Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 28, 2016

For the first time time since September of 2011, the University of South Florida’s football program is ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. This comes after the Bulls defeated cross I-4 rival UCF at Raymond James Stadium. They’re tied at 24, and have finished their regular season at 10-2, their most impressive record since […]

Mitch PerryNovember 26, 2016

There was no harsher a critic of the Fidel Castro regime in Cuba than Ralph Fernandez. Yet the Tampa attorney who represented several former political prisoners in Cuba over the past several decades says that nobody ever challenged the U.S. government as the longtime Cuban leader, who died Friday at the age of 90. “The guy stood up to […]

Mitch PerryNovember 23, 2016

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Donald Trump made it official earlier this week: The Trans-Pacific Partnership is DOA in his upcoming administration. “On trade, I am going to issue a notification of intent to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a potential disaster for our country,” Trump said on Monday in a brief video outlying his first 100 days that was […]

Mitch PerryNovember 18, 2016

What the hell do you have to lose? That was, of course, Donald Trump‘s rather crude appeal to black voters in our last national nightmare of a campaign that mercifully concluded 10 days ago. But that line could be one offered to Florida Democrats, in the wake of the movement to get John Morgan to run […]

Joe HendersonNovember 17, 2016

The rebirth of downtown Tampa brought inevitable speculation that Mayor Bob Buckhorn might parlay it into a shot at the governor’s mansion in 2018. The job obviously has appeal for someone like Buckhorn, who likes a big stage and challenge. Asking him to tip his hand about a possible run, though, has proved to be […]

Mitch PerryNovember 17, 2016

If it were up to Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House Caucus would be voting for their leadership later today, where she would win another term as House minority leader, since there is no opposition to her leadership role. Not yet, anyway. In an ominous note for the 76-year-old representative from San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, dozens of rank-and-file […]

Mitch PerryNovember 16, 2016

Lifelong Democrat Bob Buckhorn admits it’s been rough adapting to a world where Hillary Clinton won’t be the next president. The Tampa mayor went all-out for the party’s presidential nominee, including a weekend winter trip to New Hampshire just days before the first primary in the nation last February. And while Clinton did take Hillsborough County (along with the other major […]

Mitch PerryNovember 9, 2016

Where do you begin? One of the biggest political upsets in U.S. history, to start with, in Donald J. Trump beating Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States of America. Lots of analysis there, including about the Democratic nominee, who for the second time in eight years, thought she had the […]

Mitch PerryOctober 28, 2016

Emphasizing her centrist political persona while addressing a packed restaurant in South Tampa Friday morning, Gwen Graham said her potential candidacy for governor of Florida in 2018 would be a “transcending of the politics” that currently exists today. “I have heard from so many people who say ‘you’re exactly what the state of Florida needs,'” Graham said at […]

Joe HendersonOctober 27, 2016

Earlier this week, NBC political chief Chuck Todd was chatting with Republican strategist Jeff Roe, picking out three places around the country where election geeks should focus special attention. Hillsborough County topped the list. Are we surprised? Todd noted that Roe considered it “the bellwether county in the country” and added, “you could make that […]

Tag: Bob Buckhorn
Uloma Ekpete Kama. Image via campaign site.

Mitch Perry Report for 11.28.16 -While USF football soars, attendance doesn’t

In Tampa, agreement that Fidel Castro was one of a kind

Bob Buckhorn disappointed that TPP is dead

Mitch Perry Report for 11.18.16 — John Morgan for the people?

Joe Henderson: Facing many hurdles, Bob Buckhorn could make a good governor

Mitch Perry Report for 11.17.16 — Will there be a Democrat ready to challenge Nancy Pelosi?

Bob Buckhorn says it’s a time for soul searching in the Democratic Party

Mitch Perry Report for 11.9.16 — GOP dominance

Gwen Graham says she’s poised to run a 67-county strategy for governor

Joe Henderson: Buckle up, Hillsborough, you’re the big political prize