Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorNovember 18, 2014

“Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech.” Those sweeping words of the First Amendment are the crown jewels of our Bill of Rights, the equivalent of “Let freedom ring,” the bedrock of our Republic. If Americans cherish anything, it is their constitutional protection to speak their minds. But however […]

Adam WeinsteinNovember 6, 2014

In 1994, at the height of the nationwide electoral wave against Bill Clinton — a force so great and enduring it would be remembered as “the Republican revolution” — there was one bright spot for Democrats: They held on to the Florida Governor’s Mansion. Lawton Chiles, a self-described cracker and populist, fought off a challenge […]

Peter SchorschOctober 30, 2014

Come next Tuesday (or maybe early Wednesday morning), we will know who is left standing in the Florida’s governor’s race. We will know whether the three incumbent members of the Cabinet have been re-elected. We’ll know whether it’s legal to smoke medical marijuana. Come Election Day, we’ll know a lot more than we do right now. […]

Bruce RitchieOctober 23, 2014

The debates are over in the race for Florida’s governor. Some environmental questions have been asked and either answered or dodged. Election Day is Nov. 4, and early voting has begun. But the lingering unanswered question I have that should be on the minds of every Floridian is: What will happen to the state role […]

Daniel TilsonOctober 6, 2014

It’s too late to register to vote in Florida’s 2014 elections. The deadline was yesterday. Now it’s up to determined Democratic activists to actually get people to vote. Otherwise, we’re looking at four more years of unchecked conservative extremists putting our government at the service of wealthy private interests, rather than you and me. Likely […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 24, 2014

Third in a series about polling. Every cycle some pollsters seem to get it right. Some get it wrong. Why? To answer that question, it’s vital to understand that predicting what the electorate will look like matters — it really matters. And perhaps the single most important variable that pollsters must properly balance, especially in […]

Bob SparksSeptember 9, 2014

Campaigns begin long before Labor Day each year, but the attention span of millions of voters is short prior to September. What is said and done during the fall by incumbents and challengers runs a great risk of defining a candidate and his or her party. The results can be devastating. Republicans painfully remember Todd […]

Daniel TilsonSeptember 4, 2014

Let’s forget Democratic and Republican dogma for a bit. Or at least overlook it. Let’s ignore Left vs. Right labeling systems used by media pundits and campaign consultants to generate storylines and get grudge match juices flowing. Let’s put the blame game that dominates the political arena aside for a while. If nothing else, consider […]

Guest AuthorAugust 14, 2014

Not a word has been uttered. Not a campaign ad has been created. Not a single news story has been written. Yet, this will be one of the most important decisions the next Florida governor will make – and it only happens every 20 years. And Democrats, in particular, should be very worried. Either Republican […]

Guest AuthorJuly 17, 2014

Just 110 days away from Election Day, Florida Democrats are well-positioned in the battleground Tampa Bay area. Democratic incumbents in Pinellas continue to lead their Republican opponents, while Republican incumbents are on the ropes, with Rep. Kathleen Peters tied with Democrat Scott Orsini. New polling in several key races by StPetePolls shows that Tampa Bay […]

Tag: democrats
One of several proposed designs for Florida's new Margaritaville license plates. Image via the office of Rep. Linda Chaney.

Stephen Goldstein: Democrats must become better liars than Republicans

Adam Weinstein: The three big reasons Florida Democrats still can’t elect a governor

Peter Schorsch: An early assessment of who to blame if certain campaigns lose on Tuesday

Bruce Ritchie: Candidates say nothing about Florida’s future role in managing growth

Daniel Tilson: Questions Democrats should ask people who don’t plan to vote

Steve Vancore: To be accurate, pollsters must understand who is really going to vote

Bob Sparks: Democratic candidates must overcome flaws of party leadership

Daniel Tilson: Choosing the pragmatic over the political in Florida election 2014

Brian E. Crowley: Makeup of next Constitutional Revision Commission should worry Democrats

Christian Ulvert: Recent polling is good news for Democratic legislative candidates