Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 7, 2016

Isn’t it fun to have new friends to play with? That’s how I felt when I learned Republican communications operative Brian Burgess was launching The Capitolist website where he (and other notables like Sarah Rumpf) blogs and aggregates. I’ve always been of the opinion that Florida politics needed more bloggers and tweeters and writers. At the national level, when the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 6, 2016

Although many observers are noting yesterday was not a good day for Hillary Clinton and her aspirations for president, who are we kidding here? She stood this close to being indicted, with Democrats probably wishing Joe Biden had actually entered the race last year. No doubt, Clinton’s reputation for being truthful took a severe hit Tuesday morning, as FBI Director […]

Mitch PerryJuly 5, 2016

Fundraising totals for the first 24 days of June were posted at the end of last week, and the numbers released should give Chris Sprowls nothing to worry about. Sprowls is the GOP incumbent running for re-election to his House District 67 seat, which encompasses Palm Harbor, Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. A 32-year-old assistant prosecutor in Pasco/Pinellas counties, he […]

Peter SchorschJune 22, 2016

Attend a political function anywhere in Pinellas County and it’s almost inevitable you’ll see one name consistently listed as a sponsor. That is, other than Bill Edwards. The name is Alan Suskey of Suskey Consulting, the governmental affairs firm based in Tallahassee, but with deep roots in Pinellas. Of course, Suskey doesn’t have the millions of dollars Edwards has, so […]

Mitch PerryJune 17, 2016

Two years ago, special interest money out of Washington made the special congressional election in Florida’s 13th District between David Jolly and Alex Sink one of the most expensive of all time. While it’s unlikely the spending will exceed the reported $12 million paid out in 2014, it’s a race Democrats will desperately try to win — especially if they believe […]

Peter SchorschJune 16, 2016

Five months from Election Day, Republican Sens. Jeff Brandes, Jack Latvala, Tom Lee and Bill Galvano are still running unopposed. The only two bay area Senate seats in contention so far are the Senate District 18 contest between Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young and Democrat Bob Buesing and the three-way Democratic primary going down in SD 19. Young had built up quite the lead in her jump to the […]

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2016

Former Florida Democratic Party state chairman Bob Poe revealed Thursday he’s HIV-positive. The 61-year-old Democrat says in a video that he’s healthy because he got tested and diagnosed early, but he wanted to share his condition publicly to “remove the fear, the stigma and the shame that goes with this.” “It’s those things that keep people from getting the […]

Mitch PerryJune 9, 2016

Bernie Fensterwald, a Dunedin-based Democrat, filed paperwork in Tallahassee on Wednesday to run against Republican Chris Sprowls in the House District 65 race. Sprowls, first elected in 2014 and on a fast track to House leadership, has raised over $168,000 to date in his bid for re-election to the seat. He also has a separate political committee, […]

Phil AmmannJune 2, 2016

A group of Tampa Bay-area Republican incumbents invite supporters to a joint golf-themed fundraiser later this month at TopGolf, an interactive sports and entertainment venue in east Tampa. Scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at 1 p.m., the event will support the re-election efforts of Reps. Larry Ahern of House District 66; Kathleen Peters of HD 69, […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2016

During the past Legislative Session, the Florida Legislature denied one of Gov. Rick Scott’s signature issues — a $250 economic incentives funding plan to encourage businesses to locate or expand in Florida. It was not only a blow to the governor’s ego (and list of priorities), but also disappointed those in the economic development camp, such […]

Tag: Chris Sprowls
Mario Cristobal. Image via AP.

No, Brian Burgess, Chris Sprowls will not ‘feel the Bern’

Mitch Perry Report 7.6.16 — Clinton survives James Comey

Democrat Bernie Fensterwald holding back so far in spending largesse against Chris Sprowls in HD 65

Alan Suskey aiming to be Pinellas’ man in Tallahassee

David Jolly says he intends not to mention Charlie Crist’s name at all in their blockbuster congressional match-up

Where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay legislative races

Mitch Perry Report for 6.10.16 — Bob Poe’s courage

Chris Sprowls gets a Democratic opponent in his bid for reelection to HD 65

GOP House incumbents to hold golf fundraiser in Tampa June 23

Tampa Bay House Republicans bearish on Rick Scott’s economic incentives in 2017