Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2016

Tampa attorney Bob Buesing says if the Florida Legislature were simply “doing its job” when it comes to contending with early education issues, he wouldn’t be disrupting his relatively good life to engage in running for the state Legislature at the age of 62. But, he says, after years working with nonprofits that have sent brain scientists, […]

Mitch PerryJune 9, 2016

Tampa attorney David Singer, running for the open House District 60 seat being vacated by Republican Dana Young later this month, announced Thursday he had raised $25,696 in May, and has raised more than $73,000 since entering the race in April. “Our campaign is picking up momentum and I’m thrilled that we continue to receive support from so […]

Peter SchorschJune 9, 2016

Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young crossed the million-dollar mark in the SD 18 campaign last month after bringing in more than $280,000 between her campaign and political committee. According to newly filed campaign finance reports, Young raised $166,700 for her campaign and another $115,785 for her committee for a total of $282,485 raised in May. […]

Mitch PerryJune 8, 2016

The campaign for Tampa businesswoman Rebecca Smith, running as a Republican for the House District 60 seat being vacated by Dana Young, announced on Wednesday that it will report $199,428 collected in the month of May in the coming days. That includes contributions from supporters totaling $33,900, along with a contribution by Smith of $165,528 to […]

Jim RosicaJune 2, 2016

Kristen McDonald, who’s been communications director for the Florida House Republicans, is heading to Hill+Knowlton Strategies‘ Tallahassee office. The move was announced Wednesday. She joins another House staffer now there: H+K vice president Ryan Duffy, who was chief spokesman for former House Speaker Will Weatherford in 2012-14. McDonald was communications director for the Office of the Majority […]

Ryan RayJune 1, 2016

Tampa businesswoman Rebecca Smith snagged an endorsement in her race for House District 60 on Wednesday, courtesy of the Florida Architects’ Political Action Committee. “FAPAC is honored to offer its support and endorsement of Rebecca Smith to become the District 60 Representative to the Florida State Legislature,” said Mickey Jacob, an AIA Florida member and past president of the […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2016

In a Republican primary in a state House race in Tampa Bay, a handful of endorsements matter more than others. Were incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran to offer an endorsement or one of the region’s Republican U.S. Representatives or state Senators, that would really count for something. The same can be said of an endorsement from former House […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 12, 2016

April wasn’t a huge fundraising month for District 5 Sen. Rob Bradley or his PAC, Working for Florida’s Families. New money totaling $2,150 pushed the Fleming Island Republican’s campaign account up to $468,756, with roughly $360,000 on hand as of the April filing. Bradley’s PAC did better on the fundraising side: $20,000 of new April money brought […]

Mitch PerryMay 11, 2016

Last week, a grand jury indicted a for-profit school management company runs four Pinellas County charter schools, and the advocacy group Florida Strong is demanding that state Senator Jeff Brandes answer for it. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Newpoint Education Partners had been indicted on charges of grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white crime. The company has, according to […]

Ryan RayMay 9, 2016

In Tallahassee, Tampa Rep. Dana Young has long been considered a pol whose career may transcend the House. Combine her political bloodline (grandfather was Senate president, uncle served in the House) and prowess on the campaign trail (soundly defeated all comers in a swing seat since 2010) and it’s not hard to see Young has more juice […]

Tag: Dana Young

Bob Buesing says he was compelled to run in the SD 18 seat

HD 60 Democratic candidate David Singer raises over $25K in May

Dana Young crosses million-dollar raised mark in bid for state Senate

HD 60 candidate Rebecca Smith announces raising nearly $200K in May — most of it from herself

Personnel note: Kristen McDonald headed to H+K

State architects group endorses Rebecca Smith in HD 60

Big get: Will Weatherford backs Rebecca Smith in HD 60

Running unopposed, Rob Bradley spends big money in April

Florida Strong goes after Jeff Brandes again, this time over for profit charter schools

Dana Young cited as ‘Republican force’ in Roll Call