Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 9, 2016

Democratic House District 49 candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith raised $13,755 in April, one of the biggest hauls in any Central Florida state House race. Smith attributed the impressive total, his biggest month since he announced his candidacy last June, to momentum from his work as an advocate in Tallahassee during the 2016 Legislative Session, and support […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2016

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman has endorsed Carlos Guillermo Smith in the HD 49 race, and will be hosting a fundraiser for the Democrat. “While serving in the Florida House, I witnessed first-hand how Carlos can get things done,” said Kriseman, a former state House Democrat who represented St. Petersburg. “He knows his district and […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 3, 2016

Carlos Guillermo Smith has received enough signatures to secure a spot on the ballot. Smith announced Tuesday he received enough verified signatures to qualify for the House District 49 race. The first-time candidate said he was able to get the signatures needed after launching regularly scheduled volunteer canvassing events at the restaurant Lechonera Latina. “The […]

Drew WilsonMarch 17, 2016

One of Republican Rep. Rene Plasencia’s interns has filed to run in House District 49, setting up a battle between two young aspiring politicians in the Orange County seat. Amber Mariano filed paperwork to run for the seat as a Republican Monday, joining Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith, who worked as former Rep. Joe Saunders’ chief […]

Brendan FarringtonMarch 12, 2016

Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith‘s time representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol is coming to an end while clergy will be able to say no to gay weddings under new laws approved by Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday. Scott signed a bill that requires Smith’s statue in the National Statuary Hall be replaced. Another among […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 17, 2016

In the wake of last year’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, Republicans in the Florida Legislature this year are backing a “Pastor Protection Act.” The bill would prevent clergy members from being forced to perform marriage ceremonies contrary to their principles. On Wednesday, the Senate Rules Committee voted on a straight, 7-3 […]

Scott PowersJanuary 13, 2016

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has endorsed Carlos Guillermo Smith in the Orlando-based House District 49 race, Guillermo Smith’s campaign announced Wednesday. Guillermo Smith, like Dyer a Democrat, so far is running unopposed, either in his primary or headed toward the general election. He is seeking to fill the seat currently held by state Rep. Rene […]

Scott PowersJanuary 11, 2016

The year 2015 ended with little competitive balance in campaign money among Central Florida candidates running for Florida House of Representatives seats as incumbents, when they have any competition at all yet. One exception, in Seminole County’s House District 30 has incumbent Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes raising more than $101,000 for his campaign. Yet […]

Mitch PerryOctober 20, 2015

Equality Florida Development Officer Ida Eskamani says that for her, the personal is the political. “Our personal experiences are directly connected to the greater societal structures of power, privilege and oppression we work to dismantle through political advocacy,” she says when asked what principles she would put above politics. The 25-year-old Orlando resident credits her […]

Frank TorresSeptember 28, 2015

Lawmakers and activists held a rally in East Orlando Monday morning, pushing to raise Florida’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. The rally was centered around a trio of state lawmakers who have accepted the minimum wage challenge, which requires them to live off of $8.05 for one week. “It is something that is necessary for our working […]

Tag: Carlos Guillermo Smith
Image via AP.

Carlos Guillermo Smith raises more than $13K in April for his HD 49 race

Rick Kriseman to host fundraiser for Carlos Guillermo Smith in St. Pete

Carlos Guillermo Smith receives enough signatures to qualify in HD 49

Rene Plasencia’s intern files in HD 49 race

Florida has new laws on Confederate statue, gay marriage

Contentious “Pastor Protection Act” now moves to Senate floor

Buddy Dyer endorses Carlos Guillermo Smith in HD 49

Bob Cortes’ impressive campaign cash haul almost matched by Ryan Yadav’s self-loans

Meet Ida Eskamani, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Fight for $15 minimum wage rally held in East Orlando