Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

The Tampa Bay area will have three Senate seats and 14 House seats on the 2018 ballot; while most of the Pinellas and Hillsborough delegations will be the same when the 2019 Legislative Session rolls around, a few races are starting to heat up. First, the sure things. Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young is still […]

Drew WilsonDecember 14, 2017

Clearwater Republican Ed Hooper announced Thursday that U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis is backing his campaign for the Florida Senate seat currently held by Jack Latvala, who faces term limits in 2018. “I am excited to have a partner to work with in Ed Hooper. I know of few better prepared to work on the issues […]

Mitch PerryNovember 13, 2017

Former Clearwater GOP Rep. Ed Hooper had a robust fundraising month in October for his 2018 bid for the Pinellas County-based state Senate District 16 seat. Hooper’s $82,575 haul far outpaced the $2,195 brought in by Democrat Bernie Fensterwald, so far Hooper’s only opponent in the race. Fensterwald, a retired businessman from Virginia, has raised a […]

Peter SchorschNovember 7, 2017

Republican SD 16 candidate Ed Hooper is holding a fundraiser for his 2018 bid on Wednesday in Tallahassee, and the choice of venue should make him feel right at home. The funder is set to run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the swanky new headquarters of The Florida Professional Firefighters, located cattycorner to […]

Drew WilsonOctober 15, 2017

Former Rep. Ed Hooper picked up an endorsement for his 2018 Senate campaign Friday from fellow Republican Bill Galvano, who is set to become Senate President after next year’s elections. “Having served the community most of his life, Ed Hooper understands the issues that face Senate District 16. Ed is known for being a champion […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 5, 2017

Former House Speaker Will Weatherford is backing Ed Hooper for the state senate seat being vacated by Clearwater Republican Jack Latvala, who terms out in 2018. “Ed Hooper was an important member of my leadership team when I was Speaker of the Florida House, I could always rely on him for good counsel,” Weatherford said, […]

Staff ReportsJuly 7, 2017

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Republican state Sens. Jeff Brandes of St. Petersburg and Dana Young of Tampa on Friday endorsed former state Rep. Ed Hooper in his quest to replace Clearwater Sen. Jack Latvala, who is term-limited in 2018. Brandes called Hooper “a true advocate for his community … thoughtful, collaborative, and trusted.” “These are some of the best qualities […]

Mitch PerryJune 13, 2017

Democrat Bernie Fensterwald, a Dunedin retiree who lost a challenge to Chris Sprowls in the House District 65 race in North Pinellas County last November by more than 30 percentage points, has filed once again to run for the Legislature. This time Fensterwald is gunning for the state Senate District 16 seat in north Pinellas being […]

Anne LindbergOctober 19, 2016

When candidates run for local nonpartisan offices — mayor, council member, or commissioner — they’re supposed to keep party politics out of the conversation. And, for the most part, that’s the way it is. But in some races this year, partisan money is helping finance local candidates. Take the City of Largo, for example, where […]

Peter SchorschJuly 7, 2016

Isn’t it fun to have new friends to play with? That’s how I felt when I learned Republican communications operative Brian Burgess was launching The Capitolist website where he (and other notables like Sarah Rumpf) blogs and aggregates. I’ve always been of the opinion that Florida politics needed more bloggers and tweeters and writers. At the national level, when the […]

Tag: Bernie Fensterwald
Image via AP.

Here’s where Tampa Bay legislative races stand heading into the 2018 Legislative Session

Gus Bilirakis backs Ed Hooper for Florida Senate

Ed Hooper ‘showing the money’ in SD 16 race

Ed Hooper heading to Tallahassee for Wednesday fundraiser

Ed Hooper lands endorsement from Bill Galvano

Will Weatherford endorses Ed Hooper for state Senate

Jeff Brandes, Dana Young endorse Ed Hooper

Democrat Bernie Fensterwald taking second shot at going to Tallahassee

Party, PAC money seeps into nonpartisan municipal races

No, Brian Burgess, Chris Sprowls will not ‘feel the Bern’