional District, all of them from Polk County. The nods came from former lawmaker J.D. Alexander, who served in the Florida House and Senate from 1998 to 2012, former State Attorney Jerry Hill, former […]

Drew WilsonMay 16, 2018

Surterra Wellness’ newest medical marijuana treatment center will open for business in Largo Thursday morning. The new venue, located at 10761 Ulmerton Rd., is the company’s third in the Tampa Bay region and eighth in the Sunshine State. Other locations include Miami Beach, Orlando, Deltona, Pensacola and Tallahassee, with a Jacksonville location on the horizon. […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Orlando Democrat Margaret Gold is betting big on her campaign to unseat freshman Republican Rep. Robert “Bobby O” Olszewski in House District 44. Gold filed for the seat in mid-April and showed $5,430 in contributions during her first two weeks in the race, but she matched that haul nearly four times over with a $20,000 […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Mount Dora Republican Rep. Jennifer Sullivan has gone three months without raising a dime for her House District 31 re-election bid, allowing challenger Debra Kaplan to continue playing catchup. April saw the Eustis Democrat bring in $2,430 – nearly double what she raised through the first three months of the year and her best fundraising […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Altamonte Springs Republican Rep. Bob Cortes crossed $100,000 in total fundraising last month in his bid for a third term representing House District 30. Cortes’ April campaign finance report shows $10,650 in new money and $2,775 in spending, bringing his to-date total to $105,325 with more than $85,000 banked. The new report lists 16 contributions, […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Tracey Kagan raised about $10,000 and put another $5,000 of her own cash on the line to take the top spot in the three-way Democratic Primary for HD 29. The report, her first since entering the race, was good enough to beat incumbent Republican Rep. Scott Plakon’s $12,690 effort in April. Outside of the loan […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Republican David Smith tacked on another $5,307 in contributions last month for his campaign to succeed termed-out Rep. Jason Brodeur in Seminole County-based House District 28. Smith’s new report included dozens of small-dollar donations as well as one check for the campaign maximum of $1,000 from a company tied to New York City land developer […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Contributions were sparse in April for five Central Florida lawmakers who are still unopposed in their re-election 2018 bids – Democratic Reps. Bruce Antone, Kamia Brown, John Cortes, Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith. Of the five, Brown posted the best report last month. She showed $5,485 in contributions, which brings her to-date fundraising total […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Democrat Bernie Fensterwald announced Tuesday that he’s ending his campaign for Senate District 16. “After consulting friends, family and supporters, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Senate district 16 race. I want to thank everyone who’s supported my campaign and I wish all Democrats success in the November elections,” he wrote in a post on […]

Drew Wilson

Teacher union touts Janet Cruz as ‘tireless champion’

Neil Combee heralds second wave of Polk endorsements

Surterra Wellness setting up shop in Largo

Margaret Gold antes up in HD 44 Dem. Primary

Jennifer Sullivan cedes ground in HD 31 money race

Bob Cortes cracks $100K raised for HD 30 re-election

Tracey Kagan tops HD 29 Democratic field with first finance report

David Smith maintains tenfold lead in HD 28 money race

Light fundraising month for Orange County’s unopposed House incumbents

Bernie goes bust, clears way for Amanda Murphy in SD 16 Dem. primary