Scott Powers, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 8, 2018

A Tampa Bay Times investigation into an apparent yearlong lapse in national background checks for Florida concealed weapons permits has started a wave of Democrats calling for Republican Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam to drop out of the Governor’s race or resign. They were responding to a new report from the Times “Buzz blog” Friday afternoon that said […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2018

The Florida Education Association is backing Democrat Gwen Graham, a former schools’ counsel in Leon County, for governor. “Supporting Gwen Graham is an easy choice for anyone concerned about Florida’s schools. She is the public education dream candidate,” FEA president Joanne McCall stated in a letter to members Thursday night. “She supports increasing salaries for […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2018

Orange County Commissioner Pete Clarke put to rest the constant rumors that he might back out of the Orange County mayor’s race Friday when he submitted his letter of resignation from the commission to qualify for the ballot. “I kept telling people that I’m carrying through and they chose to not believe me. When I […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2018

Patrick Murphy is out, and he’s supporting Gwen Graham. The Democratic former congressman made it official Thursday afternoon when he announced he was dropping his ambition to run for governor and support his former congressional colleague instead. Murphy joined Graham at a press conference in Pembroke Pines Thursday afternoon to essentially declare that she already […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2018

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said Thursday that his campaign’s internal polling suggests he could win the Orange County mayor’s office in the August preliminary election, a prospect that would indicate an impressive base in a contest with three major candidates. Demings made the statement as he was preparing to file his notice of resignation […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2018

Winter Park Republican Mike Miller is adding the endorsement of longtime Seminole County Commissioner Carlton Henley in the race for Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Miller, who currently represents the Orlando-area House District 47, faces an August 28 GOP primary battle with Scott Sturgill and Vennia Francois. The winner expects to take on incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie […]

Scott PowersJune 7, 2018

Kenneth Griffin, billionaire leader of a Chicago-based hedge fund and a big-time contributor to Republican political committees, has been appointed national finance chair for the New Republican PAC fueling Gov. Rick Scott‘s election campaign for the U.S. Senate. Griffin, 48, has contributed more than $20 million to various Republican-backing political committees and Republican candidates just […]

Scott PowersJune 6, 2018

The key to dealing with rising sea levels in Miami Beach and climate change effects across Florida is boiling down to being able to refocus efforts to making the state more resilient, and the same principal applies to other statewide issues, Democratic Philip Levine said Wednesday. Meeting with a handful of environmental activists in Orlando, […]

Scott PowersJune 6, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris King told a room full of gun-control activists Wednesday that he’s carrying a big agenda for them if he’s elected governor but that he’s got some doubts about how much of it could be enacted, short of a Constitutional Amendment. King, the Winter Park entrepreneur, has embraced the full Democratic platform […]

Scott PowersJune 6, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has launched her first television commercial in the Tampa and Orlando markets, a spot that introduces her as a mom, PTA president, daughter of Bob Graham, and someone who seeks to take back Tallahassee from Republicans. The 30-second spot “Service” begins with collages of Graham’s life with her children and […]

Scott Powers
Image via AP.

Democrats call for Adam Putnam to drop out, resign after report of missed background checks

State teachers’ union endorses Gwen Graham

Pete Clarke submits commission resignation — three-man race for mayor is on

Patrick Murphy: ‘I’m proud to support Gwen’

Jerry Demings says polls show he could win in August

Mike Miller picks up Carlton Henley’s endorsement in CD 7 race

Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin named finance chair for Rick Scott’s super PAC

With environment, as with most things, it’s all about building in resilience, Philip Levine says

Chris King tempers expectations on his big gun agenda

Gwen Graham’s first TV spot: PTA mom, Bob Graham’s daughter, end Republican rule