Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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

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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 […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2015

Mel Martinez is a solid Jeb Bush guy, but he acknowledges that Donald Trump has tapped into something in the GOP body politic, and is not this year’s model of a Herman Cain or Michele Bachmann. Both of those Republican candidates shared time as the front runner for the GOP presidential nomination during the 2011 runup […]

Phil AmmannJune 23, 2015

More than a few high-profile Tampa Bay Democrats will be joining Gwen Graham for a major fundraiser next week to help her re-election effort in Florida’s 2nd Congressional District. The $250-per-person reception will be Tuesday, June 30, beginning 5:30 p.m. at the home of former Democratic state Sen. Pat Frank, who now serves as Hillsborough […]

Phil AmmannJune 16, 2015

A group of Tampa-area Democrats, including the last three Democratic nominees for governor, are hosting a June 28 Tampa fundraiser for U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy‘s 2016 Senate campaign. Charlie Crist, Alex Sink and former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis join Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, former state Sen. Betty Castor and other high-profile Democrats at the Hyde […]

Mitch PerryMay 19, 2015

Tampa icon Helen Gordon Davis passed away yesterday after being in poor health for awhile. She was 88. Reading about her life and political history again last night, I realized how much this woman kicked some ass working for positive change in Florida. “She was a phenomenal spokesperson for women and human rights,” former USF President and […]

Tag: Betty Castor

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

Mel Martinez says Donald Trump 3rd party candidacy would be GOP disaster

Democratic power roster to help re-elect Gwen Graham with June 30 Tampa fundraiser

Tampa Democrats, including Gov. nominees, to hold Patrick Murphy funder June 28

Mitch Perry Report 5.19.15 – RIP, Helen Gordon Davis