Joe Henderson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonNovember 9, 2018

The tea party status as a political force in Hillsborough County may have just run off the rails, so to speak. When the All For Transportation sales tax increase to fund roads and other projects passed despite the usual warnings from tea folk that it was a Trojan horse to enrich billionaires, it was the […]

Joe HendersonNovember 7, 2018

When it comes to choosing among candidates to the Hillsborough School Board, voters can be a prickly lot. Being endorsed or favored by the county’s power elite is no guarantee of victory at the polls. That played out again in Tuesday’s election when voters chose Karen Perez and Steve Cona to fill the remaining two […]

Joe HendersonNovember 7, 2018

While candidates have been crisscrossing Florida for months trying to get your vote on Nov. 6, a low-key campaign has been going to see who will be the next Tampa Mayor. The election for that post won’t happen until March 5, 2019, so the eight people who are running to succeed term-limited Bob Buckhorn and […]

Joe HendersonNovember 7, 2018

The polls said this Florida election was supposed to be the Democrats’ night. Andrew Gillum was going to be the next Governor and that Bill Nelson would be headed back to the U.S. Senate for a fourth term. They would finally have a real seat in the room where it happens in Tallahassee. But Florida […]

Joe HendersonNovember 5, 2018

The pundits got it wrong on Florida’s midterm elections. With Election Day dead ahead, it’s not so much about the choice of Democrat Andrew Gillum’s progressive agenda in the Governor’s race against the conservatism of Republican Ron DeSantis. Nor, in the U.S. Senate race, are voters deciding Rick Scott’s pro-jobs record against Bill Nelson’s approach to the […]

Joe HendersonNovember 4, 2018

One of the great Election Day conundrums voters face occurs when they reach the part of the ballot marked “Soil and Water Conservation District.” There usually are a bunch of names there you’ve never heard of, and unless one of them happens to be a close friend or relative you probably don’t know anything about […]

Joe HendersonNovember 2, 2018

As you peruse your ballot, either on Election Day or if you vote by mail, there is a chance you’ll hit a stumbling block when you get to the section marked “Soil and Water Conservation District.” On the Hillsborough County ballot, there are 11 candidates divided over three districts. You’re supposed to vote for some […]

Joe HendersonNovember 1, 2018

As Cheerleader-in-Chief for his team, Donald Trump is hard to beat. The raucous Halloween night crowd at Hertz Arena in Estero loved the multiple-course helpings of red meat the President served at an old-fashioned style campaign rally with the midterm elections less than a week away. The President hit all the talking points. Well, shouting […]

Joe HendersonOctober 30, 2018

With less than a week to go before the general election, supporters of two Hillsborough sales tax referendums have reason to be optimistic – and nervous. — A recent sampling by St. Pete Polls showed both proposed amendments to the county charter are leading among likely voters. The 30-year, one-percent sales tax increase would pay for […]

Joe HendersonOctober 29, 2018

Marco Rubio uses Twitter in the opposite way of the Twit Master himself, President Donald Trump. Florida’s junior U.S. Senator tends to quote Bible verses and tries to offer reasoned slants on current events – although, I guess, anything looks “reasoned” when weighed against the non-stop jabbering that emanates from the White House. But I […]

Joe Henderson

Joe Henderson: Tea party’s influence likely lessened in Hillsborough

Hillsborough School Board elections didn’t follow form

Joe Henderson: Race for Tampa Mayor about to get serious

Joe Henderson: Democrats win polls but GOP dominates Florida elections … again

Joe Henderson: GOP’s midterm election negativity was nonstop

Want to learn about Hillsborough Soil & Water District candidates? This is the place!

Joe Henderson: Soil and Water Conservation District candidates, um, who are they?

Joe Henderson: Donald Trump hit talking points and Dems better listen

Joe Henderson: Undecideds could pass—or kill—Hillsborough referendums

Joe Henderson: Marco Rubio tweet about anger misses the point