Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsJune 10, 2018

Hillsborough County School Board member Susan Valdes is laying the groundwork to run for the House District 62 seat. Patrick Manteiga of La Gaceta is reporting that Valdes resigned her seat Friday, to take effect November 6, the day of the general election. “It’s our understanding that her school board seat will be open for qualifying with […]

Staff ReportsJune 4, 2018

Advocates for a ballot initiative to put an end to greyhound racing say they’ll launch their “Protect Dogs – Yes on 13” campaign Monday, with a press conference at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay. State Sen. Dana Young, a Tampa Republican and “steadfast advocate of greyhound protection issues,” is slated to attend with Hillsborough […]

Peter SchorschJune 2, 2018

As we enter the dog days of Summer, the battle lines are forming over Amendment 13, the proposed constitutional amendment to ban greyhound racing in Florida. Now that we’ve seen the initial moves from each side, it looks like it’s shaping up to be a long, tough campaign for supporters of the dog racing industry. […]

Drew WilsonJune 1, 2018

May finance reports aren’t due for more than a week, but preliminary numbers show Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young had already raised $169,500 for an affiliated political committee as of May 24. The in-progress report for her challenger, House Minority Leader Janet Cruz, shows just $3,000 in committee cash for the month. According to the […]

Drew WilsonMay 29, 2018

Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young has earned the backing of four police unions in her bid for another term in Senate District 18. “Dana cares deeply about the safety of our students, and since Day One, it was clear that she is someone who is not afraid of getting out of her comfort zone to do […]

Peter SchorschMay 29, 2018

Two incumbent state Senators enter the summer with nine-point leads over their Democratic challengers, while two former state Representatives seeking an open seat in the Senate are essentially tied, fresh polling shows. Pinellas Republican Jeff Brandes leads Democratic trial lawyer Carrie Pilon 48-39, according to a survey conducted by St. Pete Polls, while a separate […]

Peter SchorschMay 21, 2018

No one is surprised that guns are the big political issue in Florida this year. With a deadly school shooting this week in Santa Fe, Texas, and the Parkland tragedy in February, guns and school safety are assured to be at the forefront in both Florida and nationwide for 2018. The best evidence of this […]

Drew WilsonMay 16, 2018

The state’s largest teacher union announced Wednesday that it is backing House Minority Leader Janet Cruz in her bid to unseat Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young in Senate District 18. “Rep. Janet Cruz has been a tireless champion for our educators, students, and parents,” said Florida Education Association President Joanne McCall. “While Republicans, including Senator […]

Phil AmmannMay 15, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. Off: Alexa Chappell is no longer staff director for the House Democratic Leader’s office. Off: Bo Pittman is no longer program manager for the House Property Management Division. Off: Whitney Langston is no longer an attorney for the House Health […]

Drew WilsonMay 10, 2018

House Minority Leader Janet Cruz nearly matched Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young in April fundraising despite joining the Senate District 18 race 10 days into the month. Cruz, a Tampa Democrat, said her April campaign and committee reports will show $146,600 in contributions for the 21 days she was a candidate last month, putting her […]

Tag: Dana Young
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes considers run for HD 62

Campaign will officially kick off to promote dog-racing ban

Greyhound racing ban backers start campaign on offense

Dana Young’s committee previews another six-figure fundraising month

Police unions laud Dana Young as a ‘tireless advocate’ for law enforcement

New polling: Jeff Brandes, Dana Young begin re-election campaigns with nine-point leads, while Amanda Murphy, Ed Hooper tied

Janet Cruz’s school safety vote is the kind of vote that could haunt Democrats in November

Teacher union touts Janet Cruz as ‘tireless champion’

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Janet Cruz raises a lot of money in first weeks of campaign for Senate but Dana Young raises more