Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2017

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Florida is one of just 13 states with a closed-primary election system, meaning only voters registered as a Republican or Democrat can participate in a primary election. While that may have worked out just fine for the major political parties, many say it doesn’t work for the public, demonstrated by those increasingly opting to bypass […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Janet Cruz came out Wednesday in support of fellow Hillsborough County Democrat Alma Gonzalez in Saturday’s election for Florida Democratic Party chair. “Alma’s experience and background will make her a strong voice for Florida’s working families, women, minorities and young people who feel threatened and uncertain by what they see coming out of Tallahassee and […]

Mitch PerryDecember 6, 2017

Even though she was never officially eligible, Monica Russo has been running for the past few weeks to become the next party chair of the Florida Democratic Party — until Wednesday. In a statement, Russo, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Florida and executive vice president at 1199 SEIU in Miami, said she […]

Mitch PerryDecember 5, 2017

The race for the next Florida Democratic Party chair is not quite a done deal. In a statement Tuesday, Terrie Rizzo said she has 70 percent of the 182 votes needed to win the nomination. However, Hillsborough County’s Alma Gonzalez is touting new endorsements from the state’s Democratic black, Hispanic and Caribbean caucuses. And Brevard County’s […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2017

On Monday, Alma Gonzalez released a slew of endorsements from elected Democratic officials in Tampa and Hillsborough County. Each of them is backing the Hillsborough County State Committeewoman’s bid to become the next chair of the Florida Democratic Party. The list includes the entire seven-member board of the Tampa City Council. Gonzalez is involved in a […]

Mitch PerryDecember 4, 2017

Stacey Patel traveled Sunday to Polk and Hillsborough County to visit Democrats as part of the Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee Chair’s statewide campaign to become the next leader of the state party. “It’s been a whirlwind,” Patel said while sitting with her husband, Sanjay, at an outdoor table at the Bricks in Ybor City, […]

Ana CeballosNovember 28, 2017

With the endorsement of 33 voting members, Palm Beach County Democratic Chair Terrie Rizzo is inching toward gathering the 51 percent of the votes needed to secure the Florida Democratic Party chairmanship. “Each of the men and women who have publicly endorsed my candidacy does so because they share my vision for a 67-county strategy, […]

Mitch PerryNovember 27, 2017

UPDATED: Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Stacey Patel is officially a candidate for the Florida Democratic Party Chair. “We can build a party people can believe in,” Patel writes in a post on Medium.com in announcing her candidacy Monday morning. “We can be the party that represents economic, social, and environmental justice for all, […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2017

Brevard County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Stacey Patel may soon join the increasingly crowded field of candidates to select the next chair of the Florida Democratic Party. On her Facebook page on Tuesday, Patel issued a statement declaring that she will enter the race next Monday if she can raise $2,500 to fund her campaign; […]

Mitch PerryNovember 21, 2017

Alma Gonzalez, a member of the Democratic National Committee and a Hillsborough County committeewoman, announced Tuesday her bid for Florida Democratic Party chair. The party is in crisis mode following the developments over the past few days. On Friday, now former Chair Stephen Bittel announced he would be resigning following a POLITICO Florida report that he had […]

Tag: Alma Gonzalez

Florida Democratic chair candidates weigh in on ‘open primaries’

Janet Cruz backs Alma Gonzalez in race for Florida Democratic chair

Monica Russo bows out of run for Florida Democratic Party chair

Alma Gonzalez gets key support for Florida Democratic chair, but not from all progressives

Hillsborough leaders unite behind Alma Gonzalez for Florida Democratic Party chair

‘Don’t count us out’ vows Florida Democratic Party chair candidate Stacey Patel

Terrie Rizzo keeps early Dem chair race lead with 33 endorsements

Stacey Patel enters race for Florida Democratic Party chair

‘Long shot’ candidate Stacey Patel may enter the FDP chair sweepstakes

Hillsborough’s Alma Gonzalez to run for FDP Chair