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

Ryan RayMay 4, 2015

Southwest Florida businessman Gary Price announced on Monday that he will seek the District 23 Senate seat being vacated by the departure of Garrett Richter due to term limits. In an exclusive conversation with SaintPetersBlog, Price said he will look to leverage his extensive municipal government background – he served on the Naples City Commission for […]

Ryan RayApril 30, 2015

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy has been racking up major Democratic endorsements at a rapid clip since he launched his bid for the U.S. Senate in late March. On Thursday he continued that trend, announcing via news release that he has secured the support of 25 sitting Florida state legislators. “From South Florida to Tampa, from Orlando […]

Ryan RayApril 30, 2015

As lobbyists and pols alike collect their collective jaws from the floor in the wake of Speaker Steve Crisafulli’s Sine Die adjournment spectacle, the Florida Democratic Party is wasting no time in making political hay out of it. The FDP told Florida Politics that it is hitting vulnerable members of the majority in the GOP-dominated Florida House […]

Ryan RayApril 30, 2015

Saying he is opting to turn down a “huge pay raise,” Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens has announced he will not seek the 18th Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy. “Why would I run for Congress, when Tallahassee has become so entertaining lately?” said Clemens, referring to the chain reaction of mistrust and […]

Ryan RayApril 29, 2015

The Senate has passed a Palm Beach County local bill — HB 1213 sponsored by Rep. Lori Berman — that serves as a key component of a multilayered arrangement between state and local governments in their quest to land the spring training operations of the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. In […]

Ryan RayApril 28, 2015

Former Senate Democratic leader Sen. Chris Smith debated on the Senate floor against SB 284, a private property rights enhancement bill telling his colleagues — coyly at first — “It’s hard to argue against a bill with so many House co-sponsors,” and later, more directly, “I mean, if we want to send a message …” […]

Ryan RayApril 28, 2015

A small clutch of activists gathered on a foggy Tuesday morning to deliver petitions to Gov. Rick Scott and legislative leaders. Executive Director of Audubon Florida Eric Draper was handed a bottle of water infused with a blue-green algae bloom beforehand, FedExed straight from Central Florida the afternoon before. The green, murky water came from Lake Okeechobee and is […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Advocates for ride-sharing firms Lyft and Uber evidently did not reach an agreement this weekend with traditional taxi cab and limousine stakeholders, as a ride sharing policy bill sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz was temporarily postponed Monday for the second time in as many appearances on the House floor. HB 817 is generally considered a pro-Uber piece of legislation, but it recently took on […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Former Democratic Rep. Joe Saunders is “talking to family and friends about what the future may hold” now that Rep. Rene Plasencia – who narrowly defeated Saunders in a razor-thin contest in District 49 last November – has opted to run in a more Republican-leaning adjacent district in 2016. Saunders took to social media on Sunday and later caught up with Florida […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Where things stand on a number of “legislative food fights” is a complicated question in today’s adversarial climate at the Capitol. The $4 billion chasm between the House and Senate budget proposals casts a shadow on every corner of legislative business, both appropriations and policy measures. “Bill aren’t just dying; they’re being massacred,” Rep. Frank Artiles told […]

Ryan Ray
Gold Coast Eagle Distributing;s Javier Bermudez and Chad Fraser bring water to Helene victims in Bradenton. Image via Gold Coast.

Gary Price announces run state Senate run in District 23

Patrick Murphy announces endorsements by almost half of Democratic state lawmakers

Florida Democrats unveil text of mailers, robocalls targeting vulnerable House Republicans

Democrat Jeff Clemens declines run for Patrick Murphy’s seat in Congress

Senate OKs bill to ease Astros, Nationals path to West Palm Beach

Bills dying en masse as House adjourns Sine Die

Everglades Trust delivers petitions urging Rick Scott to buy U.S. Sugar land

Legislature’s Uber regulation efforts stuck in neutral

Democrat Joe Saunders considers comeback in House District 49

The latest on 5 legislative food fights