Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschOctober 11, 2016

‘Tis the season. It’s that most wonderful time of the year when candidates running in this fall’s elections make the rounds at candidate forums, hob nobs, and Tiger Bay debates. It’s at these events that candidates distinguish themselves from their opponents with a quick retort — or a regrettable gaffe. Tuesday, the St. Petersburg Chamber […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 23, 2016

Clearwater’s Chamber of Commerce announced endorsements in several local races, and a virtual tie between two equally qualified candidates for a Pinellas County Commission seat. In a statement Friday, CLEARPAC, the committee for the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber’s board of directors, made recommendations based on “the importance of Election Day to […]

Mitch PerryJuly 7, 2016

If you remember when we first heard about the tea party in early 2009, its supporters talked about having a pox on both houses — that is, they felt Republicans and Democrats were part of the same dirty cesspool that is Washington, D.C. A lot of things have changed since then, but I became a bit […]

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 […]

Anne LindbergMay 10, 2016

Back in June, county commissioners made a historic decision: They created the first community redevelopment area in unincorporated Pinellas County. It was a move that, for years, was unthinkable with Pinellas officials saying they would never sanction a CRA in unincorporated Pinellas. CRAs were something cities did. That changed under a county administration and commission […]

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 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 […]

Mitch PerryApril 25, 2016

St. Petersburg based attorney Ben Diamond will run as a Democrat for the now open House District 68 seat later this year. In what appears to be a coordinated effort, Diamond made his announcement just hours after incumbent Dwight Dudley announced publicly that he would not run for the seat he has held since 2012. “I have long been […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

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With great fanfare last week, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Blaise Ingoglia proudly boasted that seven counties have switched from majority Democratic to majority Republican in 2016. “I have always maintained that a strong Republican party with a strong grassroots infrastructure is the key to winning elections,” Ingoglia said in a prepared statement. “We remain […]

Tag: Charlie Justice

6 reasons I’m looking forward to Tuesday’s ‘Popcorn & Politics’ event

Clearwater Chamber announces local endorsements; virtual tie between Charlie Justice, Mike Mikurak

Mitch Perry Report for 7.7.16 — Tea Party Patriots heart Marco Rubio

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

Lealman improvement plan moves forward

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

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

Ben Diamond to run for Dwight Dudley’s seat in Florida House

Pinellas County Democratic chairwoman thinks D’s can pick up legislative seats this year