Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonSeptember 17, 2018

Gulf Breeze Republican Alex Andrade and St. Petersburg Democratic Rep. Ben Diamond filed paperwork this week to seek re-election to the Florida House in 2020. Andrade is the soon-to-be Representative for House District 2, which covers parts of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. He defeated late entrant Greg Merk by 20 points in the Republican […]

Drew WilsonAugust 14, 2018

Former Congresswoman Gwen Graham will be in Tampa on Thursday to raise some cash to help her finish strong in the closing days of Democratic primary for Governor. The fundraiser will be held at The Italian Club in Historic Ybor City, 1731 E. 7th St., from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. According to the invite, […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2018

A noon Friday deadline to make the ballot for a state legislative seat has come and gone, and 25 incumbent lawmakers (and two fresh faces) have already punched their tickets to Tallahassee. Of the 27 races that are now officially over, Republicans won a half-dozen. Most notable among that crowd is incoming House Speaker Jose […]

Kate BradshawJune 11, 2018

Everybody likes state Rep. Ben Diamond. At least, that’s what people close to the freshman Democrat from St. Petersburg say. Elected to represent House District 68, Diamond took over for then-state Rep. Dwight Dudley, who left office to run for a judgeship. While he’s popular in his district, especially with Democrats, getting bills passed has been […]

Peter SchorschMarch 6, 2018

The battle over the Senate’s high-priority higher-education bill has left a high-profile loser: The St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has been leading the opposition to a plan to unite the University of South Florida System into a single university. As the proposal made its way through the legislative process, the Chamber asked the Legislature […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 5, 2018

The three independent campuses affiliated with the University of South Florida network could soon be consolidated under one accreditation. The House passed a bill Monday afternoon that, if signed into law, would require two smaller auxiliary campuses, USF St. Petersburg and USF Manatee/Sarasota, to become part of the main USF Tampa campus by July 1, 2020. The […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 27, 2018

Ever since legislation calling for consolidating the University of South Florida System was unveiled in mid-January, officials from the St. Petersburg community have raised serious objections. The bill, sponsored by Estero Republican Ray Rodrigues (HB 423), would make USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee operate separately from the main campus in Tampa under its own accreditation. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 2, 2018

Two Democratic lawmakers are calling for “meaningful dialogue” before moving on legislation to consolidate the University of South Florida campuses in St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee with the main Tampa campus. State Sen. Darryl Rouson and Rep. Ben Diamond, who represent St. Petersburg in the Legislature, sent a joint letter Friday to USF Board of Trustees President Brian Lamb. It is just […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 31, 2018

Bipartisan support for a statewide fracking ban doesn’t seem to carry any weight in the Legislature. Legislation filed by Treasure Coast Republican Rep. Kathleen Peters (HB 237) and Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young (SB 462) would ban fracking — an oil and gas excavation method that involves stimulating wells with a mixture of water, sand and chemicals. […]

Danny McAuliffeJanuary 18, 2018

There was a slew of committee meetings at the Capitol Thursday, but the public stage outside committee halls belonged to those pushing for LGBT protections in private businesses and state offices, two arenas where such discrimination is not explicitly barred by state law. A sizable group of bipartisan lawmakers attended a press conference on Thursday in […]

Tag: Ben Diamond
Orlando Pride

Ben Diamond files for re-election in 2020

Gwen Graham raising campaign cash Thursday with past Dem. Gov. nominee

25 state lawmakers re-elected without opposition

#25 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Ben Diamond (tie)

St. Pete Chamber loses bigly in debate over USF consolidation

House passes USF consolidation plan

Last-hour effort to delay USF System consolidation fails

Darryl Rouson, Ben Diamond worry of ‘unintended consequences’ in USF consolidation

Capitol rally calls for statewide fracking ban

Legislators want laws, executive order protecting LGBT rights