Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 14, 2017

Electorally speaking, for two decades now, it’s been a good time to be a Republican in Florida. But after last fall’s victory by Donald Trump, the Chicken Chard and salmon dill seemed to go down even smoother Thursday night at the Sarasota County Reagan Patriot Day Dinner in Venice. “Gosh, isn’t it great to be a Republican? Even greater that The Donald […]

Joe HendersonApril 12, 2017

The steady increase in Gov. Rick Scott’s approval rating has reinforced the notion that if voters have a job and the economy seems to be humming along, other things don’t matter much. The latest poll, released this week by Morning Consult, put Scott’s approval number at 57 percent. Considering that he stood at 26 percent […]

Staff ReportsApril 12, 2017

Sen. Denise Grimsley raised more than $260,000 in just one week toward her 2018 Agriculture Commissioner bid, far outpacing the only other Republican candidate in the race. But state campaign finance record show Grimsley could face stiff fundraising competition from Rep. Matt Caldwell, whose political committee raised more than $224,000 in the same one-week period. […]

Jim RosicaApril 11, 2017

The bad news in citrus: “Grapefruit production declined.” The good news: “Florida orange production remained steady.” That’s the upshot of the latest forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, according to the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC). “The April report projects the state’s orange crop to stay at 67 million boxes […]

Gary FineoutApril 7, 2017

Florida may end a long-running battle and pay millions to homeowners whose healthy citrus trees were torn down in a failed attempt to eradicate citrus canker. The Florida House has $66 million in its proposed budget to pay lawsuits filed on behalf of homeowners in Broward, Lee and Palm Beach counties. There are also lawsuits […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2017

Jack Latvala raised more than $250,000 in the first week of March, much of which was raised in a single day. Florida Leadership Committee, the Clearwater Republican’s political committee, raised at least $252,160 between March 1 and March 6, according to contribution data posted to the committee’s website. The committee received about $244,600 of that […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 5, 2017

Adam Putnam is poised to have another record fundraising month, laying the groundwork for his likely 2018 gubernatorial run. Florida Grown, the political committee that will fuel Putnam’s likely 2018 run, raised at least $872,841 in March, according to contribution data posted on the committee’s website. That sum is expected to rise to nearly $1.1 […]

Staff ReportsApril 3, 2017

If the results of a new poll are any indication, Floridians just aren’t that interested the 2018 gubernatorial election. The survey — conducted March 28 through March 29 by Gravis Marketing for The Orlando Political Observer — found 36 percent of Democratic voters and 63 percent of Republicans said they were uncertain who they would […]

Peter SchorschMarch 29, 2017

Short take: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam is shocked — shocked — that the House flatlined funding for his department’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. He also was gobsmacked over what he called a “political assault” on Fresh From Florida. “Gutting the Fresh From Florida program will hurt Florida’s small farms the most, their ability to raise awareness […]

Jim RosicaMarch 29, 2017

Now that he’s dispensed with the possibility of running for political office again, former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee says he just wants to be a cultural “preservative.” Huckabee – a Christian minister, former Arkansas governor and now Walton County resident – spoke to reporters before his appearance at Wednesday’s Legislative Prayer Breakfast in Tallahassee. Huckabee ran for […]

Tag: Adam Putnam

In Sarasota, Adam Putnam warns GOP of complacency in 2018

Joe Henderson: Rick Scott’s approval rating climbs because the economy trumps everything

Denise Grimsley raises $260K in March for Ag. Commissioner bid

Citrus forecast generally holds steady, USDA says

Florida may pay millions to homeowners for lost citrus trees

Jack Latvala raises more than $244K on eve of 2017 Legislative Session

Adam Putnam political committee brings in big bucks in March

Poll shows Floridians undecided on 2018 gubernatorial options

On so-called funding cuts, Adam Putnam doth protest too much

Mike Huckabee’s mission: To keep the world from ‘spoiling’