Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 2, 2014

A task force assembled by Florida Democratic Party chair Allison Tant in the wake of the midterm election debacle for Democrats had their first meeting on Tuesday, and the thoughts of the two co-chairs were illuminating. “We know we have to take a critical look at ourselves internally at ourselves,” acknowledged former Orlando Police Chief […]

Mitch PerryNovember 21, 2014

Democratic Party political adviser Steve Schale and Republican consultant Adam Goodman are two of the very best strategists in Florida, so it was entertaining to hear the two pontificating about this month’s election results in Florida on Friday. Speaking at a Tampa Tiger Bay event at Maestro’s restaurant inside the Straz Performing Arts Center on […]

Martin DyckmanNovember 17, 2014

Nearly 70 years ago, when the Florida Democratic Party was a monopoly, the political scientist V. O. Key Jr., saw a problem that haunts it to the present day. In Florida, he wrote, it was “every man for himself.” Individual candidates built their own organizations, which dissolved when they left office or gave up running. […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2014

When a candidate loses an election, there’s a tendency to ask what could have been done differently. Coulda, woulda, shoulda is a natural part of the post-election period. But when a candidate loses by a margin as tight as Charlie Crist fell short against Rick Scott — 48.2 to 47.1 percent — there’s an obligation […]

Martin DyckmanSeptember 14, 2014

The widely denounced Citizens United decision that did a great disservice to the nation and disgraces five Supreme Court justices is only the tip of a hulking iceberg. An urgent effort to melt that iceberg began in the U.S. Senate last week. You probably didn’t hear about it. The foundation for Citizens in 2010 was […]

Guest AuthorAugust 4, 2014

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The state is not doing its job to protect consumers from health insurance rate hikes. After passing up billions of dollars from the federal government for the state to expand Medicaid, Gov. Rick Scott and the Republican-controlled Legislature callously enacted a new law that, in essence, prevents the state’s insurance commissioner from regulating health insurance […]

Peter SchorschJune 30, 2014

Charlie Crist’s difficult June was capped off by a highly critical column by Tim Nickens, the editor of the Tampa Bay Times editorial page. “As we head into July, the race appears essentially tied and Charlie Crist is not maximizing his greatest assets as the likeable guy who understands Floridians and their priorities,” writes Nickens. […]

Guest AuthorApril 29, 2014

A monkey should easily be able to drum Gov. Rick Scott out of office in November — unless it’s a Democrat. The donkey party is in danger of seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. They have a clear, fusion candidate in frontrunner Charlie Crist. And yet, instead of unifying behind him, some Democrats, even […]

Mark FerruloFebruary 26, 2014

Beginning March 4, many Floridians will be focused on the legislative battles of the 2014 Legislative session. Many of us still can’t forget the 2012 session when state lawmakers placed draconian limits on our fundamental right to vote. Our Legislature that year passed a law that restricted Floridians’ access to the ballot, particularly minorities, young […]

Guest AuthorNovember 21, 2013

As everyone now knows, former Gov. Charlie Crist wants to be Governor, again. As I have reported before, there are many Democratic officials who fear a Crist nomination because of all of the baggage that comes with him. Charlie, as I’ve said before and will again, is one of the nicest people you will ever […]

Tag: Bill Nelson
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Florida Democrats begin the long, hard road back to respectability

Steve Schale and Adam Goodman break down 2014 election

Martin Dyckman: Fla. Democrats need to find a message with a broad appeal

Peter Schorsch: Here are 16 factors that contributed to Charlie Crist’s loss

Martin Dyckman: Media must report nascent efforts to curb power of money in politics

Bill Nelson: Florida GOP to blame for health insurance rate hikes

Peter Schorsch: It’s been frustrating watching Crist’s big lead evaporate

Stephen Goldstein: Nan Rich should drop out of the governor’s race

Mark Ferrulo: A judicial emergency affecting all Floridians

Barney Bishop: Charlie Crist is nice guy, but can you believe him?