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

Drew WilsonAugust 31, 2015

No-party candidate Arthur Sosa filed to run against Rep. Frank Artiles Monday, giving the incumbent legislator a third opponent for 2016. Sosa is running as part of the VoteFamily platform, which has a laser focus on reforming the Department of Children and Families. He is the second candidate from the group to file after Mario Jimenez, who […]

Drew WilsonAugust 31, 2015

Florida Division of Elections records show Republican Robert Wyatt has bowed out of the District 72 race, officially clearing the way for Sarasota Republican Rep. Ray Pilon to run for his final term without in-party competition. Wyatt, the treasurer for the Republican Party of Sarasota, filed for the seat in March and loaned his campaign $150,000 within […]

Drew WilsonAugust 31, 2015

A second Democrat filed Monday to take over term-limited Democratic Rep. Dwayne Taylor’s District 26 seat in the Florida House, setting up a primary battle for the left-leaning seat. Former Daytona Beach City Commissioner Steve Miller joins current commission member Patrick Henry, a Democrat, and Republican Michael Cantu, a small business owner who got 47 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 27, 2015

A University of Virginia-backed political blog predicts former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will still win the Democratic presidential nomination. According to a report released Thursday, Clinton’s prospective victory would be despite lingering controversy over her use of a private email account for official business or the possibility of Vice President Joe Biden entering the […]

Drew WilsonAugust 26, 2015

More than three years out, the race to take over for Venice Republican Sen. Nancy Detert is heating up. Republican Nora Patterson jumped into the Senate District 28 race Monday, making her the second candidate in the race after former District 74 Rep. Doug Holder filed in January 2013. Patterson is a former member of […]

Drew WilsonAugust 26, 2015

The first Democrat has jumped into the race to take over for Daytona Beach Democratic state Rep. Dwayne Taylor, who terms out in 2016. Patrick Jauan Henry filed for the House District 26 seat on Tuesday, joining Republican Michael Cantu who filed for the seat in January. Henry has been a member of the Daytona […]

Drew WilsonAugust 25, 2015

According to a survey of small business owners by consumer service website Thumbtack.com, Florida’s overall “business friendliness” gets a B- for 2015, putting it in 21st place among the 36 states rated in the survey. Released Tuesday, the Small Business Friendliness Survey compiled survey responses from small business owners who use Thumbtack services in 95 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 21, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that the Tampa area added 31,800 jobs between July 2014 and July 2015, causing a 1.1 percentage point drop in the region’s unemployment. “With the second-highest number of jobs of all areas in the state last month, the Tampa economy continues to thrive,” Scott said in the announcement. “We will […]

Drew WilsonAugust 21, 2015

A second Democrat filed for the House District 59 seat on Thursday, setting up a primary battle to face Dover Republican Rep. Ross Spano in the general election next year. Rena Jade Upshaw-Frazier, a partner at Quarles and Brady law firm in Tampa and a Stetson School of Law graduate, will take on schoolteacher Golnaz […]

Drew WilsonAugust 12, 2015

State Sen. Jack Latvala will hold a fundraiser luncheon co-sponsored by several current and former Pinellas politicians in St. Petersburg on Sept. 1. The list features two dozen co-chairs, including current state Reps. Larry Ahern, Kathleen Peters, Chris Sprowls and state Sen. Latvala’s son, freshman Rep. Chris Latvala. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano will also be in attendance. Latvala has his sights set on becoming the […]

Drew Wilson

Frank Artiles draws NPA candidate in 2016 House re-election campaign

Sarasota Republican drops out of HD 72 race, makes way for Ray Pilon re-election bid

Former Daytona Beach Commissioner Steve Miller becomes second Dem in HD 26 race

Sabato’s Crystal Ball predicts Hillary Clinton will still get Democratic nod

Race to replace Nancy Detert heats up, 3 years out

First Democrat files in Daytona Beach House District 26 race

Florida gets “B-” for business friendliness, new survey says

Tampa Bay region adds 31,000 jobs in past 12 months, as unemployment drops to 5.4%

2nd Democrat files for Ross Spano’s House seat

Pro-Jack Latvala political committee to hold luncheon Sept. 1