Mitch Perry, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

(UPDATED) House District 69 Republican candidate Ray Blacklidge raised $10,395 during December, his campaign announced Tuesday. This latest haul brings Blacklidge’s total amount to more than $87,000. When combined with funds raised for his political committee, Friends of Ray Blacklidge, his total amount now exceeds $100,000. “Our momentum in this campaign continues to grow,” he said in a […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 10, 2018

President Donald Trump may have signed the GOP-supported tax reform plan into law weeks ago, but the battle over its popular support is just beginning. That’s why the conservative-leaning American Action Network (AAN) announced Wednesday that they are launching digital ads in 20 congressional districts touting the benefits of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including two in […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 10, 2018

A special election in Sarasota-area House District 72 is starting to get nasty, with still more than a month before voters go to the polls. In the past week, the Republican Party of Florida began airing a commercial attacking Democrat Margaret Good, the Siesta Key-based attorney who won her Party’s primary last month. Good is running against […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 10, 2018

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart was the sole Floridian at a live televised meeting on immigration Tuesday at the Cabinet Room of the White House. Afterward, the Miami-Dade Republican said the meeting demonstrated one thing to critics of President Donald Trump‘s mental capability to handle the job — they have it all wrong. “The American people got to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 10, 2018

Gus Bilirakis is celebrating his first legislative success of 2018 after the U.S. House unanimously approved the Tarpon Springs Republican’s proposal to improve the airline passenger screening process. Passed Tuesday, the Security Assessment Feasibility for Equipment Testing and Evaluation of Capabilities for our Homeland (SAFE TECH) Act would provide an avenue for third-party testing of […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

Tuesday marked the first day of Tallahassee’s annual 60-day Legislative Session, another year where Republicans control the state House, Senate and Governor’s mansion. Realizing it may be another tough year for progressives, approximately 30 activists gathered in Lykes Gaslight Park in downtown Tampa late Tuesday afternoon to denounce aspects of the GOP agenda that may become […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

A bill that would change texting-while-driving to a ‘primary’ offense unanimously cleared a House committee on Tuesday, the first day of the 2018 Legislative Session. The bill (HB 33), sponsored by Tampa Republican Jackie Toledo and Boca Raton Democrat Emily Slosberg, was considered by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee. Florida was one of the last states in […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

A Democrat finally emerges to run in the open Pinellas County House District 66 this year. He’s Alex Heeren, a Technology Integration Coordinator with the Pinellas County School District. “I’m running for the Florida House because District 66 deserves a representative who will actually listen to the residents,” Heeren said Tuesday. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

Deepwater_Horizon_offshore_drilling_unit_on_fire_2010.jpg

A bipartisan group from Florida’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the Donald Trump administration opposing any rollback of safety regulations adopted after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. In a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the group of 20 lawmakers — both Democrats and Republicans — warned that “an oil spill can devastate a regional […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

Deborah Tamargo is stepping down from her position as Hillsborough County Republican Executive Committee Chair. The change is effective as of 5 p.m. Tuesday. By order of succession, Party Secretary Jeanne Webb will assume the interim chair position, Tamargo said. Tamargo’s resignation follows months of controversy that had boiled up inside the Hillsborough GOP, advanced when Webb […]

Mitch Perry
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Republican Ray Blacklidge continues fundraising lead in HD 69

Conservative group launches ads in South Florida market touting GOP tax bill

Margaret Good campaign blasts attack ad airing in contentious HD 72 special election

Mario Diaz-Balart says critics of Donald Trump’s stability have it wrong

House unanimously passes Gus Bilirakis air travel safety bill

As Session gavel falls, Tampa progressives denounce GOP agenda

House panel moves texting-while-driving bill

Democrat Alex Heeren enters House District 66 race

Most of Florida congressional delegation protests lifting oil rig safety rules

Hillsborough GOP Chair Deb Tamargo steps down