Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersSeptember 4, 2018

Several Central Florida Republican Florida House candidates entered the fall general election with solid financial advantages over their Democratic challengers. That was the case with several House incumbent members seeking re-election and also is the case for David Smith who is running to win an open seat for Florida’s House District 28. It’s not the […]

Drew WilsonAugust 27, 2018

Democratic state House candidate Amol Jethwani has been successful in getting young voters energized for down ballot races in Gainesville, a quality that hasn’t gone unnoticed by established Democratic politicians such as St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, who has endorsed his bid for House District 21. Though he surely has a promising future in politics, […]

Jacob OglesAugust 26, 2018

After incurring hundreds in fines for poor campaign finance filings, state House candidate Vito Sheeley had a check returned because it hadn’t been filled out correctly. In a letter to Sheeley’s campaign, state Bureau of Election Records Chief Kristi Reid Willis pointed out inconsistencies — the dollar amount on the fine check and the words […]

Jim RosicaAugust 26, 2018

Tampa attorney Ryan Torrens on Saturday said he filed a notice of appeal, requesting a “halt (of) the implementation of a lower court judge’s 11th hour ruling” decertifying him as a Democratic candidate for Attorney General. The day before, Circuit Judge Karen Gievers of Tallahassee ordered him out of the race, saying he “clearly acted contrary to the law” when […]

Drew WilsonAugust 4, 2018

Former circuit court judge Ashley Moody topped the field of candidates running for Attorney General last week thanks in large part to cashing her first six-figure matching funds check. Moody, a Republican backed by term-limited AG Pam Bondi, brought in nearly $374,000 between her campaign and political committee, Friends of Ashley Moody, for the reporting […]

Drew WilsonJuly 30, 2018

Palm City Toby Overdorf is accusing his opponent in the House District 83 Republican primary of accepting money from the sugar industry, but a glance at contribution records turns up no evidence of supporting the allegation. “Did you hear Sasha Dadan took campaign money from Big Sugar? It’s all on the Florida Division of Elections […]

Drew WilsonJuly 26, 2018

A Washington-based ethics group says there’s something rotten with a political committee supporting Gov. Rick Scott’s bid for U.S. Senate. The Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, or FACT, said a “scam PAC” known as Keeping America in Republican Control has touted raising more than $1.5 million to influence elections but it hasn’t filed the […]

Drew WilsonJuly 23, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam tacked on another $370,000 for his gubernatorial bid between July 7 and July 13, nearly putting him past the $35 million mark in total fundraising. The Bartow Republican raised $158,134 in hard money and brought in another $212,575 via his political committee, Florida Grown, for a total haul of $370,709. That’s […]

Scott PowersJuly 18, 2018

Democratic challenger Sanjay Patel raised $101,000 in the second quarter of his campaign for Florida’s 8th Congressional District, besting incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Posey‘s fundraising efforts by more than $30,000. At the end of June, Posey, the five-term congressman from Rockledge, still possessed a significant campaign cash advantage over the newcomer candidate, with $642,000 […]

Scott PowersJuly 16, 2018

Orange County mayoral candidate Rob Panepinto‘s campaign fundraising softened during the two-week period ending July 6 while his chief opponent Jerry Demings continued on a fairly robust chase for cash as they and Pete Clarke head into the final few weeks of the summer campaign. Panepinto, a Winter Park entrepreneur whose campaign account surged early […]

Tag: campaign finance

Central Florida Republicans start House general campaigns with strong financial edges

House candidate spends campaign cash on haircuts, clothes and burritos

Vito Sheeley’s bad campaign fine check is returned

Ryan Torrens appeals decision kicking him off primary ballot

Matching funds fuel fundraising win for Ashley Moody

Toby Overdorf makes provably baseless attack in HD 83 GOP primary

Ethics group files complaint against pro-Rick Scott PAC

Adam Putnam scores another fundraising win, nears $35M raised

Democratic challenger Sanjay Patel out-raises Bill Posey in quarter for CD 8

Rob Panepinto’s fundraising cools, Jerry Demings does not in Orange County mayor’s race