Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 12, 2015

No one stands, at this moment, between state Sen. Rob Bradley and re-election. And if someone were to, that person would be competing with an impregnable fundraising advantage, as the Fleming Island Republican crossed the $400,000 threshold in October. The $10,500 raised last month pushes Bradley’s total to $400,680. Expenditures are modest for the chairman of the […]

Associated PressNovember 12, 2015

Republican presidential contender Ben Carson has maintained a business relationship with a close friend convicted of defrauding insurance companies and testified on his behalf, even as the candidate has called for such crimes to be punished harshly. Pittsburgh dentist Alfonso A. Costa pleaded guilty to a felony count of health care fraud after an FBI […]

Mitch PerryNovember 12, 2015

Florida will become ground zero for the GOP presidential campaign this weekend in Orlando, when the Republican Party of Florida kicks off it’s three-day Sunshine Summit with a speech by former Vice President Dick Cheney, followed by two days of speeches from 13 of the 15 candidates running for the nomination. On Monday night however, […]

Drew WilsonNovember 12, 2015

Florida gained 15,400 private sector jobs last month according to data released Wednesday by payroll company ADP. The new jobs put the Sunshine State in third-place among the 50 states according to the ADP Regional Employment Report. Only California, which added 23,000 jobs, and Texas, which saw a 17,200-job gain, added more than Florida. The […]

Staff ReportsNovember 11, 2015

A memorial service will be held for former First Lady Rhea Chiles next Monday in Tallahassee. The service will be held 11 a.m. Monday at Faith Presbyterian Church. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Children’s Home Society or to the Lawton Chiles Foundation. Condolence cards and letters may […]

Jim RosicaNovember 11, 2015

Of the groups behind two solar-power constitutional amendments competing to get on the 2016 ballot, one currently has more signatures, but the other now has raised gobs more cash. The utility-backed Consumers for Smart Solar has raised nearly $3.8 million, including $2.3 million in October alone, according to online campaign finance reports. The latest disclosures were due […]

Drew WilsonNovember 11, 2015

The committee backing an amendment to legalize medical marijuana had another big fundraising month in October, largely on the back of its chairman, Orlando lawyer John Morgan. Morgan contributed $237,978 of the $337,292 raised last month by United for Care-People United for Medical Marijuana. Regular donor Barbara Stiefel wrote the committee another check for $40,000 […]

Mitch PerryNovember 11, 2015

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Like his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate race, Carlos Lopez-Cantera will be appearing this weekend at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit, but unlike his opponents, he’ll have a a number of Orlando-area lawmakers by his side supporting him. The lieutenant governor announced endorsements from nine Central Florida Republicans on Wednesday. They are: […]

Associated PressNovember 11, 2015

Criminal defendants in three Central Florida counties often face a stark choice, a public defender says: Pay hundreds of dollars in fees that help fund the prosecutors’ office, as a condition of reaching a plea deal, or face trial and risk stiffer punishment. Now public defender Rex Dimmig says the practice creates unequal treatment for […]

Mitch PerryNovember 11, 2015

Former GOP presidential candidate Bob Dole is endorsing Jeb Bush for president and will serve as the 2016 GOP candidate’s chairman for veterans outreach. “I consider nearly all the Republican candidates to be my friends, but I have determined that Jeb Bush is the most qualified,” Dole said in a prepared statement issued by the Bush campaign […]