Tampa Bay

Drew WilsonApril 11, 2018

Clearwater Republican Rep. Chris Latvala could soon have a challenger in his House District 67 re-election campaign Sources close to House Victory and incoming Democratic leader Kionne McGhee confirmed Tuesday that the party is actively recruiting Becca Teider to run against Latvala in the fall. Tieder is part of a duo who travel to college campuses […]

Phil AmmannApril 10, 2018

Ed Turanchik launched his bid for Tampa Mayor in style. The Tampa attorney/developer/transit activist raised more than $155,000 through the end of March, as well as drawing more than 500 people to a campaign kickoff event held last week. “I am thrilled and humbled by the support our campaign has received,” Turanchik said Tuesday. “We […]

Drew WilsonApril 10, 2018

Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young said Tuesday that she’s raised nearly $1.3 million for her Senate District 18 re-election bid and has $950,000 in the bank. “I am truly honored by the overwhelming support I have received for my re-election campaign for State Senate District 18,” Young said in a press release. “I look forward […]

Phil AmmannApril 10, 2018

One day after news broke of the alternative weekly Creative Loafing Tampa sale, the Tampa Bay Times is making some changes to its own free newspaper. Beginning June 7, tbt* – the Times’ free daily tabloid – will “return to its roots” as a weekly publication. According to a statement Tuesday, the change will help […]

Drew WilsonApril 10, 2018

It’s official: House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz will challenge Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young in Senate District 18. The Tampa native announced her bid Tuesday. She joins, for now at least, Tampa attorney Bob Buesing in the Democratic Primary. “I’m running because Tampa Bay families deserve a leader who will fight for them in Tallahassee — not sell them […]

Drew WilsonApril 10, 2018

Aakash-Patel-Hillsborough-County-Commission-candidate-District-1.jpg

Hillsborough County Commission candidate Aakash Patel announced Monday that he’d picked up an endorsement from Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. The pair got to know each other when Patel, 33, served as VP of the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce and worked with Bilirakis on outreach initiatives. “I am pleased to offer my support and endorsement […]

Drew WilsonApril 9, 2018

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s re-election campaign announced a new TV ad Monday that will be hitting airwaves within the Sarasota Republican’s district. The campaign said it placed an ad buy in excess of $200,000 to air the commercial, entitled “Independent Leader Fighting for You,” on local TV stations. The ad is Buchanan’s second of the […]

Peter SchorschApril 9, 2018

It’s your move, House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz. She’s term-limited in the House this year, and is – for now – set to run for a seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. But there’s word she will drop her bid for county commission and run for state Senate District 18. That would mean, assuming she clears […]

Drew WilsonApril 9, 2018

St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes made a statement with his March fundraising report, which comes one week after Democratic trial lawyer Carrie Pilon filed to run against him in Senate District 24. Brandes’ report saw the longtime lawmaker plunk down $300,000 of his own money just days after Pilon’s candidacy was leaked by the […]

Peter SchorschApril 8, 2018

Republican Christian Ziegler this week announced he was endorsed by Gov. Rick Scott in his campaign for the District 2 seat on the Sarasota County Commission. “I’m proud to endorse Christian Ziegler for the Sarasota County Commission. Christian is a friend, a life-long principled conservative, tireless advocate for Sarasota County and he is committed to […]

Tampa Bay
Image via AP.

Florida Democrats lining up challenger for Chris Latvala

Ed Turanchik kicks off campaign for Tampa Mayor with $155K, big crowds

Dana Young has $950K on hand for SD 18 re-election

CL sale, rising costs forcing tbt* to ‘return to roots’ as a weekly

Janet Cruz makes it official: She’s running for Florida Senate

Gus Bilirakis endorses Aakash Patel for Hillsborough Commission

Vern Buchanan announces TV ad buy for CD 16 re-election

Not Just A Body Of Water — A newsletter about Tampa Bay politics — 4.9.18

Jeff Brandes bolsters re-election bid with $300K of own money

Rick Scott endorses Christian Ziegler for Sarasota County Commission