Melissa Ross, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Melissa RossOctober 1, 2015

Hillary for America has announced it will launch “Latinos for Hillary” this week, with the candidate doing an interview with Telemundo when she’s in Florida on Friday. The launch will coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month. According to an email from the Hillary Clinton campaign, the outreach effort “will be used to energize, organize and earn […]

Melissa RossSeptember 30, 2015

Tensions between Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and JEA board member Lisa Strange Weatherby appear to be mounting. In an email obtained by Florida Politics, Curry’s office has demanded Weatherby’s resignation. The email was sent September 29th to Weatherby, a First Vice President-Investments with Wells Fargo Advisors, by Jordan Elsbury, Director of Appointments and Special Projects for Curry, […]

Melissa RossSeptember 30, 2015

Hillary Clinton may be the Democratic frontrunner in Florida (and nationally), far outstripping all comers in terms of fundraising, organization, name recognition, and campaigning experience. But in terms of sheer enthusiasm and excitement, perhaps the campaign story of 2016 is the grassroots groundswell surging behind Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders has jumped from a meager […]

Melissa RossSeptember 29, 2015

A new poll shared with Florida Politics finds some vulnerabilities for North Florida State Attorney Angela Corey as she seeks re-election, although the questions asked of registered voters in the 4th Circuit appear to be weighted in favor of her challenger, Wes White. The poll, conducted by Central Florida firm Gravis Marketing, used automated telephone […]

Melissa RossSeptember 28, 2015

Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton will return to South Florida on Friday for a grassroots organizing meeting in Fort Lauderdale. The event is set for 2:30 p.m. at Broward College. Clinton is expected to speak and rally supporters. No word whether Clinton will mention what she calls the “drip, drip, drip“ of furor over work emails sent […]

Melissa RossSeptember 28, 2015

In an email to constituents, Democratic Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville says she’s filed a renters protection bill. SB 342 would require a residential agreement to advise that if renters insurance is not required, the renter’s personal belongings will not be covered in the event of damage to their domicile unless they acquire renters insurance. “I am […]

Melissa RossSeptember 25, 2015

Harvard Law School’s Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics is out with a fascinating new report measuring legal and illegal corruption in American states, and Florida does not fare particularly well. The deep dive is here, but here’s the short take: Illegal corruption is “moderately common” in Florida’s executive branch. Illegal corruption is “very common” […]

Melissa RossSeptember 24, 2015

Donald Trump remains the front-runner among Republican presidential candidates in Florida, with former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush maintaining strong support, former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina surging, neurosurgeon Ben Carson losing some ground and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on the rise, according to a Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute poll of registered Republican who are likely to […]

Melissa RossSeptember 23, 2015

North Florida Democrats are pushing back after a report that Rep. Janet Adkins told a group of North Florida GOP activists in a closed-door meeting that the key to defeating U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown is boosting the number of black prisoners in her district. “It’s clear to me that kind of gamesmanship from Rep. Adkins is […]

Melissa RossSeptember 22, 2015

Florida’s a big, complex state. Different cities deal with different issues and often seem like they are on different planets. For example, in conservative Jacksonville the City Council just signed off on a new budget that keeps taxes low and prioritizes public safety, big concerns in Duval. Meanwhile, down in drowning Miami-Dade, Mayor Carlos Gimenez […]

Melissa Ross

Hillary Clinton campaign launches “Latinos for Hillary”

Lenny Curry demands JEA board member Lisa Weatherby’s resignation

Why Jax Dems say they #FeeltheBern

New poll released in closely watched Jax State Attorney’s race

Hillary Clinton to campaign in South Florida on Friday

Email insights: Sen. Audrey Gibson files legislation to protect renters

Harvard finds Florida among most politically corrupt states in U.S.

JU Poll: Donald Trump leads, Carly Fiorina and Marco Rubio rise, Jeb Bush steady

Duval Dems: Janet Adkins comments on Corrine Brown “exactly what we don’t need in politics today”

Miami-Dade hires “resiliency officer” to fight effects of sea level rise