Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJune 11, 2018

The super PAC founded by Gov. Rick Scott is pouring $3.5 million into a new advertising blitz on television and social media attacking Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson as someone who voted to raise taxes and cut Social Security, and calling for him to be “term limited.” The New Republican PAC ads, “Timeline,” are being […]

Peter SchorschJune 11, 2018

Gwen Graham’s gubernatorial campaign said over the weekend that new campaign finance reports will show another banner month for the former congresswoman’s fundraising efforts. The Graham team said it added more than $300,000 in contributions for the campaign and tacked on another $730,000-plus via Gwen Graham for Florida, an affiliated political committee. The seven-figure haul, […]

Scott PowersJune 10, 2018

It was a debate that (once again) had Florida’s four leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates spending much of their time trying to define personas and opponents. But on Saturday night in St. Petersburg, former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham broke through with a bold pledge — to ban assault weapons by executive order. “My commitment to you […]

Phil AmmannJune 10, 2018

File this under womansplaining. Florida’s most influential gun advocate is countering reports that hundreds of people may have mistakenly received the state’s concealed weapons permits without proper background checks. “The media isn’t getting it right, and anti-gun Democrats don’t want to get it right,” says Unified Sportsmen of Florida Executive Director Marion Hammer, a past president […]

Staff ReportsJune 10, 2018

Florida’s agriculture commissioner promises his office will never again fail to do follow-up on certain national background checks that could disqualify people from gaining permits to carry concealed weapons. Adam Putnam held a news conference on Saturday in Sun City Center, Florida, to defend himself against critics who say he should resign because of the […]

Staff ReportsJune 8, 2018

After a newspaper report published Friday revealed that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more than a yearlong period stopped using a federal background check database in its concealed carry permits approval process, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam released a statement explaining his department took key steps to correct the issue once it was discovered, […]

Drew WilsonJune 8, 2018

A new poll commissioned by the Florida Chamber of Commerce shows Republican Gov. Rick Scott with a 3-point lead in his bid to knock incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson out of office. The poll, conducted by Cherry Communications, put Scott ahead 48-45 with 5 percent undecided (Florida Politics has asked the poll’s sponsors why […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2018

A Tampa Bay Times investigation into an apparent yearlong lapse in national background checks for Florida concealed weapons permits has started a wave of Democrats calling for Republican Agriculture Commissioner and gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam to drop out of the Governor’s race or resign. They were responding to a new report from the Times “Buzz blog” Friday afternoon that said […]

Drew WilsonJune 8, 2018

If today were Election Day, CFO Jimmy Patronis would defeat former Democratic state Sen. Jeremy Ring to win a full term on the job. According to a new poll commissioned by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Patronis leads Ring 40-31 among likely voters and newly registered voters statewide. The Florida Chamber endorsed Patronis last month. […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2018

The Florida Education Association is backing Democrat Gwen Graham, a former schools’ counsel in Leon County, for governor. “Supporting Gwen Graham is an easy choice for anyone concerned about Florida’s schools. She is the public education dream candidate,” FEA president Joanne McCall stated in a letter to members Thursday night. “She supports increasing salaries for […]

Headlines

New Republican PAC launches $3.5 million blitz against Bill Nelson

Gwen Graham raises more than $1M in May

During debate, Gwen Graham pledges to ban assault weapons by executive order

Calling it ‘political attack,’ NRA (wo)mansplains weapons permit snafu

Adam Putnam: No mores lapse in background checks

Adam Putnam sheds light on report of missed background checks

Fresh poll: Rick Scott maintains edge over Bill Nelson

Democrats call for Adam Putnam to drop out, resign after report of missed background checks

Jimmy Patronis leads Jeremy Ring in Florida Chamber poll

State teachers’ union endorses Gwen Graham