Tampa Bay

Kate BradshawJune 12, 2018

Since taking office after her 2012 election, Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long has been a potent force at the dais. She’s never been afraid to speak her mind or temper her criticisms when she thinks someone is full of B.S. That said, she’s also been a key proponent of collaboration among all of Tampa Bay’s local governments […]

Bill RuftyJune 12, 2018

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd is endorsing former Circuit Judge Ashley Moody for Attorney General. Judd made the announcement at an early Tuesday morning news conference in Bartow. Moody campaign says now there are 40 Florida sheriffs have now endorsed her for the office. “For more than forty-five years, Grady Judd has served the citizens of Polk […]

Kate BradshawJune 12, 2018

First elected in 2006, Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan of Longboat Key) has a name that’s recognizable to Floridians well outside his Sarasota County Florida’s 16th Congressional District. His auto dealership empire and tenure as chair of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Chamber of Commerce preceded his political career. A prolific philanthropist, he lists […]

Drew WilsonJune 12, 2018

Clearwater Republican Ed Hooper narrowly outraised New Port Richey Democrat Amanda Murphy in her first month running for Senate District 16. Hooper raised $43,575 in hard money and tacked on another $24,590 through his committee, Friends of Ed Hooper, for a total of $68,165 raised in May. After about $12,000 in spending, Hooper’s accounts ended […]

Kate BradshawJune 12, 2018

As the prosecutor in a place as diverse as Hillsborough County, State Attorney Andrew Warren has managed to strike a balance between encouraging dialogue on hot-button issues and doing his job. A Democrat who surprisingly beat popular Republican incumbent Mark Ober in 2016 on the promise of criminal justice reform, Warren pushes the envelope on criminal justice […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2018

St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes recorded another six-figure haul in his Senate District 24 re-election bid, while Democratic challenger Carrie Pilon saw a massive drop-off in fundraising in only her second month on the trail. In a Monday press release, the Brandes campaign celebrated raising nearly $187,000 in May, the third month in a row recording […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2018

House Minority Leader Janet Cruz boasted a $78,975 haul in her second set of fundraising reports since entering the Senate District 18 race but was again overshadowed by Republican Sen. Dana Young, whose reports show $203,550 raised. “I’m so energized by the outpouring of support and investment in the most flippable seat in the state. […]

Kate BradshawJune 11, 2018

After cruising to re-election in November, St. Petersburg City Councilwoman Darden Rice continues to bring an activist’s passion to the dais. Her outspokenness on the environment and economic issues has helped brand St. Pete as a forward-thinking, diversity-embracing city. Among some of the more gutsy measures she’s championed over the last year are proposed bans on plastic […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2018

Sarasota Republican Melissa Howard raised more than $20,000 last month for her bid to replace exiting Rep. Joe Gruters in House District 73. Howard raised $10,550 through her campaign account and raised another $10,000 through her affiliated political committee, Citizens for Transparency in Government. The campaign haul came in via 26 contributions, including five for the […]

Kate BradshawJune 11, 2018

Had he not been appointed interim Sheriff of Hillsborough County last year to replace retiring Sheriff David Gee, Chad Chronister has said in interviews that he would have run for Sheriff in 2018 regardless. A veteran officer who has served with the department since 1992, Chronister has had a busy year as the top cop in Hillsborough. His […]

Tampa Bay
A side-by-side of the Miami map plaintiffs are proposing (P5) and one the City Commission adopted last June. Image via ACLU and City of Miami.

#19 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Janet Long

Grady Judd gives thumbs up to Ashley Moody for AG

#20 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Vern Buchanan

Ed Hooper edges out Amanda Murphy in May fundraising

#21 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Andrew Warren

Jeff Brandes adds $187K for re-election, Carrie Pilon sputters

Dana Young more than doubles Janet Cruz in May fundraising

#22 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Darden Rice

Melissa Howard raises more than $20K in May

#23 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Chad Chronister