Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMarch 25, 2016

U.S. Rep. John Mica likes taking constituents out to lunch (or breakfast, dinner or coffee). He also loves having his re-election campaign pay for it. The latter preference has Mica, a 12-term Republican from Winter Park, explaining why his re-election campaigns are paying for scores of “meals with constituents” tallying tens of thousands of dollars […]

Jim RosicaMarch 24, 2016

Because of differences between federal and state campaign finance laws, Mike Haridopolos can use money left over from his failed U.S. Senate bid to run for state Senate, but Matt Gaetz, who switched from a state Senate seat to a congressional bid, is out of luck. Haridopolos, a Merritt Island Republican and former Senate President, is […]

Scott PowersFebruary 16, 2016

Orlando’s theme park behemoths – mostly Walt Disney companies – have already poured $2.77 million into campaign and political committees and parties for this election cycle so far, preferring Republicans by almost 3 to 1 over Democrats. Disney, as usual, leads the way, with a combination of cash and in-kind services (typically providing tickets or […]

Jim RosicaFebruary 11, 2016

Florida Grown, the fundraising committee that likely will fuel Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam‘s 2018 bid for governor, posted $144,925 in contributions for January, campaign finance records show. The latest haul brings total money raised to more than $4.1 million, with total expenditures now at about $891,000, for a cash-on-hand balance of about $3.2 million. Disney, Florida Phosphate and U.S. […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 8, 2016

Lawmakers could only raise money for the first 11 days of the year, but that didn’t stop some of the top Republicans in Legislature the posting six-figure hauls to start the year. Campaign and committee finance reports aren’t due until Wednesday, though Sen. Bill Galvano’s political committee, Innovate Florida, leads early filers after posting $216,000 […]

Scott PowersFebruary 3, 2016

Former state Rep. Mike Clelland‘s bid to return to Tallahassee is getting a high-octane start with a reported one-month fundraising haul of $210,000 for his campaign in the Florida Senate District 13 race. That includes money his official campaign is reporting to the Florida Division of Elections, $140,00, and money raised by his political committee, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorFebruary 3, 2016

If a campaign’s probability of winning can be measured by the fundraising advantage it holds over its opponent, state Rep. Larry Ahern is well on his way to another term in the Florida Legislature. At the close of 2015, the Pinellas Republican had raised nearly $75,000 compared to his opponent’s paltry $305. Ahern is seeking re-election in […]

Scott PowersFebruary 2, 2016

When Bob Poe jumped into the Orlando-based Congressional District 10 Democratic race last month, the millionaire entrepreneur promised to match contributions, and his early donations have given him a fund of $342,000, his campaign announced. That includes $325,000 that’s now in the bank, which could make Poe the instant money leader in a Democratic field […]

Scott PowersFebruary 1, 2016

The Democratic race for the nomination in Florida’s 9th Congressional District is turning to a fundraising battle with two candidates claiming leads and a third not far behind. Orlando Democratic State Sen. Darren Soto claimed a campaign cash victory Monday after reporting his team had raised $156,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015, $30,000 more than […]

Scott PowersFebruary 1, 2016

Democrat Susannah Randolph is claiming the campaign money lead in the Orlando-based Congressional District 9 race, saying she raised $125,000 in the third quarter and started 2016 with $225,000 in the bank. Her announcement, combined with campaign finance reports of other candidates posted Sunday evening with the Federal Elections Commission, show three Democrats have broken the […]

Tag: campaign finance

John Mica defends use of campaign money to pay for hundreds of meals

Campaign finance laws can help or hinder candidates, like Matt Gaetz or Mike Haridopolos, switching races

Orlando’s theme park companies pour at least $2.77 million into state politics

Adam Putnam political committee tallies $144k for January

Republican committees post 6-figure hauls in first days of 2016

Mike Clelland starts state Senate campaign with huge fundraising effort

Larry Ahern faces broke challenger in re-election bid

Bob Poe’s self-funding, early contributions, give him apparent money lead in CD 10

Darren Soto raises $156K in CD 9, topping Susannah Randolph by $30K

Susannah Randolph claims fundraising lead in CD 9 race