Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 19, 2018

“I’m not lazy. I’m just a mom trying to feed my special needs son.” That’s the message on an enormous poster hanging from rafters over pallets of canned food and other non-perishable items at the Feeding Tampa Bay warehouse in Tampa. The nonprofit agency serves 10 counties and feeds people throughout the region every day […]

Staff ReportsNovember 16, 2018

U.S. Senate race to Tribbles, Hail Marys The machine recount totals are in, for the most part, and there are no surprises. Gov. Rick Scott still leads Sen. Bill Nelson, by roughly the same margin as when the recount began. All counties, with the exception of Palm Beach, completed recounts for the Senate race by […]

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2018

Democratic U.S. Reps. Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto didn’t waste any time flexing muscles of their centrist sides, signing a letter Tuesday to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi outlining a number of demands for House rules changes if Pelosi wants their votes for House Speaker. The two Central Florida lawmakers, members of the bipartisan “Problem Solvers” caucus, […]

Staff ReportsNovember 13, 2018

Florida’s latest recount drama: new players, issues It has been 18 years since the state of Florida got rid of punch cards and ultimately replaced them with scanners or similar equipment. With no more hanging chads, what could go wrong? Most of the country has moved on from the 2018 elections, but in Florida, we […]

Jacob OglesNovember 13, 2018

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan plans to make the most of this year’s lame duck session before being relegated to the House minority. The Sarasota Republican and Florida Congressional Delegation chairman issued a list of end-of-year priorities, some partisan issues, and others geographic priorities. “This is going to be a very active lame duck session and […]

Staff ReportsNovember 9, 2018

Three Rs from election night: realignment, recount, Reconstruction Three days after Election Day, most things are settled, but in the nation’s largest purple state, the race for the U.S. Senate seat is going to overtime with plenty of uncertainty. At the same time, there are several things we do know about Tuesday night. Democrats had […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis will serve a seventh term in office after defeating Democrat Chris Hunter Tuesday in a contentious race. Bilirakis has held the seat since 2007. Before that, his father represented Congressional District 12. Between the two, there has been a Bilirakis representing the district for more than three decades. The race became competitive for […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 6, 2018

Longtime Florida politics expert Darryl Paulson says voters “appear to be saying no to both Republicans and President Trump.” “Jeff Brandes seems to be the only secure candidate at this point,” said Paulson, a former Republican, in an interview. “That is due to his incumbency, his huge financial advantage and his Democratic opponent entering the race […]

Staff ReportsNovember 6, 2018

Dems seeking first delegation majority in 30 years On Election Day, candidates, campaign staff, media, pundits and even large numbers of voters are waiting for final results. What will the House and Senate look like come January of 2019? While Democrats are favored to take control of the House for the first time since 2011, […]

Scott PowersNovember 5, 2018

National political committees that played a major role in helping U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy win her seat in Congress two years ago are coming to her aid again, with nearly $1.2 million in outside money spent in Florida’s 7th Congressional District through last week — almost all of it on her side. The Democratic House […]

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Image via Palatka Main Street.

Ahead of Thanksgiving, Kathy Castor looks to Feeding Tampa Bay to help solve food insecurity

Delegation for 11.16.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto demand Nancy Pelosi support reform package

Delegation for 11.13.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Vern Buchanan lays out plans for lame duck session

Delegation for 11.9.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Gus Bilirakis elected to seventh term in Congress

Darryl Paulson sees possible ‘blue wave’ in Tampa Bay

Delegation for 11.6.18 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

National groups spend $1.1 million backing Stephanie Murphy in CD 7 race