Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 7, 2017

Faced with a potentially-serious Republican nomination challenger, David Smith dropped another $25,000 loan into his campaign for what will be an open seat in Florida House District 28. Smith’s June 30 loan was augmented by $2,963 in fundraising in June, giving him $100,855 in total contributions and loans. He had primed his campaign when he […]

Scott PowersJune 21, 2017

The race for the special election to fill Florida House District 44 got off to a big start Tuesday, the day five candidates qualified for the ballot, as Republican John Newstreet‘s campaign held a fundraiser aides say pulled in almost $20,000 and attracted a bevy of influential elected supporters. Newstreet, executive director of the Kissimmee/Osceola […]

Scott PowersJune 21, 2017

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Interparty, cross-house fighting over the controversial education omnibus bill House Bill 7069 is not yet over, nor are efforts to stop provisions that could spell death sentences to underperforming public schools, Republican state Sen. Dave Simmons vowed Wednesday. And the bill might face a legal challenge led by state Sen. Gary Farmer, a Parkland Republican […]

Scott PowersJune 8, 2017

The Florida Supreme Court has remanded another murder case death penalty from Orlando, that of Bessman Okafor, and Gov. Rick Scott quickly reassigned it away from Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala. The move came with swift intervention from state Rep. Bob Cortes of Altamonte Springs, who asked the governor to keep the case from going […]

Brendan FarringtonApril 27, 2017

Florida could become the first state to issue what’s essentially a birth certificate for women who’ve had miscarriages under a bill the Legislature sent to Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday. The Grieving Families Act would give parents the option of receiving a state-issued certificate if a pregnancy is lost between nine weeks and 20 weeks […]

Peter SchorschApril 15, 2017

A running compilation of Easter-themed messages from Florida’s elected officials and politicians. Florida Senate President Joe Negron: State Sen. George Gainer: State Sen. Jack Latvala: State Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto: “As week six of the legislative session concludes we take time today to celebrate Good Friday, and look forward to the Easter weekend.” “I am hopeful […]

Scott PowersApril 12, 2017

Surrounded by what’s billed as the world’s new center for tennis but yet also almost in the shadow of a failed medical research center, Gov. Rick Scott brought his plea for salvation for Enterprise Florida and VISIT Florida to Orlando’s Lake Nona community Wednesday – urging pressure on the mostly-Republican group of lawmakers set to […]

Scott PowersApril 4, 2017

Repeatedly saying that his concern is with her blanket statement to decline death penalty prosecutions, state Rep. Bob Cortes renewed his call Tuesday for the resignation or suspension of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala. Cortes is emerging as one of Ayala’s sternest critics after the state attorney for Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit announced last month […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2017

The House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee passed its version of the public school recess bill, setting lawmakers on two very different paths when it comes to free play. The committee approved a committee substitute for the bill (HB 67) that would allow school boards to include free-play recess for students in kindergarten through third grade as […]

Scott PowersMarch 23, 2017

Republican State Rep. Bob Cortes has decided he likes what he’s doing in the Florida House too much to want to run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy in the next congressional election. Cortes, of Altamonte Springs, had been seen as a leading potential GOP candidate in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, which the GOP has […]

Tag: Bob Cortes
Image via AP.

David Smith pours another $25,000 personal money into his HD 28 race, topping Central Florida races

Republican HD 44 candidate John Newstreet fundraiser claims $20K

David Simmons: We’re not done yet with HB 7069

Supreme Court sends Bessman Okafor sentence back, Rick Scott reassigns it from Aramis Ayala

Florida passes bill to issue certificates for miscarriages

Compilation of Easter messages from Florida’s elected officials and politicians

Rick Scott brings Visit Florida, Enterprise Florida pitch to Lake Nona

Bob Cortes, others renew call for Aramis Ayala’s removal

House panel approves scaled back version of school recess bill

Bob Cortes: I’m not running for Congress (yet)