Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2017

Though education was rarely discussed by Donald Trump on the campaign trail, at the top of his list of priorities was to spend $20 million on school choice, which would come from “reprioritizing federal dollars.” In picking Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos to serve as his Education Secretary, he made it clear that intended to make school […]

Peter SchorschAugust 25, 2016

More than 300 candidates are running for the 160 seats in the Florida House and Senate. And, try as we will, FloridaPolitics.com won’t be able to interview them all. So we are asking every candidate, including incumbents, to complete a questionnaire we believe offers an interesting, albeit thumbnail, sketch of who they are and why […]

Peter SchorschMarch 27, 2016

Another year passes, and another Rick Scott Chief of Staff is out the door. The Governor’s office announced last week that Kim McDougal will succeed Melissa Sellers in the top staff position, making McDougal Scott’s fifth CoS in six years. Which makes us wonder: Where are they now? Mike Prendergast, a retired Army colonel, moved over to become Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, […]

Diane RobertsJanuary 29, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – The Legislature’s Banana Republicans will not rest until Florida starts to be like El Salvador, minus the delicious pupusas. Abortion is illegal in El Salvador — no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. Anyone who has an abortion, anyone who performs an abortion, can be jailed for murder. […]

Diane RobertsJanuary 28, 2016

OCCUPIED TALLAHASSEE – The Legislature’s Banana Republicans will not rest until Florida starts to be like El Salvador, minus the delicious pupusas. Abortion is illegal in El Salvador — no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. Anyone who has an abortion, anyone who performs an abortion, can be jailed for murder. […]

Associated PressJanuary 17, 2016

In a swipe at his party’s front-runners, Republican White House hopeful Marco Rubio charged Saturday that anger alone isn’t enough to qualify someone to be president. “We also have to have someone for president who knows exactly what they’re going to do when they get there,” the Florida senator said, as he courted Iowa voters […]

Mitch PerryNovember 13, 2015

Happy Friday to you all, and what a weekend it will be as virtually the entire Republican presidential field (including Jim Gilmore!) makes its way to Orlando for the next two days for the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit. We’re off to the event shortly ourselves, so let’s be succinct: Will we hear more […]

Associated PressOctober 7, 2015

Jeb Bush‘s signature achievement in education policy as Florida governor may be at risk of coming apart. A champion of what became known as Common Core education standards, Bush pushed a set of high-stakes tests for students and a system of grading schools as the centerpiece of an education agenda that defines much of his […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 3, 2015

Marco Rubio likes to say he’s representing the future of the Grand Old Party. (An oxymoron, no?) He’s a new face, he’s young, he’s definitely not “low-energy” or overly familiar (Jeb Bush; Hillary Clinton), he’s sane (not Rand Paul), he has charisma (not Scott Walker), he’s unflappable (not Chris Christie), he’s not brash and false […]

Associated PressSeptember 1, 2015

Republican presidential hopeful Marco Rubio says the U.S. doesn’t need a federal Education Department. The Florida senator spoke at a town hall meeting of about 200 people on Tuesday in Carson City, Nev. He’s on a multistop tour of northern Nevada. Rubio said the department starts out by making suggestions, then turns them into mandates […]

Tag: common core

Randi Weingarten doesn’t share Jeb Bush embrace of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary

Meet Debbie Mayfield, Republican running in SD 17

Peter Schorsch: Five big stories in Tallahassee last week

Diane Roberts: Legislature following El Salvador’s lead on abortion

Diane Roberts: Legislature following El Salvador’s lead on abortion

Marco Rubio jabs Republican leaders: Anger not enough

Mitch Perry Report for 11.13.15 – All aboard the Sunshine Summit

As Jeb Bush campaigns, Florida struggles with his schools legacy

Chris Timmons: The future is Marco Rubio's for the taking

Marco Rubio says nation doesn’t need U.S. Education Department