Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says she’s braced for a recount in Florida’s closest statewide election. On Tuesday night, Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell came out ahead in the Cabinet position race, but on Wednesday morning the race tightened to 4,008,205 votes for Caldwell to 3,995,684 for Fried. That’s a margin of 12,521 votes, or 0.16 percent. […]

Staff ReportsNovember 7, 2018

Despite GOP Gov. Rick Scott claiming victory Tuesday night, the U.S. Senate election between him and incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson is heading to a recount. The initial margin of victory is less than a half-percent, which triggers an automatic machine recount under state law. Just 26,056 votes separate the two candidates out of more than eight million cast, according […]

Joe HendersonNovember 7, 2018

The polls said this Florida election was supposed to be the Democrats’ night. Andrew Gillum was going to be the next Governor and that Bill Nelson would be headed back to the U.S. Senate for a fourth term. They would finally have a real seat in the room where it happens in Tallahassee. But Florida […]

Phil AmmannNovember 6, 2018

On Election Day, as polls close, the after-parties begin. Candidates — along with nearly everyone else in America — will be glued to their screens Tuesday night for election results. In the end, win or lose, there will be a party. Some will celebrate a hard-fought victory, while others will be a bit more somber, […]

Jacob OglesNovember 6, 2018

Candidates in Southwest Florida anticipated lengthy debates about Medicaid expansions, gun rights and maybe charter school funding to dominate political discourse this election. So it seemed illustrative to state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo when a Naples candidate forum contained not one question about health care came up. “This year,” she said, “it’s all about the water […]

Ryan NicolNovember 6, 2018

Plenty of internet experts have all sorts of predictions as to what will happen Tuesday night. But those putting their money where their mouth is see good news for Democratic candidates Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson in their respective races for Governor and U.S. Senate. As of the drafting of this piece (though with numbers […]

Steve SchaleNovember 6, 2018

To: Fellow Americans Who Don’t Sleep From: Steve Schale, Tired Florida Man Re: You know you are going to miss these. *5 hours until the polls open *17 hours until the first of 23 phone calls between 7 and 7:05 p.m. asking what I think. *19 hours until FSU basketball season tips off against the boys from […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Election Day started out with a bang in South St. Petersburg, but the hoopla was quickly deflated around 7:53 a.m. That’s when a technical glitch at the Jet Jackson Recreation Center caused voting to temporarily halt. The line as polls opened at the precinct was about 40-deep, according to poll watchers. That line was moving […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 6, 2018

Jacksonville’s Michael Binder, the director of the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab, sees a difference between the 2014 and 2018 Florida gubernatorial races. That difference: the appeal of Democrat Andrew Gillum, which Binder says has created “excitement and enthusiasm” compared to the 2014 ballot. Whereas Crist, a former Republican, may have been […]

Ryan NicolNovember 5, 2018

For Our Future Florida (FOF-FL), a progressive group helping to elect Democrats this election cycle, says it knocked on more than 1 million doors during this year’s early voting period. The organization says those efforts resulted in more than 200,000 conversations. FOF-FL says its 1,600 staff members and volunteers will continue its turnout operation — get out the […]

Tag: Bill Nelson
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Agriculture Commissioner race: Nikki Fried readies for recount, hopes to catch Matt Caldwell

Florida’s U.S. Senate race headed for a recount

Joe Henderson: Democrats win polls but GOP dominates Florida elections … again

It’s not the party … it’s the after party! A rundown of where Florida candidates will be on election night

Red Tide Politics: It’s the environment, stupid.

PredictIt: Odds favor Andrew Gillum, Bill Nelson

Steve Schale: Like the Jaguars season, the election is nearly over.

South St. Pete polling place has Election Day glitch

‘Excitement and enthusiasm’: Andrew Gillum’s impact on 2018 politics, polling

GOTV group knocked on 1 million doors during early voting