Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 29, 2014

Tis the season for year-end lists, so here’s this reporter’s take on the 10 biggest/most interesting developments over the past year in Tampa Bay/Florida politics. 1 – The Florida Democratic Party hits rock bottom. There are a number of reasons why Rick Scott beat Charlie Crist, and the Crist camp’s notion that the $12 million […]

Phil AmmannDecember 28, 2014

Not all Republicans are alike, says a new flyer from State Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart. By taking a closer look, Northeast Florida voters will see a “clear difference” between GOP candidates in the race for Senate District 6, so proclaims Renuart’s latest direct mail piece. The flyer, set to hit mailboxes starting this Tuesday, is […]

Adam WeinsteinDecember 8, 2014

With the loss of Sen. Mary Landrieu in Louisiana’s run-off election last weekend, Southern Democrats have just about gone extinct. For the first time since Reconstruction, no state in the Deep South has a Democrat in the Senate or the governor’s office. As a Southern liberal, I say: Good. America will be better off without […]

Mitch PerryNovember 21, 2014

Democratic Party political adviser Steve Schale and Republican consultant Adam Goodman are two of the very best strategists in Florida, so it was entertaining to hear the two pontificating about this month’s election results in Florida on Friday. Speaking at a Tampa Tiger Bay event at Maestro’s restaurant inside the Straz Performing Arts Center on […]

Guest AuthorNovember 9, 2014

Gwen Graham’s victory should give Florida Democrats something to think about. The rookie politician knew she could not overcome Congressman Steve Southerland’s appeal in nine counties he carried by more than 60 percent in the previous election. She campaigned in them anyway. Southerland, R-Panama City, won election in the Tea Party wave in 2010 and […]

Adam WeinsteinNovember 6, 2014

In 1994, at the height of the nationwide electoral wave against Bill Clinton — a force so great and enduring it would be remembered as “the Republican revolution” — there was one bright spot for Democrats: They held on to the Florida Governor’s Mansion. Lawton Chiles, a self-described cracker and populist, fought off a challenge […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2014

Answering questions is as unspeakable to Rick Scott as eating pork is to someone who keeps kosher. The governor treats talking with the press and public as trayf (Yiddish for tainted food), as though he would be putting himself at risk for the political equivalent of trichinosis. Ask him anything. And, as if unable to […]

Guest AuthorOctober 15, 2014

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is one of the few entities publicly opposing Amendment 1 on the November ballot. Yet at the end of September, the Florida Chamber Political Institute’s polling data showed that Amendment 1 has very strong support: 75 percent in favor and 14 percent opposed. Amendment 1, if approved by the voters […]

Guest AuthorOctober 2, 2014

Notionally, the Charlie Crist campaign for governor is ramping up its efforts to motivate Florida black voters to get to the polls on November 4. But actually the Crist campaign merely expects black voters to slavishly support him without a compensating policy effort. This should not be surprising. It is the party of Jackson’s approach […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 24, 2014

Can Florida politics succeed where sports has failed? Can we get a grip on dangerous social reality, recognize the seriousness of the challenge, and take the right actions to meet it? When news first broke about Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice’s violent abuse of his fiancée, the NFL swept it under the artificial turf. […]

Tag: Alex Sink

A look back at the year in news in Tampa Bay

Direct mail round-up: Republicans are not all alike in Senate District 6 race, says Doc Renuart

Adam Weinstein: Goodbye, Southern Democrats, and good riddance

Steve Schale and Adam Goodman break down 2014 election

James Call: Graham was smart to campaign where she knew she wouldn’t win

Adam Weinstein: The three big reasons Florida Democrats still can’t elect a governor

Stephen Goldstein: Scott won’t answer questions and too many voters don’t care

Barbara Joy Cooley: Amendment 1’s fate depends on voter turnout

Chris Timmons: Will the Crist campaign start taking Florida black voters seriously?

Daniel Tilson: Ray Rice, Jameis Winston and Rick Scott: New normals?