Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschApril 15, 2017

Grab your bonnet, pull out the seersucker and get ready for a good-old-fashion Easter egg hunt. Americans are expected to spend about $18.4 billion on Easter this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. That projection is 6 percent higher than last year’s record of $17.3 billion and marks an all-time high in […]

Mitch PerryMarch 10, 2016

In what is being dubbed by critics as the “low-energy” summit, Jeb Bush is scheduled to meet today in Miami separately with John Kasich and Ted Cruz, after reportedly already meeting with Marco Rubio on Wednesday. The idea being, I take it, is that Jeb might come out with an endorsement. If he’s going to do […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio always had an uphill battle to win Florida’s Republican Hispanic support away from Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential race, and now that Bush is gone there appears to be no automatic switch. Bush, who dropped out after a disappointing showing in South Carolina Saturday, had developed powerful loyalty among a […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 16, 2016

The Tampa Greater Chamber of Commerce has hired Cardenas Partners to lobby on legislative matters. Al Cardenas, a former two-time chairman for the Republican Party of Florida, oversees the Government Affairs Practice at the firm. He’s also a senior partner with the Washington-based lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs. In December, the Chamber listed their priorities […]

Mitch PerryNovember 13, 2015

Al Cardenas is disturbed about what’s going on with the Republican Party in 2015. A former Republican Party of Florida chairman for two terms and head of the Washington-based American Conservative Union from 2011 to 2014, he’s backing Jeb Bush this cycle, but also maintains ties with Marco Rubio. Cardenas spoke at the RPOF’s Sunshine […]

Mitch PerryOctober 29, 2015

There’s lots to unpack from Wednesday night’s two-hour GOP presidential debate, but the most important thing to remember is that there still are three full months before any voter decides on anything. Unlike 2011-2012 when GOP primary voters through the polls bounced from Michele Bachmann to Rick Perry to Herman Cain to Newt Gingrich to […]

Mitch PerryOctober 28, 2015

It started overnight with an editorial in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, was followed up by the Democratic National Committee, former RPOF Chair Al Cardenas, and now Orlando-area Democratic U.S. Rep. and 2016 Senate hopeful Alan Grayson is calling on Marco Rubio to step down from his U.S. Senate seat. “If Senator Rubio does not want […]

Mitch PerryOctober 28, 2015

Fresh off the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s editorial calling on Marco Rubio to resign comes similar advice from former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Al Cardenas, a strong supporter of Jeb Bush‘s campaign. “If Marco has made the decision that he wants to continue to spend time with his family and run a vigorous campaign for president, […]

Mitch PerryOctober 15, 2015

Among the assets that still make Jeb Bush a formidable general election candidate is his ease and connection with the Latino community, something that no other Republican brings to the table. Illustrating that connection is the Bush campaign’s announcement on Thursday of his Hispanic leadership committee, consisting of 228 people spread out over 20 states, as […]

Associated PressApril 30, 2015

Republicans are bringing something unique to the 2016 presidential campaign: an ability to speak to Americans in both of their main mother tongues, Spanish as well as English. Democrats can’t match it. Previous GOP candidates couldn’t. But now, paradoxically, the party that’s on the outs with many Hispanic voters over immigration is the party that […]

Tag: Al Cardenas
Wekiva High School Winners and Florida ProStart Leaders Celebrate Fourth Place Win on stage. Image via Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation.

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Mitch Perry Report for 3.10.16 – Why hasn’t the Florida GOP establishment rallied around Marco Rubio?

Marco Rubio not yet locking in Jeb Bush’s Florida Hispanic backers

Greater Tampa Chamber hires Cardenas Partners to lobby in Tallahassee

Al Cardenas worries about drift of current GOP

Mitch Perry Report for 10.29.15 – Marco Rubio scores in debate, but will it boost his polling?

Alan Grayson latest to call for Marco Rubio’s Senate resignation

Al Cardenas piles on, now says Marco Rubio should resign from Senate

Jeb Bush announces 228-member Hispanic Leadership Committee

Look who’s speaking Spanish: GOP 2016 contenders bring bilingual abilities