Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 1, 2016

Democratic state Senate candidate Mike Clelland has begun his onslaught of spending – dropping more than $120,000 on media consulting and advertising – in his quest to win the Aug. 30 primary to run for the Orlando-based District 13 seat. Clelland’s official campaign fund spent $48,000 in the first 24 days of June, most of it going […]

Jim RosicaJune 7, 2016

Florida Grown, the political committee that likely will fuel Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s 2018 bid for governor, posted more than $185,000 in contributions for May. Committees face a deadline for reporting their latest numbers on Friday. The committee released its figures early on its own website. Contributions include $100,000 from Florida Jobs PAC, a political arm of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, records show. “Commissioner Putnam is […]

Scott PowersJune 2, 2016

Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith‘s campaign raised more than $15,000 in May for his run in Orlando-based House District 49, making him one of the first House candidates to top the $100,000 campaign finance mark. A year after Smith formally entered the race — Republican incumbent state Rep. Rene Plasencia decided to switch to House District 50 — […]

Jim RosicaMay 18, 2016

State Sen. Dwight Bullard has been socked with $5,000 in fines over faulty campaign finance reports. The Florida Elections Commission meted out the punishment at its Wednesday meeting. Bullard did not attend. Bullard, a Cutler Bay Democrat, had been charged with failing to fix several incomplete reports — even after being told how to do so, staff told commissioners. […]

Peter SchorschMay 17, 2016

Incumbent Sens. Aaron Bean, Rob Bradley and Audrey Gibson are still running unopposed, and with less than six months to go until Election Day there’s still a possibility Northeast Florida voters won’t see the name of a state Senator on their ballot. Most Jacksonville area House seats are shaking out the same. Republican Reps. Jay Fant and […]

Scott PowersMay 12, 2016

Political newcomer Aramis Ayala is giving incumbent 9th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Jeff Ashton a run for the money in the race to represent the state in Orange and Osceola counties’ courts. Ayala reported raising $11,140 in April, giving her a two-month haul of $26,240, with about half of that left over in the bank. […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

In a contest to succeed her father, Democrat Amy Mercado raised $8,800 in April, sending a financial counterpunch toward Democratic primary challenger Alex Barrio, who entered the race in March and quickly outperformed her on the fundraising circuit. Mercado’s April, her best month yet, along with $2,432 in expenditures, left her with $11,580 in the […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

State Rep. Rene “Coach P” Plasencia of Orlando brought in $13,900 in April, the largest haul of any Central Florida candidate, but finds himself almost matched in the month by Republican challenger George Collins of Orlando, who lent another $10,000 to his campaign. Plasencia, who currently represents House District 49, finds himself now in a […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

Winter Park Democratic lawyer Ryan Yadav‘s loans to his own campaign are keeping his House District 30 race against incumbent Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes the only competitive house race in Seminole County-based districts, at least as far as money is concerned. Cortes, seeking a second term, raised $12,680 in April, one of the biggest […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2016

Democrat Bob Healy, a political newcomer, raised more than $10,000 in campaign funds for his effort in Kissimmee-based Senate District 15 in April, outperforming two better-known political veterans, Democratic state Rep. Victor Torres and Republican Peter Vivaldi. Healy’s $10,114 April haul compared with $8,494 for Torres and $8,011 for Vivaldi, who didn’t enter the race […]

Tag: campaign finance
Cultivated meat. Image via AP.

Mike Clelland’s spends $120,000 on media in June for SD 13 bid

Adam Putnam fundraising committee, Florida Grown, raises $185K in May

Carlos Guillermo Smith announces $15K haul in May for HD 49 race

Dwight Bullard fined $5K for campaign violations

Update on the money race in Northeast Florida legislative races

Aramis Ayala giving Jeff Ashton a run for the money in 9th Circuit state attorney race

Amy Mercado has best financial April in HD 48 race

Rene Plasencia raises $13,900 in April in his bid for HD 50

Ryan Yadav loans keep HD 30 money race competitive with Bob Cortes

Bob Healy out-raises Victor Torres, Peter Vivaldi in April in SD 15 race