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

Joe HendersonJune 25, 2018

It is wrong that Sarah Sanders was asked to leave the Red Hen restaurant over the weekend because the staff and owner don’t like her politics and her presence made them feel uncomfortable. I don’t like her politics either. I disagree with almost everything she says and, especially, the man she represents in the White House press […]

Joe HendersonJune 21, 2018

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Let’s take a deep breath and briefly examine what we have learned over the last several days. Lesson No. 1: Separating children from their parents and locking them in cages is bad. Lesson No. 2: When in doubt, refer to Lesson No. 1. Sometimes, it really is that simple. Someone finally got that message through […]

Joe HendersonJune 20, 2018

The best thing that could have happened to Bill Nelson’s campaign so far took place Tuesday. Florida’s senior U.S. Senator, in a fight for his political life, traveled to inspect the Homestead Temporary Shelter for Unaccompanied Children facility. It’s a holding camp keeping an estimated 1,000 children — some came to America without their parents, and […]

Joe HendersonJune 19, 2018

If everything goes as planned, Democrat Susan Valdes will travel to Tallahassee early morning and file paperwork to run for House District 62. Normally, this would be an uneventful event, barely noteworthy. But, of course, that race has become anything but uneventful since Valdes’ surprise and controversial decision to resign from the Hillsborough School Board […]

Joe HendersonJune 18, 2018

In his campaign for the presidency, Donald Trump basically told the American people what he was going to do about immigration. He was going to be tough. He was going to be ruthless. Mercy was only for the weak. He would show the world his version of America. It was a two-handed shove to the […]

Joe HendersonJune 14, 2018

It’s debatable if money can buy happiness, but there is anecdotal evidence that it can buy the keys to the Florida Governor’s mansion. Rick Scott proved that by spending millions from his considerable personal bank account to win the Republican nomination in 2010, then the general election and finally a second term. Now, Democrat Jeff […]

Joe HendersonJune 13, 2018

It has been a little more than 46 years since President Richard Nixon made his historic visit to The People’s Republic of China. It turned out to be a major diplomatic coup for the darkly devious president, breaking through a quarter century of ice between China and the United States. Even the most malevolent president […]

Joe HendersonJune 11, 2018

Normally, the decision of a local school board member to run for another office — in this case, the Florida House — would be interesting, but not seismic. But this is Hillsborough County, where people have learned to expect the unexpected. So it is with the now-irrevocable decision by Susan Valdes to resign from the Hillsborough […]

Joe HendersonJune 11, 2018

The primaries are about 2 ½ months away, and so much can happen before voters choose their candidates for Florida’s next Governor that being the front-runner now only means you’re the main target. With that in mind, Democrat Philip Levine, who is leading polls mostly (I believe) because he has been the only candidate from […]

Joe HendersonJune 7, 2018

If you don’t believe Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s move to cancel that body’s August recess was a snarky political stunt aimed at Democrats, hey, I’ve got some swamp land for sale. It’s undrained but you’ll love it, believe me. Still, it was unseemly and even a little whiny for Florida Democrat Bill Nelson to […]

Joe Henderson
Image via X (Duke Energy).

Joe Henderson: Sarah Sanders incident latest step into the abyss

Joe Henderson: For now (at least), sanity carries the day

Joe Henderson: Bill Nelson visit was right thing to do (and good politics)

Joe Henderson: Making sense of the Susan Valdes paperwork-controversy

Joe Henderson: Trump giving supporters exactly what they voted for

Joe Henderson: Money no object in Jeff Greene’s bid for Governor

Joe Henderson: Maybe only Donald Trump could go to North Korea

Joe Henderson: Susan Valdes turns Hillsborough races topsy-turvy

Joe Henderson: Being front-runner now just makes Philip Levine top target

Joe Henderson: Mitch McConnell’s sneaky move is how they roll in the swamp