Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 9, 2017

Two Central Florida first-year members of Congress — Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto — are joining former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis and a group of Democrats determined to extend the party’s reach to centrist voters. In what reads like an update of the earlier center-leaning Democratic Leadership Council, New Democracy has the explicit mandate to expand the party’s appeal, both demographically and […]

Drew WilsonAugust 7, 2017

Former state Sen. Jeremy Ring headed into August with about $130,000 on hand after spending more than he raised in July for his Chief Financial Officer bid. The Margate Democrat brought in a total of $45,396 between his campaign account and his political committee, “Florida Action Fund PC.” Combined, the two entities spent $60,515, including […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2017

Darryl Rouson says that he was legitimately undecided days before the Florida Senate would vote on whether to place a measure on the 2018 ballot to increase Florida’s homestead exemption. A late amendment that would exempt 29 of the state’s poorest counties from being affected by the loss of property tax revenues ultimately led him […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2017

While it won’t go into effect for another year and a half, the expected passage of a Florida constitutional amendment expanding the homestead exemption is already giving local officials severe headaches. On the 2018 ballot, Amendment 1 asks voters to approve an expansion of the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $75,000 of the first $100,000 […]

Mitch PerryJuly 11, 2017

Shawn Harrison narrowly avoided losing his House District 63 seat last year. Heading into the 2018 election cycle, Democrats are fired up about a “wave” election they say will help them win the seat. Harrison is fully aware of that, which is why he’s stepping up fundraising efforts early in the election cycle, raking in […]

Mitch PerryJune 22, 2017

“Confederate monument in Tampa will stay put” was the headline by a published on CNN’s website on Wednesday, shortly after the Hillsborough County Commission voted 4-3 to keep a statue of a Confederate soldier in front of the annex of the county courthouse located in downtown Tampa. “Officials in Tampa decide not to move Civil […]

Phil AmmannJune 16, 2017

Republican state Rep. Shawn Harrison is holding a campaign kickoff party later this month to launch his re-election bid in House District 63. The event, hosted by House Majority 2016 and featuring special guest Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, is Thursday, June 29, beginning 5 p.m. at the historic Tampa Theater, 711 N. Franklin St. Included […]

Mitch PerryJune 5, 2017

In 2016, Democrats targeted a handful of Florida House districts they believed they could flip from red to blue. One of them was Hillsborough County’s House District 63, where the Florida Democratic Party put some money behind Lisa Montelione in her bid to oust Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison. After a close race, Harrison ultimately prevailed, 51 to 49 […]

Joe HendersonMay 24, 2017

It wasn’t luck that Tampa was selected Tuesday to host its fifth Super Bowl. When the National Football League learned the new stadium being built in Los Angeles won’t be ready in time for the game in 2021, it had to find a city not only ready to step in on short notice, but one […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2017

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Tuesday for the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that left 22 people dead and sparked a stampede of young concertgoers. The attack was the deadliest in Britain since four suicide bombers killed 52 London commuters on subway trains and a bus in July 2005. Here […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn

Stephanie Murphy, Darren Soto join ‘New Democracy,’ to win back middle-class voters

Jeremy Ring raised $45K in July for CFO bid, spent $60K

Darryl Rouson’s past used against him by local official during homestead expansion debate

Tampa local officials bemoan expected expansion of Florida homestead exemption

Shawn Harrison brings in more than $36,000 in June for re-election bid

Bob Buckhorn: It was Hillsborough, not Tampa, which voted to keep Confederate monument

Shawn Harrison kicks off HD 63 re-election bid at Tampa Theater June 29

Bob Buckhorn crosses party lines to help Shawn Harrison’s bid for re-election

Joe Henderson: When NFL suddenly needed a Super host, it knew who to call

Florida leaders react to the bombing at a concert in Manchester