Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 15, 2016

November 8 was a pretty great night for Florida Republicans. For the first time since 2004, the Sunshine State went red in the presidential race; Marco Rubio easily won re-election in his race for the U.S. Senate. And despite the redistricting of every state Senate seat, the GOP lost no seats in the Legislature’s upper chamber. One not so […]

Jim RosicaDecember 12, 2016

Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa blames “mental fatigue” for his missing a hearing in his own lawsuit challenging state Rep. Dan Raulerson‘s re-election this year. Vazquez may have even more on his mind: The Florida Elections Commission now is suing him for unpaid fines levied for campaign finance reporting irregularities from his unsuccessful 2014 campaign. “Something’s wrong in Tallahassee,” […]

Peter SchorschDecember 7, 2016

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Dan Raulerson says rumors of his political demise are just that – rumors. “It’s third grade playground stuff,” the state representative said Wednesday, “and you can quote me on that.” He was absent this week as fellow lawmakers attended “Legislator University” classes. Soon, the Capitol was abuzz with speculation that the Plant City Republican’s resignation from the […]

Jim RosicaDecember 7, 2016

It’s always a bad sign when a plaintiff doesn’t show up for a hearing in his own lawsuit. Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa was supposed to be in the Leon County Courthouse Wednesday morning to explain why he should win his suit against state Rep. Dan Raulerson. Vazquez, who is representing himself, is seeking to disqualify […]

Mitch PerryDecember 1, 2016

With Tallahassee a four-hour drive away, the annual meeting of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation to be held in two weeks in Tampa could very possibly be the only time local residents can address their state representative(s). That meeting will take place on Friday, December 16 at the Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water […]

Jim RosicaOctober 25, 2016

It’s always a bad sign when a judge says he’s “not sure what we’re supposed to be doing.” Leon County Circuit Judge Charles W. Dodson took no action Tuesday in a hearing on a case seeking to disqualify state Rep. Dan Raulerson from running for re-election to his House District 58 seat. His Democratic opponent, Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa, […]

Mitch PerryOctober 25, 2016

The Greater Tampa Realtors unveiled their list of endorsements in the upcoming election on Tuesday, and one of their most provocative selections is choosing Democrat David Singer over Republican Jackie Toledo in the House District 60 campaign. The Realtors made 20 selections in all: 10 Republicans, six Democrats, and four candidates running in nonpartisan races. All of the Democrats, except […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 22, 2016

Incumbent state Rep. Dan Raulerson‘s Democratic opponent has sued him, challenging the credentials he used to qualify to run for office. Namely, Democrat Jose N. Vazquez Figueroa this week alleged that Raulerson should be disqualified for the House District 58 race because someone used “correction fluid,” such as Wite-Out, on his paperwork, his suit said. He’s suing Raulerson, a two-term Plant […]

Mitch PerryJuly 7, 2016

Even before they began operating in Tampa, a coterie of Tampa Bay area Republicans have championed ridesharing companies Uber and Lyft. Those state Representatives include Jeff Brandes, Jamie Grant and Dana Young. In a fundraising pitch sent to supporters in her bid for the state Senate District 18 seat this fall, Young boasts about the work Republicans […]

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 […]

Deb Tamargo battles Jonny Torres for future control of Hillsborough County Republican Party

Jose Vazquez says “mental fatigue” caused missed hearing

Dan Raulerson says he’s not resigning, just resting

Plaintiff misses hearing in ‘Wite-Out’ case against Dan Raulerson

Hillsborough legislative delegation to meet December 16

No action taken in Dan Raulerson ‘Wite-Out’ case

Realtors back David Singer in HD 60 race

Dan Raulerson sued over Wite-Out on campaign form

Email insights: Dana Young touts her support of Uber and Lyft in fundraising pitch

Where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay legislative races