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

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

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Jacob Smith will serve as campaign manager for St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman’s re-election campaign. Smith worked in Democratic politics going back to his freshman year at the University of Florida in 2008 when he volunteered for Barack Obama‘s effort in Florida. He also worked on Obama’s 2012 campaign in Southwest Florida. His most recent job was […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Despite the fact that he was speaking to a Tampa Bay-area Democratic Executive Committee on Monday night, Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine wants you to know that he is not a candidate for Governor in 2018. Not yet, anyway. “I’m very undecided. I’m going around the state talking about what I think is important and […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Gus Bilirakis is sticking to his guns. After holding three town hall meetings earlier this year, the Tarpon Springs Republican congressman heard strong (and on occasion, impassioned) comments by some constituents urging him not support a repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act. But Bilirakis stayed consistently clear that he supported killing Obamacare. So, it […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

President Donald Trump’s proposed federal budget cuts funding calls for a sharp increase in defense spending while making significant cuts to a variety of domestic programs. When asked Monday what might be the worst part of the plan in her eyes, Congresswoman Kathy Castor said it might just be the proposed $5.8 billion reductions in funding to the National Institutes […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

As the U.S. House prepares to vote this week on a GOP-based health care insurance overhaul, an official with Florida AARP said Monday the bill is “ageism unleashed.” “Ageism is discrimination against people due to their age, and that’s exactly what this proposal does,” said Jack McCray, advocacy manager for Florida AARP. McCray was referring to […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Bob Buesing may be looking for a rematch. One of the most bitter races in all of Florida politics last year took place in Hillsborough County’s Senate District 18, where Democrat Buesing faced Republican state Rep. Dana Young and independent Joe Redner. Although Democrats believed Young was vulnerable to a serious opponent she ultimately defeated Buesing 48 to 41 percent. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Because polling in 2016 showed less than half of all Floridians want to legalize marijuana outright, Ray Rodrigues believes he is doing the right thing by pushing regulations that ban people from smoking cannabis or using edible pot. “Here’s what we know,” the Fort Myers House Republican told former Congressman David Jolly on AM 820 WWBA Thursday […]

Mitch PerryMarch 19, 2017

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Stephen Bittel walked into political version of a lion’s den over the weekend in Tampa and came out it not only unscathed, but maybe even a bit emboldened. “That was a warmer greeting than I was expecting,” the recently-elected leader said in reaction to the modest applause that he received after he was […]

Mitch PerryMarch 18, 2017

In his first appearance in Tampa since officially declaring his candidacy for Governor, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum said the Democratic Party can win back the Governor’s Mansion next year if it convinces the voters of Florida that it can make an impact in changing their lives for the better. “What we have to do is convince them that […]

Mitch PerryMarch 17, 2017

After Rick Scott removed Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala from the case of accused cop killer Markeith Loyd after she announced she would not pursue the death penalty in his or any other case during her tenure. Later, Dover House Republican Ross Spano called on Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren to condemn Ayala’s actions. Warren refused, saying that he would seek out the death penalty only […]

Mitch Perry

Rick Kriseman taps Jacob Smith to lead re-election campaign

Philip Levine comes to Tampa but insists he’s still not a sure thing to run for Governor

Gus Bilirakis all in on GOP health care proposal

Kathy Castor fears how NIH budget cuts will affect USF, Moffitt Cancer Center

Florida AARP official calls GOP health care proposal ‘ageism unleashed’

Bob Buesing contemplates 2018 rematch versus Dana Young

Ray Rodrigues stance on medical marijuana angers Amendment 2 advocates

Stephen Bittel concedes to Florida progressives – ‘it will take time for you to trust me’

At gathering of progressives in Tampa, Andrew Gillum says Democrats won’t win in 2018 by being ‘Republican lite’

Julianne Holt expresses concerns about Rick Scott’s move on Aramis Ayala