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

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott has approved the University of Central Florida’s plan for a downtown Orlando campus. The campus line item — $20 million — escaped Scott’s veto pen Tuesday, meaning the money is set and as soon as the university raises another $4 million in private donations it will be able to begin developing the […]

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2016

A new video from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee mocks the Republican U.S. Senate candidates, including Florida’s U.S. Reps. David Jolly and Ron DeSantis, for supporting Donald Trump. The spot is summed up in the last lines of the video: Footage of Trump at a podium has him declare, “What the hell are we doing?” […]

Scott PowersMarch 15, 2016

Voters are hardly flocking to polls but supervisors of elections throughout Central Florida are saying the presidential primary flows have been steady and headed toward turnouts in the 40-50 percent range of eligible voters. There have been no serious lines and just a few technical glitches in Seminole and Orange counties, all minor and taken […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

Former President Bill Clinton wrapped up Hillary Clinton’s campaign for Florida’s Democratic primary by assuring a Rollins College rally that a more universal prosperity is possible and she is ready to deliver it. Speaking to about 3,000 people gathered in a basketball gym at the Winter Park campus, Bill Clinton said the recovery from the […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

Former Orlando City Commissioner Phil Diamond has won the endorsement of Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie in his bid to succeed her when she retires next year. Haynie, who has served as comptroller for 26 years, is widely respected and trusted by political leaders of both parties in Orange County, and announced her retirement plans […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

In the highest-profile Florida defection yet from favorite son Marco Rubio, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Monday endorsed Donald Trump in the Florida Republican presidential primary, the Trump campaign announced. Bondi joined Trump at a rally in Tampa Monday afternoon and praised the Republican front-runner who is trying to stay ahead of Rubio, Florida’s junior U.S. senator. “People […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

Marco Rubio‘s latest and perhaps last campaign video, released Monday, urges “It’s All About Florida” and emphasizes that it is time for his generation to do its part now to leave a better nation for children, including his. “I have four children,” Florida’s U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate states at the beginning of the minute-16-second video, “And […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

Gov. Rick Scott brought good news to Orlando – 36,000 new private sector jobs created in Florida in January – but refused to talk about the priority for Orlando and its Republican delegation who surrounded him for the announcement: the University of Central Florida’s Downtown campus. In keeping with his penchant to talk only about jobs […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jose E. Serrano of New York, a member of the Democratic Progressive Caucus and an advocate of statehood for Puerto Rico, has endorsed state Sen. Darren Soto in the race for Orlando-based Congressional District 9. “Darren Soto is a rising star,” Serrano stated in a news release issued by Soto’s campaign. “I […]

Scott PowersMarch 13, 2016

In a speech at The Villages on Sunday Marco Rubio tried to harness the anger many Republican voters are expressing with their support of Donald Trump. Florida’s junior U.S. senator said their wrath must be channeled, not fostered and exploited. “This election is really a referendum on America and its identity. It’s a referendum on […]

Scott Powers
Israel after Iranian missile strike. Image via AP.

UCF’s downtown Orlando campus escapes Rick Scott veto, gets final OK

Democrats’ new ad targets GOP Senate candidates’ support for Donald Trump

Slow, steady voting reported throughout Central Florida

Bill Clinton wraps up Hillary Clinton’s campaign assuring she’s ready to bring more universal recovery

Orange County Comptroller Martha Haynie endorses Phil Diamond to succeed her

Pam Bondi endorses Donald Trump

New Marco Rubio video focuses on his generation doing its part for the children

“Jobs!” Rick Scott declares in Orlando, but won’t talk UCF downtown campus

Darren Soto gets Jose Serrano’s endorsement in CD 9 race

Marco Rubio seeks to recognize, win over, channel anger felt by many Republicans