Brendan Farrington, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Brendan FarringtonJanuary 15, 2017

The state Republican and Democratic parties met two miles from each other Saturday, their first meetings since Donald Trump carried Florida in November’s election, but the atmosphere and enthusiasm were worlds apart. As both parties chose their leaders, it was easy to see which has more confidence heading into an election cycle when the governor’s […]

Brendan FarringtonDecember 16, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham says she wants to run for governor, and she plans to run for governor. But there’s one very important factor that’s weighing on her decision: her husband has cancer. “Every part of me wants to run for governor, that’s what I feel passionate about, that’s what I know I need […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 8, 2016

Another close election in Florida? Count on it. Through Friday, 2,268,663 Democrats and 2,261,383 Republicans had cast ballots by mail or at early voting sites – a difference of 7,280 in favor of Democrats. Overall, more than 5.7 million Floridians have voted, or nearly 45 percent of those registered. That far surpasses 2012 totals, when […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 1, 2016

A lawyer representing an abortion clinic told the Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday that the state’s 24-hour waiting period would significantly restrict a woman’s right to abortion and asked justices to continue blocking the law until a lower court can decide whether it’s constitutional. The delays could lead to victims of domestic abuse being forced […]

Brendan FarringtonNovember 1, 2016

There are two words that keep coming up in Florida’s U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Marco Rubio and Democratic U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy: Donald Trump. One of the strongest arguments Murphy is making in his underdog campaign to defeat Rubio is the failed presidential candidate’s support of the billionaire TV reality star. At rallies, […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 9, 2016

Sure, lots of people in St. Augustine are picking up branches and leaves after Hurricane Matthew blew through town. But only a few are doing it surrounded by alligators. That’s what Jim Darlington and Amie Mercado were doing on Sunday, raking up debris in an alligator pit with the enormous reptiles just a couple of […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 9, 2016

Marina owner Joe Taylor has a different take on whether Florida dodged a bullet during Hurricane Matthew. “We stood still. It dodged us. But we’re grateful,” the 81-year-old Taylor said. Taylor and his wife were in their second home in Portland, Oregon, last Wednesday when forecasts of widespread devastation sent him rushing to Florida to […]

Brendan FarringtonOctober 7, 2016

As millions of people were being warned to evacuate, two 18-year-old storm chasers packed food and snacks and drove nearly 1,000 miles from New Jersey to Florida just to watch Hurricane Matthew roll past the nation’s oldest city of St. Augustine. “I have an obsession with severe weather, snowstorms, hurricanes tornadoes, anything crazy that most […]

Brendan FarringtonSeptember 25, 2016

It took just 14,496 votes to win his closed Democratic primary for one of Florida’s 27 congressional seats. Now Darren Soto is virtually assured of going to Capitol Hill, unlikely to face a strong Republican challenge this November in his safely Democratic district. The state senator snared the votes of just 2 percent of the […]

Brendan FarringtonSeptember 13, 2016

Florida Supreme Court Justice James Perry announced Monday he is stepping down Dec. 30, which will give Gov. Rick Scott his first opportunity to begin reshaping a court that has frustrated Republicans on issues ranging from political maps to protecting doctors from lawsuits. Perry, 72, is forced to leave the court because he’s reached the […]

Brendan Farrington

Tale of 2 parties: Florida GOP high, Dems low ahead of 2018

Husband’s cancer is a factor in Gwen Graham’s decision to run for governor

It’s likely to be a close election in Florida, again

ACLU asks court to continue to block abortion waiting period

Will Donald Trump bring Marco Rubio down in Florida?

Surrounded by alligators, Matthew cleanup goes on in Florida

Marina owner post-Matthew: Dodged a bullet? No, it dodged us

Wet and wild: New Jersey teens drive 1,000 miles for Matthew

Florida primaries eyed: Representation of few, or the many?

Rick Scott to get first state Supreme Court pick