Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorJanuary 3, 2019

David Straz, the Tampa businessman and philanthropist running to succeed Bob Buckhorn as Tampa’s next Mayor, is standing behind Hillsborough County’s new transportation tax. But that’s a little different stance from when the initial petition came around. “I voted for the transit referendum, and if elected Mayor I will budget your money with honesty and […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2019

Mark Inch, former director of the federal Bureau of Prisons, has been named Secretary of the Department of Corrections, according to the transition team of Governor-elect Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez. The transition announced the move, first reported by Florida Politics, on Thursday. Inch, a retired U.S. Army major general, served briefly as federal […]

Scott PowersJanuary 3, 2019

The transition committee advising Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis on school safety raised concerns Thursday about clashing cultures of law enforcement, mental health professionals and educators, and argued that state officials must force changes in mindsets. Several members of DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Public Safety and state staff members advising the panel made stark assessments Thursday of progress made […]

Staff ReportsJanuary 3, 2019

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to be the new U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida: Veteran trial lawyer Larry Keefe. Keefe now will become the top federal prosecutor in North Florida, in a district that covers 23 counties, from Escambia in the west to Alachua in the east. […]

Ryan NicolJanuary 3, 2019

Coral Springs Commissioner Dan Daley announced he has hauled in more than $75,000 in fundraising since announcing a run for state Rep. Jared Moskowitz‘s seat in House District 97. “The holiday season has never been an easy time for candidates to fundraise, but we are blown away by the outpouring of support that this campaign […]

Jacob OglesJanuary 3, 2019

Democrats welcomed U.S. Rep. Ross Spano — with directions to the ethics office. As the 116th Congress was sworn into office, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee singled out Spano with an aggressive salutation. In a news release entitled “DCCC’s Freshman Orientation Guide for Ross Spano,” the organization said Spano arrived in Washington “under a cloud […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 3, 2019

Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried filled out her office’s personnel list a little more Thursday with another round of staffing announcements. The new hires include Franco Ripple as comms director, Max Flugrath as press secretary, Karen Skyers as minority affairs director, Rachel Morgan Garland as rural outreach director and Matt Gotha as cabinet affairs director. “We’re […]

Joe HendersonJanuary 3, 2019

We are now officially on the clock for the 2019 Tampa Mayor election, where eight candidates have joined the fray to succeed Bob Buckhorn, who is leaving the job only because the law gives him no other option. Term limits can be so, um, limiting, you know? Anyway, the candidates have been running hither and […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2019

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel McAuliffe, Jim Rosica, and Drew Wilson. Here’s a fun scoop to start the morning: Last week Florida Politics reported that Nikki Fried’s inaugural committee has announced the first of a slate of events leading up to her swearing […]

Blake DowlingJanuary 3, 2019

We did our first media collaboration of 2019 this week. Tallahassee’s Ava Van Valen with ABC/WTXL did a story on what to expect from the tech landscape in the coming year. But first, Ava Van Valen is just about the coolest name ever. Agree? Back to the story at hand: How will new tech effect […]

Headlines

David Straz first quiet on transportation tax petition, now he vows to support it

Mark Inch named Florida prisons chief

Ron DeSantis’ school safety panel urges culture changes

Larry Keefe confirmed as North Florida’s top federal prosecutor

Dan Daley raises more than $75K in bid for HD 97

Nat’l Democrats welcome Ross Spano with directions to ethics office

Nikki Fried announces next wave of staffers

Joe Henderson: Tampa mayoral election moves to center stage

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 1.3.19

Blake Dowling: A look at what’s to come with tech in 2019