Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 18, 2017

Across the aisles and across the Sunshine State Florida’s members of Congress are universally praising the announcement that former FBI Director Robert Mueller will lead a special investigation into Russian interference in American elections. Some Democrats, while praising the appointment and Mueller’s integrity, still called for more, including the special commission that Democrats have been […]

Scott PowersMay 16, 2017

A lot of Florida’s Democratic members of Congress are responding with stunned disbelief to news reports — and President Donald Trump‘s Tuesday morning tweet — that he shared classified, highly sensitive ISIS information with Russian diplomats last week, calling the prospect inexcusable and demanding details. Republican U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Miami and Mario Diaz-Balart […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2017

Three Democrats and one Republican running so far for the 2018 Florida governor’s race are starting out with war chests built with big checks, from such sources as August A. Busch, George Soros, David King and Wayne Hogan, mainly cut to their independent political committees that have no limits. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam leads the […]

Scott PowersMay 10, 2017

Florida’s Democratic members of Congress are expressing outrage over Tuesday evening’s firing of FBI Director James Comey and saying it solidifies their demands for an independent investigation into ties between President Donald Trump and Russia. In statements released last night, Democrats were using words like “disgusting,” “disturbing” and “preposterous,” even as many acknowledged that they were […]

Scott PowersMay 2, 2017

One thing distinguishes Gwen Graham from other candidates (and possible candidates) for Governor — she is a hugger. Prepare to be hugged, Florida. Graham, 54, the one-term former Democratic congresswoman from Tallahassee, has little professional political experience, having run for only one election. She won that one by barely a percentage point, taking Florida’s 2nd Congressional District […]

Scott PowersApril 24, 2017

More than a dozen Democratic Florida House members have formed the Progressive Legislative Caucus, with firebrand state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith of Orlando elected as its first chair. The caucus held its organization meeting last week with Smith becoming chair, state Rep. Amy Mercado of Orlando vice chair, and state Rep. Joseph Abruzzo of Boca […]

Peter SchorschApril 20, 2017

A great deal has already been said about the yes-he-really-said-it Frank Artiles saga. And there seems to be near-universal agreement on these points: — Artiles is a world-class jerk. — What he said goes far beyond the limits of acceptable. — This was not his first foray into the unacceptable. — Artiles needs professional help. […]

Darryl PaulsonApril 14, 2017

The Era of Good Feelings is the term used to describe the aftermath of the War of 1812 where the American nation sought to establish national unity during a period of one-party dominance. The Federalist Party, representing the urban and aristocratic citizens, disappeared after the disastrous Hartford Convention in 1814, leaving only the Jeffersonian Republicans […]

Joe HendersonMarch 29, 2017

The words “green space” can have a different meaning depending on the person involved. Democrats generally believe green space to mean protected grasslands, pristine parks, waterways, and regulations to keep companies from belching pollutants into the atmosphere. Republicans generally appear to believe green space is a metaphor for money that can be made by paving […]

Scott PowersMarch 28, 2017

After losing a judge’s ruling Tuesday on her request to remain the prosecutor for the murder trial of of alleged cop-killer Markeith Loyd, Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala vowed Tuesday to continue fighting for her right to represent the state in that case. Ninth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Frederick Lauten ruled Tuesday that the state […]

Universal support for Robert Mueller so far from Florida’s members of Congress

Partly in disbelief, Florida’s members of Congress denounce Donald Trump’s revelations to Russians

Governor’s race candidates drawing big checks

Florida’s Democrats, Carlos Curbelo call for investigation after James Comey firing

Gwen Graham’s politics molded by father, Florida life

House forms first-ever Legislative Progressive Caucus

How Frank Artiles colleagues should respond to his defiance

Darryl Paulson: The Era of Bad Feelings

Joe Henderson: Concern for the environment really depends on which party is in charge

Aramis Ayala loses judge’s ruling but pushes forward to challenge case reassignment