Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesJanuary 9, 2019

Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation validating same-sex marriage in Florida, the same day equality advocates criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for failing to address LGBTQ rights in a new non-discrimination order. The oversight added urgency to legislation formally repealing Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1997 statute declaring Florida only recognizes marriage between a man and a woman. […]

Scott PowersJanuary 2, 2019

Orlando Democratic state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Anna Eskamani announced Wednesday that they’re organizing a town hall meeting on state funding for the arts later this month in Orlando. Smith, who has a seat on the House Appropriations Committee, and Eskamani contended that Florida’s arts funding ranks near the bottom nationally after cuts last year, and […]

Staff ReportsDecember 18, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: In the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Cindy Kynoch is staff director. Jamie DeLoach and Ross McSwain are deputy staff directors. McSwain worked previously as staff director of Regulated Industries. Off and on: Elizabeth Ryon became deputy staff director for the […]

Scott PowersDecember 17, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani declared that Richard Corcoran has “no professional background in education” in a letter to the Florida Board of Education urging it to conduct a national search before picking Florida’s next Education Commissioner. Corcoran, the pick by Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis for the job, is set to be considered by the Florida Board of […]

Scott PowersDecember 4, 2018

Progressive organizer Kristellys Estanga is becoming the new legislative aide to Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando, as Ida Eskaman leaves to go into lobbying for progressive groups. Estanga, who worked on Andrew Gillum‘s Democratic gubernatorial primary campaign and Florida’s voting rights restoration amendment campaign, most recently served as senior advisor to Smith’s successful […]

Scott PowersNovember 27, 2018

They’re not exactly MAGA hats, at least not yet, but who knows? Newly elected Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani is chartering Big Kids territory for her 2020 re-election campaign, starting early with an online store selling Anna Eskamani ball caps, T-shirts, mugs, clocks, and other campaign souvenirs to raise a little money and put her name […]

Drew WilsonNovember 26, 2018

Another four Democrats and four Republicans took the first step toward re-election before in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Coconut Creek Democratic Rep. Kristin Jacobs, who opened her campaign account Wendesday, and Lakeland Republican Rep. Colleen Burton are the longest tenured of the bunch. Jacobs, a former Broward County Commissioner, was first elected to the Florida House in 2014. […]

Scott PowersNovember 26, 2018

Orange County Democrats flipped three seats in the Florida House and, as state Reps. Geraldine Thompson, Anna Eskamani and Joy Goff-Marcil make their debuts, they’re looking for practical starts. On Nov. 6, the three Democrats flipped the partisan strength of Orange County’s delegation from five Republicans and four Democrats, to seven Democrats and two Republicans. Thompson has been […]

Jacob OglesNovember 25, 2018

Many of the political world’s differences erased as leaders rallied instead around the loyalties that truly matter—college football allegiances. But an on-field injury that caused the entire sporting world to pause also led to introspection on the part of pols. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer took note on Friday evening of a major knee injury for […]

Jacob OglesNovember 24, 2018

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The 2018 campaign season has barely closed, but some freshman lawmakers already their eyes on re-election. State Sen. Tommy Wright, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, became the first incumbent to already open a campaign account for 2022. He will seek a second term in Florida Senate District 14 after winning his first election over Democrat […]

Tag: Anna Eskamani

Democrats seek repeal of law defining marriage as only between man, woman

Carlos Smith and Anna Eskamani set arts funding meeting

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Anna Eskamani calls Richard Corcoran ‘politically motivated and unqualified’ to be education chief

Kristellys Estanga succeeding Ida Eskamani as Carlos Smith’s aide

Anna Eskamani turns to swag sales to energize re-election campaign

Eight more House incumbents kick-off 2020 re-election bids

Orange County Democratic House newbies seeking practical issues

College Football shows true political partnerships and divisions

These freshmen lawmakers already filed for re-election weeks after winning office.