Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyJune 14, 2018

The Tampa Tiger Bay Club will host all candidates who are running to fill the vacancy in Florida’s 15th Congressional District at a meeting Friday at the Ferguson Law Center in Tampa. Tiger Bay officials invited the three Democrats and six Republicans competing to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland, who is retiring […]

Bill RuftyJune 13, 2018

Ray Pena, of Lakeland, is running for the Democratic Party’s nomination for Florida’s 15th Congressional District as the first Hispanic-American to seek the district located in portions of Hillsborough, Polk and Lake counties. He is doing it the old-fashioned way, handshaking every person he meets and appearing at all public candidate meetings. He enumerates the issues […]

Bill RuftyJune 7, 2018

EMILY’s List, the progressive organization that supports women candidates for office, has recommended Kristen Carlson, Lakeland attorney and 11th-hour entrant into the Democratic primary, for Florida’s 15th Congressional District. The endorsement put two organizations that support Democratic candidates at odds with one another. At least one Democratic candidate, Greg Pilkington of Indian Lake Estates, withdrew […]

Scott PowersJune 5, 2018

Sean Shaw and Jeremy Ring have gotten the backing of the Florida Young Democrats in their quests for the Florida attorney general and chief financial officer posts, as have 11 candidates in their congressional races. The YoungDems did not endorse in the governor’s race, the agriculture commissioner’s race, or 16 other congressional races, including several […]

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

While new polling gives state Rep. Ross Spano a six-point lead in the Republican primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, a third of voters surveyed say they are unsure. St. Pete Polls conducted the survey May 25-27 which has the Dover Republican leading fellow state Rep. Neil Combee, 29-23 percent. The poll asked 494 likely […]

Bill RuftyMay 23, 2018

Kristen Carlson of Lakeland entered the Democratic Primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District just over two weeks ago and has reported campaign donations of more than $100,000 already. Her staff said most of it came in during the first 13 days. Carlson, a former General Counsel for the Florida Department of Citrus, current counsel for […]

Bill RuftyMay 21, 2018

Many political junkies are questioning whether two different entities that support the same goal — a Democrat in Florida’s 15th Congressional District — are backing two different candidates in the primary. Andrew Learned of Valrico has been a candidate for the post since June 23, 2017, and has the advice and help from the Democratic […]

Drew WilsonMay 11, 2018

Ross Spano will be on the move this weekend. The Republican state representative will hold three campaign kickoff events within the boundaries of Florida’s 15th Congressional District, which he declared for shortly after current CD 15 U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross announced he wouldn’t seek re-election in 2018. He had previously been a candidate to replace […]

Bill RuftyApril 18, 2018

Most candidates in (or soon to be in) the Democratic primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, left open by the retirement of Lakeland Republican Dennis Ross, will likely agree on many issues, especially over safety nets. But there will be a crucial difference, said Andrew Learned, a Valrico Democrat seeking the office. “Veterans and the military […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

Navy veteran and Valrico-based businessman Andrew Learned is reporting he raised more than $64,000 in 2017 in his bid to win the Democratic nomination for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, and currently has more than $22,000 in cash on hand. The district is currently held by Republican Dennis Ross, who has held the seat since 2010. Though Ross’s fourth […]

Tag: Andrew Learned

Tampa Tiger Bay Club to host bipartisan CD 15 candidate forum

Democratic hopeful Ray Pena hits CD 15 with old-school handshaking, retail politics

CD 15 primary support puts Democratic groups at odds

Florida Young Dems endorse Sean Shaw, Jeremy Ring, 11 congressional candidates

Ross Spano leading CD 15 primary, but one-third undecided

Hitting the ground collecting in CD 15

Two progressive organizations, but different candidates?

Ross Spano lines up three CD 15 kickoff events

Democrats will still campaign against a departing Dennis Ross

CD 15 hopeful Andrew Learned tops Democrats in fundraising