Peter Schorsch, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 21, 2016

Judging by the expression on her face, Lizbeth Benacquisto appeared genuinely surprised — and touched — by the standing ovation given to her by her colleagues in the Senate upon her return to the Florida Legislature. The date was April 23, 2014, and it was the day after Benacquisto finished second in the four-way Republican primary to […]

Peter SchorschMay 21, 2016

The state’s position on its public records is increasingly becoming, “Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies.” The First Amendment Foundation, which watchdogs Floridians’ open government, now has a handy ticker on its website. Reminiscent of the National Debt Clock, it now tallies 1,106 exemptions of your right to know. Still more go into effect […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

A new poll of House District 5 voters shows incumbent Republican Rep. Brad Drake with a 32-point lead over his primary challenger, former state Rep. Bev Kilmer. The survey revealed that, in a head-to-head matchup, Drake leads Kilmer 40 percent to 17 percent. Among the most likely Republican primary voters Drake leads 61 to 20 […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

State Sen. Greg Evers is making a lot of noise over the Obama administration’s directive to public schools instructing them to allow transgender students to use the bathroom matching their gender identity. But where was the Baker Republican – who is now a candidate for Florida’s 1st Congressional District – when he had a chance to […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

Oops! We got it wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Sorry. Dear Mr. Waldman, We said your mail did not have a union bug. Upon further review, there IS a bug. It is hidden behind the postage mark — and while hard to see — is actually there. We said it wasn’t there and assumed you were making […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray and Jim Rosica. A “FLORIDA MAN” STORY TO START YOUR WEEKEND A Florida man is accused of impersonating a U.S. senator to avoid paying off his home loan. The U.S. attorney’s office in […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

One of the unique features of the Extensive Enterprises media empire: a propensity to interview long shot candidates, particularly in coverage of Northeast Florida. Florida Politics has reached out to tertiary candidates during the most recent cycles, as well as the 2015 Jacksonville municipal elections. Questions always come down to variations on a theme: Why […]

Peter SchorschMay 19, 2016

U.S. Rep. John Mica is under fire from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which blasted him for supporting the “#PartyofTrump” in a Thursday email. “Last night, John Mica not only voted in favor of targeting LGBT Americans and allowing our military officers to be trained under the Confederate flag, he and his reckless Republican colleagues […]

Peter SchorschMay 19, 2016

In the years since Florida’s population growth dropped to its lowest level in decades, the state’s expansion has rebounded the most in inland communities in South Florida, the suburbs of Orlando and the Fort Myers area, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Florida cities, towns, villages and places with populations […]

Peter SchorschMay 19, 2016

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry, Ryan Ray and Jim Rosica. Not happy with your choices for president? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone. And you certainly aren’t the only one wishing an independent candidate would jump into the race. At least […]

Peter Schorsch
Image via AP.

Curt Clawson is why we can’t have nice things

Takeaways from Tallahassee – Ask and you shall not receive

Brad Drake has big lead in recent poll, first to qualify by petition in HD 5

Greg Evers complains about Obama transgender directive, but didn’t fix issue when he had the chance

Oops, Jim Waldman. Our bad.

Sunburn for 5.20.16 – Working for the weekend

Jacksonville Bold for 5.20.16 – Will voters punish Angela Corey and Matt Shirk for closing primaries?

Democrats blast John Mica for supporting #PartyofTrump

South Florida, Orlando, Fort Myers lead Florida’s growth

Sunburn for 5.19.16 – Are voters really yearning for a third-party candidate?