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Staff ReportsOctober 8, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott has ordered state offices closed in the 35 counties covered by his emergency declaration for Hurricane Michael. The office closure was to run from Tuesday through Thursday. Scott announced the move Monday, via his Twitter feed. Also on Monday, Scott asked President Donald Trump to declare a federal pre-landfall state of emergency. That […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 8, 2018

A simple message emerged from Florida TaxWatch on a Monday media call regarding two amendments backed by the Florida Legislature. No on 1. Yes on 2. The watchdog group opposes Amendment 1, which would increase the homestead exemption by $25,000 to $125,000, asserting that the proposal penalizes everyone and benefits a few people. Amendment 2, which […]

Jim RosicaOctober 8, 2018

A new poll shows “a narrow lead” for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum over his Republican counterpart, Ron DeSantis. But the poll, by the Florida Southern College Center for Polling and Policy Research, has a roughly 4½-point margin of error, and Gillum’s lead is just over 3 points. Gillum received just over 47 percent support, compared […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 8, 2018

With just weeks out from the election, every candidate is doing something over the weekend. For some, the crowds are growing, and the number of doors knocked is increasing. Here’s what some pols are doing on Saturdays and Sundays ahead of Nov. 6. Democratic candidate for Governor Andrew Gillum drew a large number of attendees in Stuart […]

Jacob OglesOctober 8, 2018

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Republican Spencer Roach continues to out-raise Democrat Mark Lipton in race to succeed Matt Caldwell in the state House. Roach now leads in cash, but Lipton just spent thousands to broadcast his message. Roach, a North Fort Myers attorney, brought in $7,800 in the last half of September, most of that in a four-day period […]

Drew WilsonOctober 8, 2018

The committee sponsoring the “Voting Restoration Amendment,” which would restore voting rights to Florida felons who have completed their sentences, added more than $600,000 to its coffers during the last full week of September. Floridians for a Fair Democracy, which led the drive to get Amendment 4 on the ballot, received 138 contributions for the […]

Jacob OglesOctober 7, 2018

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Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will hit the campaign trail once again this week, this time in support of potential successor Matt Caldwell. Caldwell, the Republican candidate for Agriculture Commissioner this year, announced he will appear alongside Putnam at a grassroots barbeque in O’Brien. Putnam, who will soon wrap up his second term as Agriculture Commissioner, […]

Jacob OglesOctober 7, 2018

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum enjoyed another high attendance rally in a deep red part of Florida, this time Martin County. Gillum addressed about 1,500 people in Stuart after completing a boat tour of areas on Florida’s east coast struck by toxic algal blooms. “Crowds of this size in Martin County are unheard of,” said […]

Jacob OglesOctober 7, 2018

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Lieutenant Governor candidate Chris King joined Democrats statewide in expressing outrage over comments made Saturday by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz during a political event in Cape Coral. “Our election should and must be about real people facing real issues, and not hyperbolic propaganda used to fearmonger and gin up their base,” King said. Gaetz on […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 7, 2018

As September receipts approached a close, Republican Matt Caldwell continued to outraise Democrat Nikki Fried in the race for Agriculture Commissioner. Between his campaign account and his Friends of Matt Caldwell political committee, the North Fort Myers state Representative raised $610,220 between Sept. 22 and 28. Caldwell has $159,128 in his campaign account, and another $595,691 in committee cash, […]

Headlines

Rick Scott closes state offices in 35 counties as Hurricane Michael draws near

Florida TaxWatch on Amendments: No on 1, Yes on 2

Florida Southern College poll: ‘Narrow lead’ for Andrew Gillum

#FlaPol in Review: A weekend roundup

Spencer Roach retakes cash lead over Mark Lipton

Billionaires, Ben & Jerry’s back felons’ rights amendment

Adam Putnam back on campaign trail for Matt Caldwell

Andrew Gillum draws major crowd in deep red Stuart amid algae crisis

Chris King, other Democrats express outrage over Matt Gaetz attack on Andrew Gillum

Matt Caldwell stretches fundraising lead in Ag. Commissioner race