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

Joe HendersonNovember 13, 2017

From the moment years ago when Republicans decided victory was worth whatever the cost to their party’s soul, Roy Moore has been lurking out there, waiting for his chance to scream “yeehaw” on the national stage. Well, he is here now, Republicans. He could still be elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama, even after […]

Joe HendersonNovember 9, 2017

As a member of the Hillsborough County Commission, Jan Platt was best known for a single word: NO! Labels like that tend to stick, but this grand lady was much, much more than that. She fought to protect our waterways and environmentally sensitive land, and she loved to be out on the Bay with a […]

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2017

Democrats win! Stop the presses! Well, they should be feeling frisky this morning. They had a fist-pumping night during Tuesday’s elections, just a year after Donald Trump stunned them, and their dreams of controlling the United States Senate were crushed. Democrats won a series of state and local elections, including nationally watched races for Governor […]

Joe HendersonNovember 7, 2017

Today’s question, class: If you voted for Donald Trump in the last election, would you vote for him again knowing what you know today? If you didn’t vote him then, would you do so now? Yes? No? Wednesday will mark one year since Trump turned the world upside down with his shocking, stunning, unexpected – […]

Joe HendersonNovember 6, 2017

If Jack Latvala is guilty of even some of the tawdry allegations of sexual harassment and miscreant behavior detailed in a damning story about him about him in POLITICO Florida, he should be banished from Tallahassee as quickly as possible. If he is guilty, it’s a given that his career in politics is finished. He should […]

Joe HendersonNovember 2, 2017

The proposal by state Sen. Tom Lee to phase out and finally end greyhound racing in Florida is sure to encounter lots of turbulence from lobbyists. Lee’s pitch to the Constitutional Revision Commission, of which he is a member, would put an amendment before voters in 2018. It would need 60 percent approval to become law […]

Joe HendersonNovember 1, 2017

Stay with me. This one gets a little weird. While you were distracted by the latest the latest episode of “Florida’s Got Dirt,” your First Amendment rights were put in the crosshairs again. Confused? It’s just another day in the state’s center of power. On the front page of Wednesday’s Tampa Bay Times was a […]

Joe HendersonOctober 31, 2017

House Speaker Richard Corcoran relishes the image of being a fierce protector of the public purse. He does more than rail against what he considers frivolous spending of public dollars. He goes all in to stop it, often in a headline-grabbing way designed to let the people know he is their guy. While that does […]

Joe HendersonOctober 30, 2017

What I’m about to say won’t go down easily for the most dedicated Florida Democrats. They are the ones who believe they are on a holy quest in 2018 to rescue the state from Republican rule. Passion has never been a problem for those folks, but they keep losing statewide elections and I have a […]

Joe HendersonOctober 25, 2017

RAYS MOVING TO TAMPA! Um, not so fast. I was getting ready for dinner Tuesday when WFLA, Channel 8, opened its 6 p.m. newscast with what seemed like a blockbuster. The station was reporting that the Tampa Bay Rays had settled on a site near Tampa’s Ybor City for a proposed new stadium. On air […]

Joe Henderson
Mario Cristobal. Image via AP.

Joe Henderson: Roy Moore and the battle for GOP’s soul

Joe Henderson: Jan Platt leaves legacy of service, integrity

Joe Henderson: Democrats win, but can they keep good times rolling?

Joe Henderson: Would you vote for Donald Trump again?

Joe Henderson: The avalanche is building around Jack Latvala

Joe Henderson: Industry favored over Tom Lee in greyhound racing fight

Joe Henderson: Got whiplash? Absurdity rules in Tally

Joe Henderson: Richard Corcoran swings hammer at gnat

Joe Henderson: Face it Dems: Maybe Republicans care more

Joe Henderson: Rays moving to Tampa? Not so fast