Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJune 13, 2018

Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major B. Harding has joined the Florida Greyhound Association‘s (FGA) legal team. The addition of Harding, a high court appointee of the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles, was announced Wednesday by association general counsel Jeff Kottkamp. Harding served on the Florida Supreme Court 1991-2002; Kottkamp was Florida’s lieutenant governor from 2007-11 under Gov. Charlie […]

Scott PowersJune 13, 2018

A dark-money committee that has been attacking Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis for months with radio and cable commercials is now going after him on broadcast TV, with a $200,000 buy on Orlando broadcast TV stations. The National Liberty Federation, a 501(4) organization based in Palm Beach Gardens, began running commercials on broadcast TV Tuesday in […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2018

The Ford Pinto, a tragicomic compact car that came out of Detroit in the 1970s, was known for a design flaw: its rear-mounted gas tank made the car prone to explosion when rear-ended. Despite these issues, the car was still the most popular American compact even in 1978. A new ad from the Senate campaign of […]

Scott PowersJune 13, 2018

The New Florida Majority, the progressive organization focused on racial justice that co-sponsored Monday’s Democratic gubernatorial candidates debate, has endorsed Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum for governor. The 501[c][4] organization‘s board unanimously ratified a committee decision to endorse Gillum Tuesday, a few hours after he, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, […]

Michael MolineJune 13, 2018

Criminal-investigation-of-the-Rehabilitation-Center-at-Hollywood-Hills.jpg

The state can’t charge the Rehabilitation Center of Hollywood Hills anywhere close to $30,000 to produce the records of deaths occurring statewide during and immediately following Hurricane Irma, a judge said Tuesday. The Department of Health wanted the Broward County nursing home, where 12 people died because of sweltering conditions when the power failed, to […]

Drew WilsonJune 13, 2018

The campaign cash keeps rolling in for CFO Jimmy Patronis. The Panama City Republican brought in $463,251 last month, including $217,601 for his campaign account and $245,650 for political committee Treasure Florida. That haul boosts his overall tally to $3.6 million with $3.17 million in the bank at the beginning of June. Topping the committee […]

Drew WilsonJune 12, 2018

North Fort Myers Rep. Matt Caldwell topped the four-person Republican primary for Agriculture Commissioner in May fundraising with more than $200,000 received between his campaign and political committee. The May reports, which show $53,120 in campaign fundraising and $147,500 in committee cash, bring Caldwell’s total fundraising up to $2.12 million with $1.26 million in the […]

Drew WilsonJune 12, 2018

Florida Democrats held the first in a series of planned stops in a statewide “Medicaid Expansion Tour” at Gainesville City Hall Monday afternoon. The Florida Democratic Party event drew Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe, City Commissioner David Arreola, Alachua County Democratic Party Executive Committee Chair Cynthia Chestnut and Senate District 8 candidate Kayser Enneking to expound on what […]

Jim RosicaJune 12, 2018

In an act of ‘humble plagiarism,’ Joe Redner‘s attorney is following the lead of John Morgan in asking the state Supreme Court to take over litigation on medical marijuana. In a filing posted Monday, attorney Luke Lirot “suggests” that the state’s highest court take over deciding whether Redner — the Tampa strip club mogul — can grow and juice […]

Drew WilsonJune 12, 2018

Former circuit court judge Ashley Moody again topped her primary opponents in the Attorney General race with nearly $450,000 raised between her campaign and committee accounts last month. The Hillsborough County Republican received $271,500 of that cash through her committee, Friends of Ashley Moody, with the balance raised via her campaign account. Her May effort […]

Headlines

Personnel note: Major B. Harding joins greyhound group’s legal team

Dark-money committee attacking Ron DeSantis on Orlando TV

New Rick Scott ad compares Bill Nelson to Ford Pinto

New Florida Majority endorses Andrew Gillum in governor’s race

Judge: Nursing home to pay ‘reasonable fee’ for records

Jimmy Patronis expands cash lead in CFO race

Matt Caldwell tops Ag Commissioner field in May

Florida Democrats launch Medicaid expansion tour

Joe Redner also wants Supreme Court to decide on medical marijuana

Ashley Moody raises big, Frank White doubles down and Jay Fant fizzles