Tampa Bay

Jacob OglesJuly 30, 2018

Even if a blue wave strikes Florida this fall, longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis may not feel the crash. A new survey from St. Pete Polls commissioned by Florida Politics shows the Tarpon Springs Republican with a commanding 19 percent lead over Chris Hunter, the likely Democratic challenger he will face in November. The […]

Jacob OglesJuly 30, 2018

Gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, U.S. Senate hopeful Rick Scott and Attorney General contender Ashley Moody all came out on top in a straw poll conducted Friday by the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce. “Educating our members on candidates who support business issues and giving an opportunity for this type of interaction is a priority for our […]

Jacob OglesJuly 29, 2018

Results from a straw poll conducted Saturday by the Republican Party of Sarasota County will not be released following accusations of ballot-stuffing. A statement from the party puts some blame on left-wing activists who came to the event and disrupted a speech by Republican Gov. Rick Scott, a U.S. Senate candidate. But it also acknowledged accusations […]

Bill RuftyJuly 29, 2018

An open seat in Florida’s 15th Congressional District, held by a Republican since 1984, could be in play for Democrats and Kristen Carlson is the front-runner in the Democrats’ primary, according to the latest assessment by the authoritative Cook Political Report. The report, which analyses congressional elections, has lowered its assessment of the race in […]

Jacob OglesJuly 29, 2018

On Saturday, protesters of Gov. Rick Scott disrupted a political speech multiple times, as the U.S. Senate candidate spoke to grassroots supporters in Sarasota. Individuals with Freedom Fellows, a coalition of left-leaning groups, made their way into the Republican Party of Sarasota’s Primary Election Grassroots Straw Poll event. “It’s always disappointing when people want to […]

Drew WilsonJuly 27, 2018

Brandon businessman Danny Kushmer announced Friday that his bid for Florida’s 15th Congressional District picked up an endorsement from former Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections and Superintendent of Hillsborough County Schools Earl Lennard. “I have known Danny Kushmer for many years and I know he will be a strong voice for our community in Congress. I […]

Drew WilsonJuly 27, 2018

Land O’ Lakes businessman Ardian Zika hit another fundraising milestone in the race to succeed House Speaker Richard Corcoran in Pasco County’s House District 37. Zika, a Republican, tacked on another $6,150 during the middle two weeks of July, bringing his overall fundraising past the $200,000 mark since he entered the race in August 2017. […]

Joe HendersonJuly 27, 2018

The head of a citizens group trying to place a sales tax increase before Hillsborough County voters to pay for long-term transportation needs said the goal has been achieved. “We will be on the ballot in November,” Tyler Hudson, chairman of All For Transportation, said after his citizens’ group led a petition drive that bypassed […]

Drew WilsonJuly 26, 2018

Seminole Republican Berny Jacques announced Wednesday that another first responder group is backing his campaign for House District 66. The new endorsement came in from the Florida Professional Firefighters, a statewide association representing 8,600 members working in 100 fire departments throughout the Sunshine State. “We believe that you will honorably serve the citizens of Florida, and […]

Bill RuftyJuly 26, 2018

Lakeland Democrat Kristen Carlson has begun major ad campaigns this week in her quest for Florida’s 15th Congressional District seat that covers portions of Hillsborough, Polk and Lake counties. Television ads featuring school children and Carlson began running on Facebook and in the regional areas of MSNBC and CNN. A former general counsel for the […]

Tampa Bay

Gus Bilirakis holds solid lead in re-election effort over Chris Hunter

Rick Scott, Adam Putnam big winners at Clearwater Chamber straw poll

Sarasota Republicans withhold straw poll results amid irregularities

Cook Political Report puts CD 15 in play for Democrats

Protesters disrupt Rick Scott speech in Sarasota

Hillsborough Schools chief backs Danny Kushmer for CD 15

Ardian Zika hits $200K raised for HD 37 campaign

Sales tax increase gets enough signatures for Hillsborough ballot

Florida firefighters back Berny Jacques for HD 66

Kristen Carlson begins running TV, mail ads in CD 15