Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonFebruary 5, 2018

Democrat Bob Buesing is giving it another go in Senate District 18, and he’s planning a Tuesday campaign kickoff to get the ball rolling on his 2018 run against incumbent Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young. The event will be held at Mise en Place, 442 West Grand Central Ave., and is set to start at […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Five Democrats have already filed for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat, but there’s no doubt the Party establishment is putting all their chips behind community activist Mariella Smith. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and current County Commissioner Pat Kemp were part of Smith’s kickoff event Tuesday night. An audience of around […]

Mitch PerryNovember 10, 2017

In her just-concluded re-election bid to the St. Petersburg City Council District 2 seat, Darden Rice received the backing of the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association, an endorsement of which she’s very proud. She’s also the niece of former Pinellas County Sheriff Everett Rice. Rice mentioned those facts, among others, to an audience at Tampa’s Oxford Exchange […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 10, 2017

Congressman Charlie Crist has hired Gershom Faulkner as Outreach Director, to serve as the St. Petersburg Democrat’s liaison throughout Florida’s 13th Congressional District. “Gershom is a great addition to our team,” Crist said Friday. “His dedication to service is unwavering – as a Marine defending our country, and through positions with former Rep. Frank Peterman […]

Mitch PerryNovember 14, 2016

In the 72 hours since Allison Tant announced she would not run for another term as Florida Democratic Party chair, all sorts of names have been floated as possible successors. DNC Committeeman Alan Clendenin, former House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, former Congressman Patrick Murphy, former lawmaker Dwight Bullard and former lieutenant governor candidate Annette Taddeo are just some of Florida Democrats being mentioned in the conversation. […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 16, 2016

The House District 63 race between Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison and Democratic challenger Lisa Montelione is expected to be one of the most competitive in Florida this fall. The North Hillsborough County swing district — which includes much of New Tampa, Forest Hills, North Tampa and the USF community — has flipped back and forth over the past three election cycles, with […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 9, 2016

Bob Buesing says, based on the issues, he’s a better fit for those who reside in the newly created state Senate District 18 in Hillsborough County. Senate District 18 is considered a swing district that leans Democratic, and was created out of the Supreme Court-mandated redistricting of all Senate districts last year. “Let’s have conversations in a general election […]

Joe HendersonAugust 17, 2016

Brian-Willis-Hillsborough-County-district-6-e1471462556277.jpg

Brian Willis has the editorial endorsement of the Tampa Bay Times in his bid to win the Democratic primary Aug. 30 for Hillsborough’s District 6 county commission seat. He has been, in the words of one veteran local observer of the political scene, “very impressive” on the campaign stump. He seems to have momentum. In […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 5, 2016

Legislation calling on Florida to once again elect a state education commissioner strikes me as the wrong solution to a real problem. There are plenty of reasons to be dissatisfied with the state of education in the Sunshine State but none is enough, in my opinion, to enlarge the Cabinet and dilute the responsibility of […]

Martin DyckmanJanuary 4, 2016

Legislation calling on Florida to once again elect an education commissioner strikes me as the wrong solution to a real problem. There are plenty of reasons to be dissatisfied with the state of education in the Sunshine State but none is enough, in my opinion, to enlarge the Cabinet and dilute the responsibility of the […]

Tag: Betty Castor
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Bob Buesing kicks-off challenge to Dana Young Tuesday

Mariella Smith says facing Victor Crist is like ‘David and Goliath’

Darden Rice, Yolie Capin talk regionalism during Cafe Con Tampa

Charlie Crist names Gershom Faulkner as Outreach Director

Ed Narain the latest name to be floated as potential chair of Florida Democratic Party

Shawn Harrison and Lisa Montelione clash on education issues at Tampa Tiger Bay Forum

Bob Buesing says he’s a better fit for Senate District 18

Joe Henderson: Endorsement, momentum may not be enough in Hillsborough District 6 race

Martin Dyckman: Restoring elected education commissioner won’t fix schools

Martin Dyckman: Restoring elected education commissioner won’t fix schools