Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJune 15, 2016

Former state Rep. Bev Kilmer says she meets the residency requirements needed to again serve in the House. Kilmer, a Republican who was in the Florida House of Representatives 1998-2004, moved back to the Panhandle from Texas to run for House District 5. The mostly rural district includes Holmes, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties and northern Bay […]

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2016

A new poll of House District 5 voters shows incumbent Republican Rep. Brad Drake with a 32-point lead over his primary challenger, former state Rep. Bev Kilmer. The survey revealed that, in a head-to-head matchup, Drake leads Kilmer 40 percent to 17 percent. Among the most likely Republican primary voters Drake leads 61 to 20 […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 27, 2016

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The Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill regulating “transportation network companies” such as Uber and Lyft, and mandating insurance and other requirements. But the measure also includes a provision that may not find favor in the Senate: It vests regulatory power over the ride-booking services solely with the state, cutting out local bodies such […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2016

Supporters of Pinellas Republican Chris Sprowls‘ bid to become Speaker of the Florida House at the beginning of the next decade have repeated a talking point again and again about rival Eric Eisnaugle: “We’re not sure who eventually will be Speaker in 2021, but we know it won’t be Eisnaugle.” They said that after the […]

Drew WilsonNovember 10, 2015

House District 5 added a third candidate last week, and the way things are shaping up voters will have their pick of representatives past and present on Election Day. Former Rep. Jamey Westbrook, who runs a well-drilling business, filed for the seat Friday as a no-party candidate, joining Republican Rep. Bev Kilmer and incumbent Republican Rep. […]

Jim RosicaOctober 5, 2015

Get your checkbooks ready: The Republican Party of Florida’s House Majority 2016 effort is highlighting a bevy of fundraisers this week in Tallahassee. The party sent an email listing all the events, coinciding with the October committee week. In chronological order, here are the events, subject to change and cancellation: State Rep. Elizabeth Porter of Lake […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 8, 2015

In his bid to win re-election, state Rep. Brad Drake has a 40 point advantage over fellow former Rep. Bev Kilmer in the GOP primary for House District 5 in Florida’s Panhandle, according to a new poll. In a St. Pete Polls survey commissioned by FloridaPolitics.com, the Marianna Republican leads Kilmer by an overwhelming 55-15 percent; […]

Ryan RayJuly 28, 2015

Former U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland said Tuesday he won’t seek the Panhandle congressional seat he represented from 2011 until 2015. “It is after great thought and prayerful consideration that I’ve decided not to be a candidate for Congress in 2016,” the Panama City Republican said. “I’ve been blessed with the support of Susan and our […]

Peter SchorschJuly 14, 2015

The tumultuous, ultra-insider-y race to be speaker of the Florida House during the 2021-22 legislative sessions took another interesting turn Tuesday as Rep. Brad Drake confirmed to Florida Politics that he has withdrawn his pledge to support to Rep. Eric Eisnaugle. In de-pledging to Eisnaugle, once the unanimous choice of his classmates in the House to […]

Peter SchorschApril 17, 2015

Another shot has fired in the contentious behind-the-scenes battle in the Florida GOP over the future House Speakership of Eric Eisnaugle. Orange County RPOF Chairman Lew Oliver, in an email obtained Friday by FloridaPolitics.com, confirms that four House members’ districts vulnerable to Democrats in 2016 (three in Orange County), were given a “motive” to pair […]

Tag: Brad Drake

Bev Kilmer says she meets residency requirements

Brad Drake has big lead in recent poll, first to qualify by petition in HD 5

House passes bill to regulate Uber, other ride-booking services

Did Chris Sprowls just finally defeat Eric Eisnaugle for House Speaker … and by default?

Another former lawmaker enters HD 5 race against incumbent Brad Drake

Email Insights: House GOP fundraisers continue

New polling gives Brad Drake 40 point lead over Bev Kilmer in HD 5 primary

Steve Southerland will not run in 2016

The race to be House Speaker in 2020-21 takes another interesting turn as Brad Drake de-pledges from Eric Eisnaugle

Orange Co. GOP leader: Blaise Ingoglia should resign as Florida GOP chairman