Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonOctober 25, 2018

The Florida Retail Federation PAC, the political arm of the state’s retail trade organization, endorsed more than two dozen candidates seeking to earn their first terms in the state House next month. The bulk of the 26 candidates getting FRF’s seal of approval are seeking open seats in the state House, but a handful of […]

Scott PowersOctober 23, 2018

Mark-Kelly-with-Anna-Eskamani-Carlos-Smith-and-Stephanie-Murphy.jpg

Former astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly, who started a gun law reform political action committee “Giffords PAC” with his wife, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, after she was shot in a 2011 assassination attempt, said in Orlando Monday night that believes he has seen the country’s and Florida’s political mood moving […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 16, 2018

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an East Orlando Democrat representing House District 49, will fundraise in Jacksonville Tuesday evening, in another sign of his increasing prominence statewide. The event will be in the tony Avondale neighborhood, hosted by Kevin Clair, the husband of local state House hopeful Tracye Polson. Clair and Polson have become increasingly prominent this cycle, […]

Jacob OglesOctober 13, 2018

State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, an Orlando Democrat, accepted an onstage engagement proposal from longtime partner Jerick Mediavilla at Orlando Come Out With Pride. Smith, Florida’s first gay Latino member of the Florida Legislature, was on stage for the annual Pride Rally at Lake Eola Park on Saturday evening when Mediavilla surprised him by getting […]

Jacob OglesSeptember 29, 2018

Does crowd size matter? Florida Democratic Party officials taunted GOP counterparts Saturday by contrasting pictures of Andrew Gillum greeting large crowd with those at a poorly attended Ron DeSantis event. “Today’s abysmal turnout for the DeSantis Campaign is par for the course for a floundering campaign that has endured setback after setback,” said Kevin Donohoe, […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 27, 2018

Shortly after earning the “firm” endorsement of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis took the stage at the 2018 Future of Florida Forum to make his case and lambaste his Democratic opponent, Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum. “Andrew Gillum has been mayor of Tallahassee for four years. In each of those four […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 27, 2018

On Thursday, the Florida Chamber of Commerce officially endorsed Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis, saying he would continue the success that the Sunshine State has undergone under exiting Gov. Rick Scott. “As president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, my top job is to secure the future of this state,” said Chamber head Mark Wilson. […]

Scott PowersSeptember 24, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith raised $10,050 in the first two weeks of September keeping his campaign’s cash fund ahead of that of Republican challenger Ben Griffin who added $7,000 in early September in the Flordia House District 49 race. Smith, of Orlando, has now raised $108,695 and spent $42,482 of that, according to the […]

Jacob OglesSeptember 16, 2018

A group of survivors of the 2016 Pulse massacre and family of those killed in the attack have endorsed U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s re-election bid. “There is only one person in this race who cares about us, and that’s Bill Nelson,” said Brandon Wolf, who survived the mass shooting. Nelson right now faces a tough […]

Scott PowersSeptember 14, 2018

Updated with news of a House District 50 debate. A Central Florida organization teaming with WFTV Channel 9 to produce elections debates for Orlando-area Florida House districts has firmed up four and has three others falling through because of lack of commitments from Republican candidates, an organizer said Friday. Gregory Eisenberg, chief executive officer of […]

Tag: Carlos Guillermo Smith
Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Florida Retailers recommend bundle of new state representatives

Mark Kelly proclaims progress in gun law campaign

Mr. (Carlos G.) Smith goes to Jacksonville: Re-election fundraiser set

Carlos Guillermo Smith gets engaged at Orlando Pride

Florida Democrats taunt Ron DeSantis for “DeSastre” turnout

Slamfest: Ron DeSantis lambastes Andrew Gillum at Chamber forum

Florida Chamber stands ‘firmly behind’ Ron DeSantis for Governor

Carlos Smith picks up $10K in re-election bid against Ben Griffin

Pulse survivors back Bill Nelson, demand gun control

Central Florida house district election debates: four on, three off