Ryan Ray, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayJune 10, 2016

A group of dog racing track owners and other gaming interests filed a brief with the Florida Supreme Court on Friday urging Attorney General Pam Bondi and the high court to nix a proposed amendment to the state constitution that could expand gambling by allowing counties to hold referendums on the matter. The amendment’s opponents — including the […]

Ryan RayJune 9, 2016

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Jeff Moran has hit the airwaves in a hotly contested GOP primary in the 2nd Congressional District race to replace U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham. In the Ft. White businessman’s first ad — a one-minute spot entitled “Hands On” — Moran seeks to grasp the mantle of consummate outsider in a 2016 election cycle where polished, traditional politicians are out […]

Ryan RayJune 8, 2016

Rep. Dane Eagle does not currently face an opponent in his House District 77 re-election bid, but the Cape Coral Republican isn’t taking any chances. The second-term lawmaker brought in $37,575 from more than 50 contributions during May, according to newly released campaign finance data. Those included 18 contributions of $1,000, the legal maximum for state legislative […]

Ryan RayJune 8, 2016

Democrat Ken Keechl still has a long way to go to close the fundraising gap with incumbent Republican Rep. George Moraitis in House District 93, but May did see Keechl cut into his lead. Keechl brought in $17,247 during the May reporting period according to new campaign finance data, bringing his overall total to $38,445 overall. Nearly all of that sum […]

Ryan RayJune 7, 2016

A group of trucker owner-operators briefly held up traffic in Tallahassee’s busiest downtown thoroughfare to protest what they call the “deterioration” of the trucking industry. The group convoyed from Miami, with around a dozen semi trucks bringing traffic at the intersection of Monroe and Tennessee streets — about three blocks from the Florida Capitol — to […]

Ryan RayJune 6, 2016

Libertarian Rob Lapham has joined Florida’s 2nd Congressional District campaign to replace Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham. Lapham, who has lived in Alaska and Texas in recent years, served on the Texas Libertarian Executive Committee. He ran for Congress in 2014, where he promised to abolish the IRS, cut military funding, and liberalize federal drug laws. Lapham moved […]

Ryan RayJune 6, 2016

Just six days into 2016 hurricane season, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in 34 Florida counties ahead of Tropical Storm Colin’s landfall. Scott issued the declaration via executive order shortly before noon on Monday, citing maximum sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour and the potential for severe storm damage in counties […]

Ryan RayJune 6, 2016

Mary Thomas got the nod from House Freedom Fund in her campaign for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District on Monday. The group is the political arm of the Freedom Caucus, the most conservative wing of the Republican House majority and the formal legacy of the Tea Party movement. Caucus chairman U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio said Thomas was […]

Ryan RayJune 3, 2016

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U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham is reaching across the aisle in an effort to bring the F-35 fighter jet to Florida. The freshman Democrat from Tallahassee co-wrote letters with U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen addressed to top Air Force brass asking them to consider expanding USAF’s presence across Florida. “We must ensure that the Jacksonville [Air National Guard] base […]

Ryan RayJune 2, 2016

Democrat Michael Steinger came a bit late to the Senate District 30 race, filing on May 12. But the West Palm Beach personal injury lawyer made clear on Thursday he has more than made up for lost time when it comes to fundraising. Steinger’s campaign account now boasts $400,000 on hand after just 20 days. $211,000 of it […]

Ryan Ray
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

Gaming interests in SCOFL brief: Leave expansion amendment off the ballot

Jeff Moran flaunts outsider cred in first CD 2 campaign ad

Dane Eagle posts $37K in May fundraising in HD 77

Ken Keechl tops George Moraitis in May fundraising, still trails in HD 93

Truckers block downtown Tallahassee traffic to protest ‘deterioration’ of industry

Libertarian Rob Lapham enters CD 2 race

Rick Scott declares state of emergency in 34 counties ahead as Tropical Storm Colin touches down

Mary Thomas backed by House Freedom Fund in CD 2

Gwen Graham fighting with GOP colleagues to bring F-35 fighter jet to Florida

Michael Steinger gets off to $400K start in SD 30 race