Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayMarch 15, 2016

Amid a cascade of statehouse dominoes in Northwest Florida in the aftermath of U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller‘s decision not to run for reelection to Congress, Rep. Mike Hill announced Monday he’ll run for Senate District 1. The seat is currently held by Baker Republican Sen. Greg Evers. Hill reportedly told his local Republican Executive Committee the move should not […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 27, 2016

Fleming Island Republican Sen. Rob Bradley has moved his re-election campaign into the newly redrawn Senate District 5 and is, so far, the only candidate in the race. Bradley represents District 7, which is made up of Alachua, Clay and Bradford counties, but new maps approved by Florida Courts at the end of 2015 shifted the first term senator […]

Ryan RayFebruary 25, 2016

George Gainer blasted the Legislature and his Senate District 1 opponent Rep. Matt Gaetz in an email appeal to supporters on Thursday, contending a pair of measures considered this year amount to a “power grab” by state government. Gainer, a Republican and longtime Bay County Commissioner, said bills on so-called “fracking” and local taxes aim at “stripping authority […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 12, 2016

Democratic Rep. Daphne Campbell said Tuesday she will run for state Senate in the newly redrawn District 38. “I am thrilled to announce my campaign for State Senate District 38,” the Miami Shores Democrat said in a news release. “Since 2010, it has been my highest honor to serve the incredible people of House District 108. I came […]

Ryan RayDecember 21, 2015

In another early maneuver in an increasingly expensive Senate primary, Rep. Matt Gaetz has unveiled a new ad in his race against fellow Republican George Gainer in SD 1. It focuses not on his primary opponent, but on the “radical” federal agenda of President Barack Obama, who Gaetz portrays as his biggest adversary during his time in the Florida House. […]

Ryan RayDecember 14, 2015

George Gainer isn’t slowing down his campaign for state Senate against Rep. Matt Gaetz just because Sen. Jack Latvala – who recruited him to run in the Panhandle Senate District 1 seat – recently gave up the ghost in his bid for Senate President. Gainer, a longtime Bay County Commissioner with deep roots in Northwest Florida, played on those origins […]

Peter SchorschDecember 3, 2015

Florida-Capitol-More-Dead-Trees3-1024x1024-1024x1024.jpg

With the Florida Supreme Court choosing the plaintiff’s map in the congressional redistricting fight, conventional wisdom (says that those same plaintiffs have a distinct advantage moving their Senate maps through Judge Reynolds’ court. And all of the plaintiffs’ maps are identical in Broward County. So how does that shake out, assuming one of the plaintiff maps is ultimately […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2015

Last week, Republican SD1 candidate George Gainer batted down accusations that he was “standing alone in the mirror” in his Senate campaign. This week, he’s keeping the full-court press on his opponent, Shalimar Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz. Gainer, fresh off a major fundraiser for his campaign that reportedly brought in a six-figure sum, announced Monday that his […]

Associated PressOctober 21, 2015

Amid a deepening rift that has split top Republicans, the Florida Senate may require voters in 2016 to pick senators for all forty of the state’s current Senate districts. The move may end a growing and contentious debate that has threatened to derail the 19-day special session that started this week. The GOP-controlled Florida Legislature […]

Ryan RaySeptember 25, 2015

Democratic state Senate candidate Andrew Korge came out swinging against Republican Rep. Janet Adkins on Thursday. Korge, son of major Democratic bundler Chris Korge, called Adkins’ private comments published in POLITICO Florida discussing how to defeat U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown by manipulating her district to include more black prison inmates “disgusting” in a statement Thursday evening. “Representative Adkins should be ashamed […]

Tag: 2016 state Senate races

Mike Hill to run for NW Florida Senate seat as dominoes fall

Rob Bradley running in newly drawn SD 5

Email Insights: George Gainer decries “Tallahassee power grab” in 2016 Session

Daphne Campbell will challenge Gwen Margolis in new SD 38

Matt Gaetz launches new TV ad in heated SD 1 primary

George Gainer goes local in latest TV ad in SD 1

Broward County Senate races appear to be settling in

George Gainer drops first ad in Senate campaign vs. Matt Gaetz

Florida Senate may require senators to be on 2016 ballot

Andrew Korge slams Janet Adkins’ comments on black prisoners in CD 5