Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Frank TorresJuly 30, 2015

With lawmakers returning to Tallahassee in October to redraw Florida’s state Senate Districts, candidates in one of the most potentially dramatic matchups aren’t flinching at how it might affect their chance at victory in 2016. The race in Senate District 13 to replace term-limited Senate President Andy Gardiner has already drawn three challengers and could […]

Melissa RossJuly 29, 2015

Saying it’s an “outrage” that the Florida Legislature “thwarted the will of the voters,” the new head of the North Florida Land Trust says the fight over Amendment 1 and land conservation in the state isn’t over. “We’re organizing for 2016,” said Executive Director Jim McCarthy during an appearance on WJCT’s First Coast Connect. “We need […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2015

Although the Florida Supreme Court has yet to rule on the legality of state Senate districts that a coalition of groups contend were drawn unconstitutionally in 2012, Florida’s political leaders said today that the Court’s ruling earlier this month to invalidate eight of the state’s 27 Congressional Districts guarantees that they will have to redraw […]

Phil AmmannJuly 22, 2015

For Linda Stewart, the secret might be out. Although the former Orange County Commissioner and State Representative has not officially announced intentions for 2016, a new website — lindastewartforsenate.com – may have let it slip. Campaign website notwithstanding, Stewart’s announcement brings little surprise; for several months, she had been hinting at a run. Signifying a potential campaign does […]

Gary FineoutJuly 20, 2015

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, dealing with the fallout of a sharply critical decision by the state’s highest court, will hold a nearly two-week Special Session in August to draw up new congressional districts. House Speaker Steve Crisafulli and Senate President Andy Gardiner announced Monday that they’re summoning legislators back to Tallahassee to respond to the court. […]

Ryan RayJuly 20, 2015

Set against a wall-sized backdrop reading “Reform D.C.,” Jeb Bush continued his push for the GOP’s presidential nomination in the state capital Monday morning at Florida State University’s Turnbull Conference Center. Bush, who lived in Tallahassee from 1999 until 2007 when he was governor, took on what he called the excesses of “Mount Washington,” by using the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida, considered a powerhouse lobbyist group for the business establishment in Tallahassee, has produced their annual scorecard on how often state lawmakers have maintained the AFI line, and the discrepancy isn’t that large between Democrats and Republicans in the state Senate, at least. AIF’s 2015 Voting Records contains each of the state’s 120 legislators voting […]

Mitch PerryJuly 9, 2015

The battle over Medicaid expansion in the Florida Legislature was an intense, emotional issue for many in Tallahassee this year. It was an internecine battle, as House Republicans fought Senate Republicans over expanding health care coverage and a Senate fix to the Low Income Pool program. At times the battle got personal, with some ascribing less than […]

Drew WilsonJuly 7, 2015

Orlando Republican Dean Asher raised more than $164,000 in June, easily outclassing his competition in the race to replace term-limited Senate President Andy Gardiner in District 13. Most of the money came through Asher’s newly formed political action committee, Allegiant Friends for Florida. The committee’s inaugural month only brought in two checks, but they came […]

Mitch PerryJuly 6, 2015

Although lawmakers are never pleased when their projects are vetoed out of the state budget, Don Gaetz says the way Gov. Rick Scott handled those vetoes last month still rankles him. “I’ve always had vetoes of projects that I was interested in,” the Niceville senator said of bills axed by Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie […]

Tag: Andy Gardiner
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Redistricting doesn’t rattle candidates in Senate 13 race

North Florida Land Trust vows “we’re organizing” to fight over Amendment 1

Legislature to convene to draw up new Senate lines October 19 – Nov 6

Is Linda Stewart running for Senate? Website holds clue

Florida Legislature sets August dates to redraw congressional lines

Jeb Bush strikes at “Mount Washington” from his old Tallahassee perch

Florida Democratic state Senators score high in AIF’s 2015 voting scorecard

Jack Latvala calls attacks on state senators, spouses in health care “reprehensible”

Dean Asher adds $164K haul in June for Senate District 13 race

Don Gaetz still vexed by some Rick Scott vetoes