Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 28, 2017

He wasn’t on the dais, but Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s policies and public comments were front-and-center when a panel of Pinellas lawmakers spoke Wednesday in Clearwater about the recently concluded legislative session. Dubbed “the most interesting man in Tallahassee” in a recent Miami Herald profile, the 52-year-old Land O’Lakes Republican came into leadership last […]

Associated PressJune 26, 2017

Half of Florida’s legislators failed or nearly failed in a review of their support for public records and meetings given by Florida newspapers and an open-government group after this year’s legislative sessions. In a “scorecard” produced by the Florida Society of News Editors and based on information provided by Florida’s First Amendment Foundation — which tracked a priority list of […]

Phil AmmannJune 22, 2017

Florida Sheriffs recognized several Tampa Bay-area lawmakers Thursday for “significant contributions to and support of good public safety policies” during the 2017 Legislative Session. The Florida Sheriffs Association (FSA) named five legislators — including Clearwater state Sen. Jack Latvala and Reps. James Grant of Tampa and Chris Sprowls of Palm Harbor — for their “commitment […]

Mitch PerryJune 19, 2017

Rick Baker knew for months that Rick Kriseman was going to attack him as an out-of-step Republican in a Democratically friendly city, even before entering the mayoral campaign last month. In his campaign kickoff announcement, the former St. Petersburg Mayor warned supporters they’d be getting a dose of such rhetoric from the Kriseman camp: “Because that’s the […]

Phil AmmannJune 16, 2017

Republican state Rep. Shawn Harrison is holding a campaign kickoff party later this month to launch his re-election bid in House District 63. The event, hosted by House Majority 2016 and featuring special guest Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, is Thursday, June 29, beginning 5 p.m. at the historic Tampa Theater, 711 N. Franklin St. Included […]

Staff ReportsJune 5, 2017

Annette Taddeo is kicking off her campaign to replace Sen. Frank Artiles with a fundraiser at The Biltmore Hotel. Taddeo’s campaign is hosting a fundraiser at 6 p.m. at The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. The event host committee, according to the campaign, features a “growing list of supporters who are excited about picking up […]

Staff ReportsJune 5, 2017

A disgruntled former employee opened fire inside a Florida awning manufacturer on Monday, killing five workers there and then killing himself, officials said. The gunman was armed with a knife and a gun but did not stab anyone, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said during a news conference. Demings said the shooter — who had […]

Peter SchorschMay 31, 2017

Summer is here — well, unofficially at least. And with it comes cookouts, summer vacations, and the start of the 2018 election cycle (again, unofficially). With a tumultuous legislative session in our rearview mirror and a jam-packed election cycle on the horizon, the answers to these 14 questions (plus a fill-in-the-blank) could shape the future of […]

Staff ReportsMay 23, 2017

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility Tuesday for the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester that left 22 people dead and sparked a stampede of young concertgoers. The attack was the deadliest in Britain since four suicide bombers killed 52 London commuters on subway trains and a bus in July 2005. Here […]

Phil AmmannMay 17, 2017

Now that the 2017 Legislative Session is in the history books (for the most part), Florida lawmakers are beginning to take stock. And Palm Harbor Republican Chris Sprowls is no different. Sprowls offers his own post-Session review, in an email to supporters highlighting some of his major legislative actions in the House over the past […]

Tag: Chris Sprowls

Richard Corcoran’s agenda and style get bashed (and sometimes praised) by panel of Pinellas lawmakers

On open records, half Florida’s legislators rate F or D

Florida Sheriffs name Jack Latvala, James Grant, Chris Sprowls ‘legislative champions’ for 2017

Rick Baker, Rick Kriseman still question which has been more partisan as mayor

Shawn Harrison kicks off HD 63 re-election bid at Tampa Theater June 29

Annette Taddeo to host fundraiser for SD 40 race this week

Florida leaders react to the shooting in Orlando

15 big questions facing Florida politics heading into summer

Florida leaders react to the bombing at a concert in Manchester

Chris Sprowls looks back on successful 2017 Session