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

Ryan RayApril 6, 2015

The pro-business political action committee Americans for Prosperity — Florida continues to make waves this Session as it prepares to distribute mailers to a handful of legislators thanking them for their advocacy on charter school expansion. The move to gain good will among members of the Florida GOP majority serves as the carrot to AFP’s punitive stick, […]

Ryan RayApril 6, 2015

The long tail of legislative seat-hopping put into motion when former Sen. John Thrasher decided to resign to become Florida State University’s new president will come to an end Tuesday. Special elections are slated to be held in Senate District 6 — Thrasher’s old seat — as well as House Districts 24 and 17, which Reps. Travis Hutson and “Doc” Renuart were enticed […]

Ryan RayApril 6, 2015

Newly-minted Congresswoman Gwen Graham is set to be a major target for the National Republican Congressional Committee in her bid for re-election to Florida’s notoriously difficult-to-hold District 2, but according to figures released on Monday, she won’t be outgunned by the GOP House money machine: she raised more than half a million in her first three […]

Ryan RayApril 4, 2015

Nassau County Commissioner and small businessman Barry Holloway filed this week to run for Northeast Florida’s House District 11, according to the Florida Division of Elections. The Bryceville Republican brings considerable conservative bona fides and a wealth of public service experience to his bid to assume the open seat left by the term-limited Rep. Janet Adkins. […]

Ryan RayApril 1, 2015

Florida’s so-called “dreamers”- undocumented youth who were brought to this country as children – received a rude April Fools joke from the Senate majority this afternoon. Sen. Darren Soto introduced an amendment to SB 2500, better known as the Senate budget proposal, that would have prevented Attorney General Pam Bondi from pursuing a lawsuit against the Obama […]

Ryan RayApril 1, 2015

Though ridesharing companies such as Uber and Lyft are getting most of the ink these days, you’d be a fool to sleep on the short-term rental aspect of the new so-called sharing economy. Companies like industry leader Airbnb are challenging zoning rules, raising the ire of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association and raising questions about fundamental property rights. Such a complex issue […]

Ryan RayApril 1, 2015

Lawmakers in both chambers went along with little friction this year as they passed leadership-supported bills to move back Florida’s presidential primaries, in order to take advantage of new national GOP rules allowing states to grant their delegates on a winner-take-all basis if they do so. The logic was simple: Whether it’s Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio, […]

Ryan RayMarch 31, 2015

A ride-sharing insurance requirements bill that goes hand in hand with a broader effort to pass legislation permitting Uber across Florida made progress today, passing quickly and unanimously through the Senate Judiciary Committee early Tuesday evening. The proposal — SB 1298 — sponsored by Altamonte Springs Sen. David Simmons requires that app-based “transportation network companies” such as […]

Ryan RayMarch 31, 2015

It’s been said many times and many ways but in light of the host-committee dynamics behind Marco Rubio‘s April 7 breakfast fundraiser in Tallahassee, it bears repeating: the road to Florida’s 2016 GOP presidential contest may well run through the Las Vegas estate of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Rubio was reportedly on the outs with the Adelson people after declining an invitation […]

Ryan RayMarch 31, 2015

It’s been said many times and many ways but in light of the host-committee dynamics behind Marco Rubio‘s April 7 breakfast fundraiser in Tallahassee, it bears repeating: the road to Florida’s 2016 GOP presidential contest may well run through the Las Vegas estate of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson. Rubio was reportedly on the outs with the Adelson people after declining an invitation […]

Ryan Ray

Americans for Prosperity sends mid-Session mailers thanking supportive lawmakers

John Thrasher-induced limbo to be resolved in Northeast Florida special elections Tuesday

Gwen Graham hauls in $525,000+ in first quarter fundraising

Barry Holloway files for 2016 House bid in District 11

Senate passes language preventing Pam Bondi suit against feds, takes it back

Southern Strategy Group lands short-term rentals giant Airbnb

Winner-take-all primary may cut both ways for Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio

Uber bill cruises through Senate panel, will see amendment in Appropriations

Marco Rubio’s Tallahassee fundraiser: a keyhole into the “Sheldon Adelson primary”?

Marco Rubio's Tallahassee fundraiser: a keyhole into the "Sheldon Adelson primary"?