Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonMarch 8, 2014

The good news about the David Jolly-Alex Sink Florida CD 13 special election campaign is…it’s almost over. The vote is Tuesday. The bad news is, it has been an exasperating exercise in the kind of outside interest-funded “gotcha!” politics that confounds and alienates more voters than it informs and engages. The 13th U.S. congressional district […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 9, 2014

Winston Churchill never lived in any of the four constituencies that elected him to Parliament, or in the two others where he ran and lost during his 65 years in politics. He didn’t need to. “Apparently an MP can be elected to Parliament without even living in this country, provided he has citizenship,” writes my […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 9, 2014

A year ago, the seat was not on anyone’s radar screen. The Republicans didn’t have to defend it and the Democrats couldn’t even dream of it. But then Bill Young announced his retirement and said he would not run for re-election in 2014. Suddenly, it was a marginal seat for the fall elections. Republicans were […]

Darryl PaulsonFebruary 6, 2014

I am going to say a dirty word. Lobbyist. I am not sure if lobbyist ranks above or below politician, but both words evoke mistrust and derision. Even more shocking, I like most lobbyists and I respect what they do. When did you last read the Constitution? I would suggest reading the First Amendment. It […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 5, 2014

Political prognostication is not an exact science despite what forecasters and pundits would have readers believe. Many fall somewhere between the obvious and the inane, and often take a familiar and non-threatening shape. “The race for (insert candidate here) comes down to which campaign turns out their voters,” or some similar form. Imagine a sports […]

Darryl PaulsonOctober 21, 2013

After 22 terms and 43 years of congressional service, U.S. Rep. Bill Young died last week. Republicans first won this district in 1954 when Bill Cramer, recognized by many as the founder of the modern Florida Republican Party, defeated Democratic Congressman Courtney Campbell in a close race. Cramer became the first Republican member of Congress […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 19, 2013

Even though my last guess — I won’t call it a prediction — about when Charlie Crist would announce his plans for 2014 turned out to be very wrong, I’m ready to make another bold prediction, err, I mean guess: Charlie Crist will announce he is running for governor … later rather than sooner. I can […]

Dan GelberSeptember 12, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott is in trouble. With his favorability rating in the tank and his re-election campaign just around the corner, Scott has promised to spend $100 million of special-interest money to convince Floridians he isn’t who they think he is. The problem is Scott has done very little as governor to crow about. So […]

Steve SchaleAugust 18, 2013

This weekend, Florida Democrats will meet for their annual big fundraising dinner, the Jefferson Jackson Dinner. Given the timing, this seemed like as good of a time as any to take a hard look at the evolving nature of the Democratic coalition. In the grand scheme of things, the November 2006 Governor’s Election in Florida […]

Tag: Alex Sink
Image via Tiger Bay.

Daniel Tilson: Silver lining in clouded Florida CD 13 special election

Martin Dyckman: Politicians shouldn’t have to live in their districts

John Grant: Sinking America with Alex Sink

Darryl Paulson: In defense of lobbying

Peter Schorsch: Five bold predictions for Florida politics in 2014

Darryl Paulson: Will Alex Sink be the successor to Bill Young?

Peter Schorsch: When, oh when, Charlie?

Dan Gelber: Scott is trying to dupe voters about his supposed accomplishments

Steve Schale: The New Face Of Florida Democratic Coalition