Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersOctober 10, 2018

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has declared a public health emergency in Florida in advance of Hurricane Michael’s arrival, mobilizing federal medical assistance and opening the door for federally supported health care providers and suppliers to have greater flexibility in meeting emergency health needs. The declaration, which came late Tuesday follows the […]

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2018

The Republican Party of Florida on Tuesday informed the Florida Department of State that it was beginning the process of selecting Sen. Dorothy Hukill’s replacement ahead of the November election for Senate District 14. Hukill died Oct. 2, just days after announcing that she could no longer campaign due to a recurrence of cancer first […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 9, 2018

Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Gillum raised more than $3.3 million through his political committee last week, receiving hefty support from former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the Democratic Governors Association and wealthy Democratic donors. Bloomberg, who visited the Sunshine State over the weekend while reportedly exploring a 2020 presidential bid, cut a $250,000 […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 9, 2018

Emergency officials in Leon County are predicting Hurricane Michael will be the “strongest” and “most extreme” storm in decades to hit Florida’s capital city. Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Tallahassee, county Emergency Management Director Kevin Peters said Hurricane Michael is nearly a Category 3 storm. He anticipates it will make landfall at that strength on Wednesday […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2018

The Florida Democratic Party filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday to extend the Oct. 9 voter registration deadline by one week in areas to be affected by Hurricane Michael. While Secretary of State Ken Detzner has already extended the deadline by a day via Directive 2018-03, that’s not enough for the FDP. “Although the Secretary has proposed a […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2018

With four weeks before the primary, Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis brought on yet another seasoned hand for his campaign’s stretch run. Florida Politics learned Monday evening that operative Tim Baker joined the campaign last week in a senior leadership role, offering strategic and political guidance. Baker, one of a series of recent staff moves in DeSantis […]

Jacob OglesOctober 9, 2018

Republican Will Robinson continues to hold a massive fundraising lead over Democrat Tracy Pratt in the open seat race for state House District 71. Robinson, a Bradenton attorney, raked in $23,050 in the last half of September alone. In total, he’s pulled in $295,350 in monetary contributions since launching his campaign in February 2017. In […]

Jim RosicaOctober 9, 2018

Hurricane Michael, now a category 2 storm, is going to be “devastating” for north Florida, Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday at the state’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. “It’s going to be historic,” he said at an 8 a.m. press briefing, mentioning that the first effects will begin in about 12 hours. The “massive storm … […]

Scott PowersOctober 9, 2018

The vacation rental-home marketing company Airbnb is opening its ‘Open Homes’ program Tuesday, encouraging its property hosts in Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Central Florida to take in Panhandle evacuees from Hurricane Michael at no charge. The program, which Airbnb has run in past hurricanes including Harvey, Irma, and Maria last year, provides the vacation rental homes […]

Scott PowersOctober 9, 2018

Potential voters will get an extra day to register to vote in any counties forced to close their Supervisor of Elections offices today due to Hurricane Michael. Late Monday night Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner issued an order extending Tuesday’s deadline for written voter registrations if county supervisor of elections decide to close down […]

Headlines
Supporters celebrate the opening of a wheel-chair accessible playground at Anastasia State Park. Image via Florida State Parks Foundation.

Hurricane Michael: Federal agencies mobilizing health care help for Florida

Florida Republicans begin replacement process for Dorothy Hukill

Michael Bloomberg, DGA boost Andrew Gillum’s fundraising

Tallahassee braces for strongest storm ‘since 1894’

One more week: Democrats sue to extend voter registration as hurricane looms

Ron DeSantis campaign brings in operative Tim Baker for final stretch

Will Robinson maintains hefty fundraising advantage in HD 71

Rick Scott on Hurricane Michael: ‘Devastating storm…going to be historic’

Airbnb activates ‘open homes’ program to assist hurricane evacuees

Counties closing elections offices for hurricane get voter registration extension