Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonApril 2, 2018

Democrat Carrie Pilon announced Monday that she’s filed to run for the Senate District 24 seat currently held by St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes. Florida Politics previously reported Pilon, a former prosecutor who now runs an injury law firm, was planning a run for the Pinellas County district. “I’m running for the State Senate because […]

Staff ReportsApril 2, 2018

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Gov. Rick Scott visited USAA in Tampa on Monday “to highlight $180 million in total funding in his Securing Florida’s Future Budget to support active military, veterans, and their families.” The Governor’s Office announced the event in a press release. He also signed HB 29, which will “increase opportunities and reduce fees for Florida military, […]

Peter SchorschMarch 28, 2018

House Minority Leader Janet Cruz may not be running for the Hillsborough County Commission after all. The Tampa Democrat is eyeing a race against Republican incumbent Dana Young in state Senate District 18, which covers much of Tampa and western unincorporated Hillsborough County. According to several sources close to the Florida Democratic Party’s Senate campaign […]

Peter SchorschMarch 26, 2018

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A bill that would create a special taxing district for the Water Street Tampa development in Hillsborough County was recently signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott. That’s after it made it through the Legislature this Session with near-unanimous votes in the House and Senate. The proposal was backed by Strategic Property Partners, a partnership […]

Drew WilsonMarch 21, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott on Wednesday signed a bill that would put to rest years of legal and regulatory fights over the state’s trauma center system. HB 1165, sponsored by Panama City Republican Rep. Jay Trumbull, in part aims to stem the flow of litigation against the state’s Department of Health, charged with reviewing the need […]

Jim RosicaMarch 10, 2018

Just as it always does in recent years, a legislative effort to revisit the state’s gambling laws tanked in the last week of this year’s Legislative Session. Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran released a joint statement Friday night: “Despite the good faith efforts of both the House and Senate, a gaming bill […]

Jim RosicaMarch 9, 2018

[Ed. Note — This story, first posted Thursday, was updated Friday.] Lawmakers on Thursday included a provision to withhold more than $1.9 million in Department of Health salaries and benefits in the final 2018-19 state budget until regulators fully implement medical marijuana. The proviso language, which “qualifies or restricts a specific appropriation,” means certain Health officials will get […]

Drew WilsonMarch 3, 2018

Tampa Republican Sen. Dana Young got slammed by her Democratic re-election opponent in a Saturday email for not voting on an amendment that would ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Tampa attorney Bob Buesing said the move was “not surprising” given Young’s “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, but still said the lack of […]

Jim RosicaMarch 3, 2018

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A win turned into a loss Saturday, as the Republican-controlled Senate first approved—then killed—an amendment on a school safety bill that would have mandated a moratorium on assault rifle sales in the state. The legislation, called the “Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act” (SB 7026), is in response to the Valentine’s Day shooting […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, says she won’t be pursuing the presidency of the Florida Senate. “As I’m completing my second session in the Senate, I’ve realized the commitment of pursuing and ultimately serving as presiding officer requires more time than I am willing to spend away from my family and my constituents,” she said […]

Tag: Dana Young
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Trial lawyer Carrie Pilon files for state Senate

Rick Scott highlights money for military, veterans in Tampa

Janet Cruz is eyeing Dana Young’s Senate seat for 2018

Jeff Vinik scores win with signing of Water Street Tampa bill

Rick Scott signs trauma center bill

Sunshine State gambling #fails: A short history (updated for 2018)

Legislature slashing Health Dep’t pay because of medical marijuana delays

Email Insights: Dana Young a no-show on assault weapons vote

GOP blocks Democratic attempts to change school safety bill

Dana Young withdraws from race for Senate President