Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 27, 2018

Critics of state Rep. Janet Cruz are accusing the longtime lawmaker of not living in the urban Tampa district she represents. An anonymous tipster claiming not to oppose Cruz’s bid for state Senate raised the question in an email pointing to Cruz’s husband, Stephen Rifkin, who owns a waterfront mansion in a different House district — […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 26, 2018

Florida Democrats touted some impressive poll numbers in Republican-leaning state Senate races last week, but now that the sunshine pumping has worn off it looks like there’s some serious flaws in those numbers. To recap, the Florida Democratic Party pointed to a handful of Change Research polls that showed showing Melissa “Mel” Martin leading incumbent Sen. Dorothy […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 24, 2018

Incumbent Dana Young continues to crush challenger Janet Cruz in fundraising. Information from the Division of Elections shows Young, the Republican now representing for Tampa’s Senate District 18 has nearly $500,000 cash on hand. Cruz has less than $50,000. The disparity stems from another huge gap in overall fundraising. To date, Young has raked in $718,000 from local, […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 21, 2018

Florida House Minority Leader Janet Cruz and Senator Dana Young sparred in a heated debate Friday at Tampa Tiger Bay in their battle for the Senate District 18 seat. This Tampa-area race has become one of the most hotly contested in the nation as Democrats seek to create a “blue wave” and Republicans fight to […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 20, 2018

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Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young offloaded more than half of the cash available in her affiliated political committee last week with a single, $800,000 check to the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. Her committee, Friends of Dana Young, had $1.38 million in the bank on Sept. 7 but at the end of the reporting period […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 20, 2018

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz, now challenging GOP state Sen. Dana Young for her Senate District 18 seat, is attacking her opponent’s record on education policy and funding. “Dammit Dana, stop,” Cruz lamented at a press conference in front of Plant High School in south Tampa on Tuesday. Cruz was referring to Young’s track record voting in […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 20, 2018

Florida Realtors PAC, the political arm of the state’s largest professional association, issued endorsements in statewide races and a bundle of legislative districts Wednesday. The group released three waves of endorsements ahead of the Aug. 28 primary election. Now that the title cards are set, their list of preferred candidates received a few adjustments. Republican […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 18, 2018

The first general election season poll of the Senate District 18 battle brought some good news for incumbent state Sen. Dana Young. The St. Pete Polls survey shows the Tampa Republican with a 3-point lead, 45-42 percent, over House Minority Leader Janet Cruz. The remaining 13 percent of voters are undecided. The poll shows an […]

Joe HendersonSeptember 17, 2018

Everyone knew Florida’s Senate District 18 battle between Democrat Janet Cruz and Republican incumbent Dana Young would be contentious. Both women are strong, smart, battle-tested, and play to win – just what we want from candidates. There is no middle ground here. Voters have a clear choice, and that’s always good. Democrats targeted the Hillsborough County […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 16, 2018

State Senate President Bill Galvano, Majority Leader Wilton Simpson and Fort Myers Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto will be in Tampa next Friday to help four area Senate candidates boost their campaign accounts ahead of the November general election. The Sept. 17 event will be held in the Snowy Egret Room on the second floor of the […]

Tag: Dana Young

Is this not my beautiful house? Questions linger on Janet Cruz residency

Is faulty polling fueling Florida Democrats’ optimism in Dorothy Hukill-Mel Martin race?

In Tampa, Dana Young crushing Janet Cruz in money race

5 takeaways from the Dana Young, Janet Cruz Tiger Bay clash

Spending spree: Senators send back up to swelling GOP Senate fund

‘Dammit Dana’: Janet Cruz blasts opponent Dana Young’s education record

Yard signs: Florida Realtors announce November election endorsements

Dana Young has 3-point lead over Janet Cruz in SD 18 battleground

Dana Young vs. Janet Cruz race contentious now with more to come

Top Senate Republicans raising cash for Tampa Bay candidates on Monday