Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Florida Senator Jeff Brandes will keep his Senate District 24 seat representing parts of St. Petersburg. Brandes stomped his Democratic challenger, Lindsay Cross, 54 percent to 46 percent. Cross was an underdog candidate in a difficult matchup against a well-known incumbent. She fought a hard battle right up until Election Day, but couldn’t bridge the […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis will serve a seventh term in office after defeating Democrat Chris Hunter Tuesday in a contentious race. Bilirakis has held the seat since 2007. Before that, his father represented Congressional District 12. Between the two, there has been a Bilirakis representing the district for more than three decades. The race became competitive for […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Democrat Charlie Crist scored an easy victory over Republican George Buck in his reelection race for Congressional District 13 in St. Petersburg and parts of Pinellas County. In a landslide, Crist grabbed 58 percent of the vote of the vote. Crist’s race looked sealed from the get-go. He raked in well over $3 million to […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

The 2018 midterm election is widely considered one of the most contentious in recent history. Like all midterm elections, it’s serving as a referendum on the party in power in Washington. But fueled by the overtly contentious Donald Trump administration, Democrats are fired up to send an anti-Trump message this election. That message is trickling […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Longtime Florida politics expert Darryl Paulson says voters “appear to be saying no to both Republicans and President Trump.” “Jeff Brandes seems to be the only secure candidate at this point,” said Paulson, a former Republican, in an interview. “That is due to his incumbency, his huge financial advantage and his Democratic opponent entering the race […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Hours before midterm election results start rolling in, Pinellas County Republicans are just as optimistic as Democrats. “I think you’re going to see us win Election Day turnout, as always,” said Todd Jennings, Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee vive-chair. Party volunteers have been calling voters in a last-minute get-out-the-vote effort. They also have groups continuing […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Tampa Bay-area Democrats are pooling resources for get-out-the-vote efforts in St. Petersburg. Congressman Charlie Crist joined candidates Lindsay Cross, Jennifer Webb and Sean Shaw at Webb’s House District 69 campaign headquarters in the Tyrone area to call voters who have not yet cast a ballot either on Election Day or during early voting. “Do you have […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Voter turnout in Pinellas County after the Election Day morning rush is favoring Republicans. Democrats had a slight early turnout edge heading into Election Day, but Republicans stormed the polls a little hard than Democrats. Total voter turnout as of 11:00 a.m. separated the two parties 134,000 to 131,000 with Republicans out performing at the […]

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 […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Political expert Susan MacManus doesn’t foresee a “blue tsunami” in Tampa Bay area races, but thinks a smaller wave is possible. She sees, for example, potential flips for Democrats in one Congressional race and two State Senate contests. Those include the Ross Spano/Kristen Carlson Congressional matchup in East Hillsborough and Lakeland, the Ed Hooper/Amanda Murphy state Senate […]

Tag: Blue wave

No surprise here: Jeff Brandes trounces Lindsay Cross

Gus Bilirakis elected to seventh term in Congress

Charlie Crist sails to easy victory over George Buck

Tampa Bay competitive ‘blue wave’ races to watch

Darryl Paulson sees possible ‘blue wave’ in Tampa Bay

What blue wave? Pinellas GOP exudes confidence majority will hold firm

Blue wave or not, Pinellas Democrats are fired up

Pinellas County election AM rush favored Republicans

South St. Pete polling place has Election Day glitch

Susan MacManus: Blue wave, maybe; blue tsunami, nope