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

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

Immediately after Rich Nugent announced he would not run for re-election in Florida’s 11th Congressional District last year, his now former chief of staff, Justin Grabelle, immediately entered the race, and won the endorsement of the incumbent. But it hasn’t stopped other Republicans from entering the now-open seat, with Spring Hill-based minister Jack Martin being the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

The Koch brothers-funded Americans for Prosperity organization has 36 state chapters across the nation, but none bigger than its operation in Florida, established in 2008. With 80 full- or part-time staff members, AFP has been aggressive in getting involved in legislative matters in recent years, sometimes to the consternation of Republicans who it ostensibly sides with ideologically. […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

Tampa House Democrat Janet Cruz is emotionally torn. The HD 62 Representative has worked hard over the past year in working to fundraise and recruit candidates to run for the state House in 2016, all part of her job duties as she is scheduled to become the incoming House Minority Leader in 2017. It’s a […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

Since we don’t know who the presidential nominees are yet, it’s insanely premature to speculate on who might be the vice-presidential candidates, right? Of course not. Actually, the reason I’m even thinking of this today is that my original story idea for this column is being banked for a future story. But I thought about […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 5, 2016

Bernie Sanders continues to lead in New Hampshire and is staying within striking distance in Iowa, but what happens after that? Apparently, even top level staff of the Sanders campaign aren’t willing to predict how they’ll do March 1, when two states hold caucuses and nine more hold primaries, many in the South, where the Vermont […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 5, 2016

The discontent regarding Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz among her fellow Democrats doesn’t appear to be abating in the new year. Much of the animus involves the monthslong perception that she has manipulated the presidential debate schedule to favor Hillary Clinton: Relatively few debates have been set as compared with the 2007-2008 campaign […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 5, 2016

For nearly a year that they’ve been campaigning, the Republican candidates for president have focused on what they contend is how Barack Obama‘s bumbling foreign policy has led to the U.S.’s loss of stature around the world. While there could be some truth to some of the rhetoric, there’s also a lot of hyperbole and […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2016

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According to an average of polling in New Hampshire compiled by Real Clear Politics, Marco Rubio is now at 13.3 percent support in New Hampshire, putting him 13 percentage points behind Donald Trump. That second place status is relatively tenuous, however, with Ted Cruz trailing him with an average of 12 percent, and Chris Christie two points behind, averaging […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2016

According to an analysis conducted by the Miami Herald last year, most driver’s license suspensions in Florida occur because of a failure to pay fees for traffic violations, not because of unsafe driving practices. The failure to pay fees accounted for 77 percent of all license suspensions in Florida between 2012 and 2015, according to an analysis […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2016

There are now three candidates vying to become the next chairman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, and none of them are Mark Hanisee. Ione Townsend (pictured), Mike Newett, and Alvin Wolfe have all declared their intentions to lead the party when the Hillsborough DEC membership convenes to vote to succeed Elizabeth Belcher on Jan. […]

Mitch Perry

Jack Martin latest Republican to enter CD11 contest

Americans for Prosperity says it’s ready for 2016 Legislative Session

Janet Cruz undecided about whether to run for new Senate seat

Mitch Perry Report for 1.6.15 – Are Nikki Haley and Julian Castro top picks for VP?

Bernie Sanders camp downplays state victories, emphasizing delegate count

Over 23,000 sign petition to oust Debbie Wasserman Schultz as DNC chairwoman

Mitch Perry Report for 1.5.16 – GOP candidates defend Saudi use of Sharia law

Marco Rubio super PAC goes after Chris Christie in 2 new ads

Event aiming to reinstate suspended drivers licenses set in Hillsborough

3 candidates vie to lead Hillsborough County Democrats in 2016