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

Drew WilsonOctober 13, 2015

It’s been a six weeks since Lauren Book began her run for termed-out Sen. Eleanor Sobel’s Senate District 33 seat, and her first campaign finance report showed quite the haul. The author and advocate entered the race Sept. 1 with more than $660,000 in committee money on-hand. September saw a $42,000 gain in committee money, […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

September fundraising reports are in for House District 80, and Republican candidate Byron Donalds has a lot to celebrate. The Collier County businessman raised $19,060 last month, giving him a cash-on-hand total of $65,577 seven months into his campaign. His September report alone shows more contributions than the other two candidates in the race combined. […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Republican activist and perpetual candidate Sharon Russ has filed to run for the heavily Democratic House District 70 seat held by termed-out Rep. Daryl Rouson. Russ is no stranger to politics, at least in the Pinellas County portion of the district: She ran for St. Petersburg mayor in 2009 and challenged Karl Nurse for city […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Campaign donations are filling campaign accounts in Southwest Florida, with Republican Reps. Jim Boyd, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube each posting their best fundraising reports since the start of the 2015 session. Boyd, running unopposed in House District 71, added $39,000 in contributions this past month, raising his on-hand cash to $56,246 for his fourth […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Three of five Republicans running for House District 4 posted strong September fundraising numbers, with Wayne Harris still hanging on to a five-figure lead he built when he was the only candidate in the race. Harris has collected a little over $40,000 in contributions since he filed for the seat held by exiting Rep. Matt Gaetz in […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Monday he’ll ask the Legislature to add $20 million in funding for the state’s technical centers in his 2016-17 budget recommendation. Technical centers are run by Florida’s school districts and colleges and train workers for various jobs based on the workforce needs of the area. Scott said the $20 million would […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

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Republican Sens. Jack Latvala and Joe Negron may have posted big-time fundraising numbers in September but they weren’t the only Senate Republicans raking in contributions. The political committee supporting Bradenton Republican Sen. Bill Galvano for Senate President brought in $207,500, its best fundraising performance since February, and it took only 10 contributions to hit that […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2015

Five years after running for the Florida House as a Tea Party candidate, John Ferentinos has filed to run against incumbent Republican Mike LaRosa in House District 42 as a Democrat. During his 2010 campaign, the 33-year-old from Kissimmee couldn’t have looked less like a future Democrat if he tried, but he said he’s changed […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2015

Neptune Beach Republican Cord Byrd put out a news release Thursday touting $13,140 in September contributions, but new finance reports show at least two other Republicans vying for the HD 11 seat posted five-figure hauls last month. Byrd’s fundraising numbers include $1,415 from a pair of in-kind contributions for print advertisements and a fundraising event, putting his September […]

Drew WilsonOctober 8, 2015

Backers of an amendment that would expand consumer access to solar energy said Thursday that they bounced back from a slow August to raise nearly $450,000 this past month. The Floridians for Solar Choice (FSC) finance report is not yet available through the State Division of Elections, though committee officials said the $446,670 they brought […]

Drew Wilson

Lauren Book posts blockbuster fundraising numbers in Senate race

September fundraising gives HD 80 hopeful Byron Donalds reason to cheer

Perennial GOP candidate Sharon Russ files in HD 70 race

Money flows in Southwest Florida House races

Wayne Harris hangs on to fundraising lead in five-way HD 4 race

Gov. Rick Scott requests $20M in tech center funding for 2016 budget

Senate Republican committees post major fundraising numbers

Former Tea Party candidate files as Democrat to face Mike LaRosa in HD 42

HD 11 candidate Cord Byrd announces $13,140 haul in September fundraising

Solar Choice reports strongest fundraising numbers to date