Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 26, 2016

Tampa Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor is endorsing St. Petersburg-based attorney Ben Diamond in the campaign for the open House District 68 seat. “Ben is a strong leader on issues that matter to us in Tampa Bay,” Castor said in a statement released by the Diamond campaign on Thursday. “Ben’s work on the Florida Water and […]

Diane RobertsMay 18, 2016

Gwen Graham has decided not to run for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. You can’t blame her: the redrawn map yanks the progressive heart out of Florida’s Second District, dividing — and diluting — Tallahassee. State Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda made rightist noises about guns and Donald Trump earlier this spring, sounding as though […]

Mitch PerryMay 13, 2016

Charlie Crist has been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) list of of 2016 candidates for their “Red to Blue” program, which highlights strong Democratic candidates running in open seats and districts held by Republicans that the DCCC hope to flip this November. The program offers these candidates financial, communications, grassroots, and strategic support. In most cases, the […]

Mitch PerryMay 10, 2016

(Updated) St. Petersburg-based attorney Ben Diamond announced his candidacy for the House District 68 seat in Pinellas County on Monday, April 25. In the six days leading up to the campaign’s first fundraising deadline on April 30, he was able to raise an impressive $28,366. “I’m running for the Florida House because I want to fight for Pinellas […]

Peter SchorschMay 9, 2016

For an entire eight days — EIGHT DAYS — local Democrats had their sh*t together. On April 25, state Rep. Dwight Dudley announces he will not seek re-election. Hours later, the well-liked Ben Diamond announces his candidacy for Dudley’s seat along with the endorsements of almost all of Pinellas’ Democratic elected officials. The seamless transition […]

Mitch PerryMay 5, 2016

John Kasich dropped out of the Republican race for president yesterday, conceding he won’t be the “White Knight” fantasized by #NeverTrump acolytes over the past few months. The Ohio governor’s departure came less than 24 hours after Ted Cruz “suspended” his campaign, so now we have a full half-a-year to contemplate a Trump–Clinton showdown in […]

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2016

A day after Charlie Crist announced in St. Petersburg last October that he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 13, Rick Kriseman made his own statement by backing Crist’s then-opponent, Eric Lynn. Now, a day after Lynn dropped out of the CD 13 contest, Kriseman is backing Crist for the seat. “I have admired and worked […]

Mitch PerryMay 4, 2016

The news yesterday that the Tampa Bay Times bought and absorbed the assets of the crosstown rival Tampa Tribune marks the end of rumors which I can recount starting back in 2008. That’s when stories surfaced that the paper would fold after the 2009 Super Bowl. That didn’t come to pass. Then the rumor was the […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2016

Reading the writing on the wall – also known as the polls – Florida Congressional District 13 Democratic candidate Eric Lynn is jettisoning his race for Congress, and has announced he will run in the state House District 68 seat in Pinellas County recently vacated last week by Dwight Dudley. “Today begins a fresh start in a new […]

Martin DyckmanApril 29, 2016

Any law that invades the privacy and liberties of American citizens should come into court facing a heavy burden of proof. Does it serve a compelling public interest? Is it the most reasonable — that is, the least restrictive — approach? That’s doubly true in Florida, whose state constitution contains an explicit right to privacy. […]

Tag: Charlie Crist

Kathy Castor is backing Ben Diamond over Eric Lynn in HD 68 race

Diane Roberts: GOP race for Gwen Graham’s CD 2 seat certainly not crazy-free

Charlie Crist named to DCCC’s ‘Red to Blue’ program

HD 68 Dem candidate Ben Diamond raises over $28,000 in one week on the campaign trail

Here’s where sh*t stands — the ‘Democrats can’t keep it together’ edition

Mitch Perry Report for 5.5.16 — Requiem for a would-be contender

Rick Kriseman now backing Charlie Crist in CD 13 contest

Mitch Perry Report for 5.4.16 — Trib out

Charlie Crist to D.C.? Eric Lynn out of running for CD 13, into HD 68

Martin Dyckman: Impose a delay on tummy tucks; they’re more dangerous than abortions