Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RaySeptember 14, 2015

Democratic Ramon Alexander is closing in on the $100,000 mark in his bid to succeed Rep. Alan Williams in North Florida’s heavily Democratic HD 8. The former Florida A&M University student body president and local nonprofit leader continued to outpace his primary rivals for the seat, bringing in $10,110 during the month of August for a […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 8, 2015

While the August special session stymied fundraising efforts last month, new fundraising reports for a trio of Pinellas County state house races show incumbent Republicans are well prepared for 2016. St. Petersburg Republican Rep. Larry Ahern brought in $10,100 in August for his District 66 reelection effort, his second best month since launching the campaign. About half of Ahern’s […]

Drew WilsonAugust 31, 2015

Florida Division of Elections records show Republican Robert Wyatt has bowed out of the District 72 race, officially clearing the way for Sarasota Republican Rep. Ray Pilon to run for his final term without in-party competition. Wyatt, the treasurer for the Republican Party of Sarasota, filed for the seat in March and loaned his campaign $150,000 within […]

Ryan RayAugust 28, 2015

When Rep. Brad Drake agreed to step aside and allow Rep. Marti Coley to finish out her tenure in the House following 2011 redistricting, he probably figured her former HD 5 seat was all his for four terms. But Bev Kilmer has announced she will not extend Drake the same professional courtesy Coley received when she and Drake were drawn into the […]

Ryan RayAugust 28, 2015

Republican state Rep. Ray Pilon has found an unlikely ally in his 2016 House re-election campaign in Sarasota-based District 72: leading Democratic strategist Steve Schale. Schale appears on the host committee for an upcoming fundraiser for the third-term Republican lawmaker, according to an invitation obtained by FloridaPolitics.com. Schale cited Pilon’s stance this year in a major battle over Medicaid […]

Drew WilsonAugust 21, 2015

A second Democrat filed for the House District 59 seat on Thursday, setting up a primary battle to face Dover Republican Rep. Ross Spano in the general election next year. Rena Jade Upshaw-Frazier, a partner at Quarles and Brady law firm in Tampa and a Stetson School of Law graduate, will take on schoolteacher Golnaz […]

Ryan RayAugust 20, 2015

Gretna City Commissioner Clarence Jackson announced Thursday via a theatrical campaign ad that he’s jumping into a now four-way race for an open seat in House District 8. The all-Democratic field seeks to succeed term-limited Rep. Alan Williams in HD 8, which takes in all of Gadsden County – the state’s only majority-minority county – and the southern […]

Ryan RayAugust 18, 2015

Niceville businessman Jonathan Tallman announced on Monday he will seek the open seat in HD 4, currently held by Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is leaving to run for the state Senate. Tallman, 27, is a financial advisor and owner of the The Tallman Group. He sits on the Okaloosa Restore Act Advisory Committee and the board of […]

Frank TorresAugust 16, 2015

As we hit mid-August we already have some intriguing Central Florida political match-ups for 2016, headlined by the big Democratic primary in the 9th Congressional district. However, you could see some new political rivalries very soon, all with the potential to make for some heavy political drama. Candidates who have been teasing runs over the […]

Ryan RayAugust 11, 2015

Democrat Edward James says he not only out-raised his opponent incumbent Rep. Ray Pilon last month – he also raised more than all other candidates for the House. According to an analysis conducted by James’ finance chairman and campaign treasurer, James’ July campaign finance haul – $26,388, on top of $10,100 that came into a political committee, New Direction […]

Tag: 2016 state House races
Minorities worry about returning to scene of California fires. Image via The Associated Press.

Ramon Alexander closing in on $100K raised in HD 8 race

Pinellas Republicans rake in August campaign cash

Sarasota Republican drops out of HD 72 race, makes way for Ray Pilon re-election bid

Former lawmaker Bev Kilmer challenging Brad Drake in Panhandle House seat

Democratic strategist Steve Schale reaches across the aisle to support Ray Pilon’s re-election

2nd Democrat files for Ross Spano’s House seat

Gretna Commissioner Clarence Jackson files for 2016 House run in HD 8

Niceville businessman Jonathan Tallman announces bid for HD 4

Ready to run? Here are some Central Florida candidates we could see soon

Edward James says his HD 72 July fundraising is No. 1 among all House candidates