Orlando

Scott PowersJanuary 13, 2016

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has endorsed Carlos Guillermo Smith in the Orlando-based House District 49 race, Guillermo Smith’s campaign announced Wednesday. Guillermo Smith, like Dyer a Democrat, so far is running unopposed, either in his primary or headed toward the general election. He is seeking to fill the seat currently held by state Rep. Rene […]

Scott PowersJanuary 12, 2016

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs lost a power struggle with the county’s six constitutional officers Tuesday when a panel refused her request proposing they be switched to Orange County charter posts. A working group of the Orange County Charter Review Commission turned down Jacobs’ request to recommend a charter amendment, after hearing each of the […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2016

Democratic State Rep. Victor Torres filed Monday to run for the state Senate in the seat that would be vacated by state Sen. Darren Soto, and Torres’ daughter, Democrat Amy Mercado, filed to run to replace her father in the House of Representatives. Torres, completing his second term, was the first to file to run […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2016

The year 2015 ended with little competitive balance in campaign money among Central Florida candidates running for Florida House of Representatives seats as incumbents, when they have any competition at all yet. One exception, in Seminole County’s House District 30 has incumbent Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes raising more than $101,000 for his campaign. Yet […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2016

Orlando-based congressional candidate Val Demings has grabbed the biggest of Democratic congressional establishment endorsements with that of U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. In a statement Monday, Pelosi of California endorsed Demings in Florida’s 10th Congressional District, a place the Democrats hope to wrestle away from longtime Republican representation. With a new strong-Democratic lean to […]

Scott PowersJanuary 8, 2016

In her bid for Congress in the Orlando-based U.S. House District 10, former Orlando Police Chief Val Demings has won the backing of EMILY’S List, a progressive Democratic organization known for raising big money for candidates it endorses. Demings is in a Democratic primary contest with three other candidates, including two women, state Sen. Geraldine […]

Scott PowersJanuary 8, 2016

In what’s shaping up as the hottest Orange County Commission race, Winter Garden Commissioner Bobby Olszewski has announced a fundraiser that includes both Republican former House Speaker Will Weatherford and Democratic state Rep. Randolph Bracy as co-hosts. The Jan. 27 fundraiser at the GrayRobinson office in Orlando is being billed as the kickoff event for Olszewski’s […]

Scott PowersJanuary 7, 2016

The University of Central Florida’s Board of Trustees approved a plan Thursday morning to restrict its proposal for a downtown Orlando campus that had money vetoed by Gov. Rick Scott last year. But the trustees did so with no guarantees of support for the $20 million in state money it needs this year. UCF is on […]

Scott PowersJanuary 6, 2016

Winter Garden Commissioner Bobby Olszewski announced that several top Orange County political operatives will serve on his campaign finance team in his run for the Orange County Commission District 1 seat. The team will include Angel de la Portilla, Bertica Cabrera Morris, Chris Carmody, Eddie Fernandez, Frank Kruppenbacher, Jonathan Kilman and Wade Voss. Olszewski faces Betsy […]

Scott PowersJanuary 6, 2016

The International Association of Firefighters has endorsed state Sen. Darren Soto in the Democratic nomination race for the Orlando-based Congressional District 9. Soto, whose legislative efforts included successfully pushing for passage of the “John Curry Firefighter Death Benefit Act,” announced Wednesday morning the endorsement from a union that represents over 300,000 firefighters and paramedics nationally. In a […]

Orlando

Buddy Dyer endorses Carlos Guillermo Smith in HD 49

Teresa Jacobs loses battle with Orange County constitutional officers

Victor Torres files for state Senate; daughter Amy Mercado for his House seat

Bob Cortes’ impressive campaign cash haul almost matched by Ryan Yadav’s self-loans

Val Demings nabs Nancy Pelosi endorsement in CD 10 race

Val Demings gets EMILY’S List backing

Bobby Olszewski fundraiser to feature Will Weatherford, Randolph Bracy

UCF trustees approve limiting plan for downtown Orlando campus

Bobby Olszewski names Orange County Commission race finance team

Darren Soto’s congressional bid wins endorsement of firefighters union