Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

Saying, “they are for killing,” Florida’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson sponsored a bill Wednesday to ban so-called “bump stocks” like the ones Las Vegas police say Stephen Paddock used in his deadly slaughter Sunday night in Las Vegas. “I’m a hunter and have owned guns my whole life,” Nelson stated in a news release. “But […]

Mitch PerryOctober 4, 2017

With Florida’s Cuban population, the state’s Latino vote has generally skewed more conservative than other states with large groups of Hispanics. In the Donald Trump era, new polling shows that’s no longer the case. Taken two weeks ago, a Latino Victory-Latino Decisions poll of 369 Florida Latinos gives only 36 percent support to the president; […]

Scott PowersOctober 4, 2017

Democratic Congressional District 18 candidate Pam Keith has received the endorsement and backing of VoteVets, a progressive-politics organization dedicated to helping elect military veterans to Congress and other levels of government, her campaign announced Wednesday. Keith, a Navy veteran and labor lawyer from Palm Beach Gardens, is now in a Democratic primary battle with Lauren Baer, […]

Jim RosicaOctober 4, 2017

A Constitution Revision Commission committee on Wednesday began considering whether to change Florida’s primary election system, including buttoning up what’s known as the “write-in loophole.” That allows a write-in candidate to close a primary. The commission’s Ethics and Elections Committee heard from advocates and some of the state’s elections supervisors, but took no action. Here’s how […]

Mitch PerryOctober 4, 2017

Save Southern Heritage Florida is now pursuing legal action in Broward County against the city of Hollywood after city commissioners voted in August to rename three streets honoring Confederate war leaders. The Tampa-based advocacy group went to court earlier this year to prevent moving a Confederate monument from a Hillsborough County courthouse. On August 30, […]

Peter SchorschOctober 4, 2017

State Rep. David Richardson announced Wednesday that he will report raising over $500,000 for his bid in Florida’s 27th Congressional District in the third quarter, his first since filing. More than 90 percent of the 2,400-plus donors who contributed to the Miami Beach Democrat last quarter gave less than $200 dollars. The campaign added small-dollar […]

Mitch PerryOctober 3, 2017

A northwest Florida “health coach” has filed a lawsuit in Tallahassee federal court after the Department of Health slapped her with a cease and desist order because she doesn’t have an occupational license. Heather Kokesch Del Castillo sued in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on First Amendment grounds Tuesday after the state reprimanded her […]

Staff ReportsOctober 3, 2017

Consumer sentiment among Floridians dropped six-tenths of a point in September to 95.5 from a revised figure of 96.1 in August. Similarly, the University of Michigan’s nationwide consumer sentiment index decreased slightly in September. Of the five components that make up the index, three decreased and two increased. Perceptions of one’s personal financial situation now […]

Associated PressOctober 3, 2017

On the ground in Puerto Rico nearly two weeks after a hurricane ravaged the island, President Donald Trump heaped praise Tuesday on his administration’s relief workers and, more selectively, Puerto Rican officials after earlier dismissing critics of the federal response as “politically motivated ingrates.” Trump told officials and relief workers assembled in an airplane hangar […]

Staff ReportsOctober 3, 2017

The Public Service Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities, on Tuesday set into motion its plan “to review electric utility hurricane preparedness and restoration actions during the 2017 hurricane season,” the panel said in a press release. “The review will explore the potential to further minimize infrastructure damage that results in outages,” the release said. Chairman […]

Headlines
Buccaneers QB Teddy Bridgewater. Image via AP.

Bill Nelson sponsors bill to ban bump stocks for assault weapons

Florida Latinos down big time on Donald Trump, GOP, polling shows

Pam Keith gets backing of VoteVets in CD 18 race

Constitution review panel could tackle ‘write-in loophole’

Save Southern Heritage now taking legal fight to Broward County

David Richardson’s congressional campaign has $500K third-quarter haul

Health coach sues state’s health department

Florida consumer sentiment continues downward in September

Donald Trump in Puerto Rico, lauds administration’s relief effort

Utility regulators plan hurricane prep, restoration review