Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2017

Besides, maybe, New York City or Washington, D.C., there really is no better place from which to write about politics than Tampa Bay. One reason is that there are so many competitive congressional and legislative seats in the region. And what’s spent to win those seats is oftentimes as much as the amount spent to […]

Mitch PerryMarch 20, 2017

Bob Buesing may be looking for a rematch. One of the most bitter races in all of Florida politics last year took place in Hillsborough County’s Senate District 18, where Democrat Buesing faced Republican state Rep. Dana Young and independent Joe Redner. Although Democrats believed Young was vulnerable to a serious opponent she ultimately defeated Buesing 48 to 41 percent. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2017

While some Republicans in Tallahassee were startled last week when Democrats walked out of a committee hearing in reaction to a speaker who made controversial comments, Janet Cruz says her caucus won’t be “mainstreaming hate speech as a legitimate part of political debate” anytime soon. The Democrat House Minority Leader was referring to Thursday, when five Democrats in the House’s […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 20, 2017

Tampa Republican state Senator Dana Young will announce her legislation to ban fracking next week, her office said on Friday. During her successful campaign to win the Senate District 18 seat last fall, Young promised that she would introduce such a ban, after she was accused of actually supporting the controversial practice of extracting natural gas and oil during the […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 18, 2017

State Sen. Jack Latvala opposed a bill to regulate the use of fracking in the 2016 Session, and in the upcoming Session, he’ll support legislation that would do so again. “I’m where I was last year,” he said when asked about the controversial practice to extract natural gas and oil out of the ground. “I helped beat it last […]

Mitch PerryNovember 21, 2016

At Tuesday’s Organization Session in Tallahassee, all forty state Senators elected earlier this month will take their oath in office. Both senators representing Hillsborough County, Darryl Rouson and Dana Young, are new to the job, though not to the Legislature. Young returns to Tallahassee having fulfilled her goal of advancing into the Senate after six years in the Florida […]

Mitch PerryNovember 15, 2016

With his legacy on the line, Barack Obama went all out during this just-concluded election season to not only get Hillary Clinton elected, but also more than 150 down ballot races for state Senate and House in states across the country, including 13 Democrats on the ballot in Florida. With one House race so close […]

Michael MolineNovember 9, 2016

When the campaigning finally ended, the Florida Chamber had invested $7.2 million in 113 television, radio, and digital ads in state races. It had mailed 600,000 campaign fliers to voters; interviewed more than 200 candidates and endorsed 116. The result was that 76 of 89 Florida Chamber-backed candidates won during the primary elections, and 74 […]

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 PerryNovember 8, 2016

In one of the nastiest state legislative races in Florida this fall, Republican Dana Young has defeated Democrat Bob Buesing, 48 percent to 41 percent. Joe Redner finished third with 9.5 percent. Sheldon Upthegrove, a staff sergeant at U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, finished forth with less than one percent of the vote. “Tampa Bay voters have spoken tonight in favor of […]

Tag: Bob Buesing
Biden in Tampa. Screenshot via PBS.

Here’s where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay politics — the ‘this place is the best’ edition

Bob Buesing contemplates 2018 rematch versus Dana Young

Janet Cruz says Florida Dems won’t ‘mainstream hate speech’ in 2017

Dana Young to unveil anti-fracking legislation next week

Jack Latvala says he’ll support legislation banning fracking again in 2017 Session

Darryl Rouson and Dana Young set to start new careers in Florida Senate

Barack Obama goes below .500 in his picks for Florida House and Senate seats

Florida Chamber feels its campaign investments paid off

Mitch Perry Report for 11.9.16 — GOP dominance

Dana Young beats Bob Buesing in SD 18 race