Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannAugust 24, 2015

Former Senate President Don Gaetz is endorsing Panama City Republican urologist Neal Dunn in his bid for Florida’s 2nd Congressional District seat. An endorsement from the longtime Niceville Republican should surprise few in North Florida. In 2014, Gaetz appointed Dunn in 2014 as the Senate’s representative on the Enterprise Florida Board of Directors, the public-private […]

Ryan RayAugust 24, 2015

Former Senate President Don Gaetz — fresh from bad publicity for his role in the 2011 redistricting fiasco, when he was chairman of his chamber’s map-making committee — accentuated the positive Sunday in an email to his constituents in his sprawling Senate District 1, which runs from Walton to Jackson counties in the western Panhandle. Legislators […]

Ryan RayAugust 20, 2015

Recently filed documents in Leon County Court as part of an ongoing legal challenge to the process unveiled a legislative underworld of lobbyists and consultants colluding with GOP lawmakers to help preserve the GOP’s 26-14 advantage and to protect incumbents. As recently reported by Mary Ellen Klas in the Miami Herald, and previous to the documents’ […]

Drew WilsonAugust 10, 2015

July fundraising numbers are in, though none of the big ticket Senate races for 2016 got much action, and with the Special Session on Redistricting, it should stay that way for sitting lawmakers during the back half of August. Fort Walton Beach Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz brought in $16,855 for the month and spent $7,629, leaving him with a […]

Ryan RayJuly 30, 2015

The Gaetz father-son team of Florida lawmakers will appear at a forum put together by Florida State University grad students at the Old Capitol in Tallahassee next week. Former Senate President Don Gaetz and his son Rep. Matt Gaetz – who attended FSU as an undergraduate – will speak on a range of issues and answer questions from […]

Gary FineoutJuly 26, 2015

Just six months ago, Gov. Rick Scott stood onstage outside the state Capitol basking in his hard-fought victory as he began his second term. Scott boldly proclaimed in his inaugural address that the campaign was over, and while there would be “robust debates on the best direction for Florida” that “we should not let partisan […]

Bill PrescottJuly 14, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled the state’s congressional maps don’t meet requirements of a voter-approved constitutional amendment prohibiting political lines drawn to favor incumbents or political parties. The court ordered the Legislature to redraw the maps These are 10 big questions looming over Florida politics: 1. Will the Legislature appeal? USFSP political science emeritus […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2015

With no official word in yet when the Florida Legislature will reconvene to begin the process of redrawing congressional districts, much of the Tampa Bay area political picture remains fuzzy 13 months from the 2016 primary elections. Most of the uncertainly resides in Pinellas County, where a newly created CD 13 district is expected to […]

Mitch PerryJuly 7, 2015

The Hillsborough County Charter Review Board meets again tonight at 6 p.m. at the County Center, where advocates for a several years-long push to expand or change the configuration of the seven-member Board of County Commissioners will have one last chance to persuade the majority that such a change is needed. The odds are stacked against […]

Mitch PerryJuly 6, 2015

Although lawmakers are never pleased when their projects are vetoed out of the state budget, Don Gaetz says the way Gov. Rick Scott handled those vetoes last month still rankles him. “I’ve always had vetoes of projects that I was interested in,” the Niceville senator said of bills axed by Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie […]

Tag: Don Gaetz
Image via AP.

Don Gaetz endorses Neal Dunn in North Florida congressional bid

Don Gaetz says BP recovery bill a coup for Northwest Florida

Report: Shadow process plagued 2011 Senate redistricting

Top Senate fundraisers have slow July

Don & Matt Gaetz to talk politics and family next week at Old Capitol

Rick Scott at odds again with fellow Republicans

Peter Schorsch: Court ruling has tossed the Monopoly board

Tampa Bay area party chairs deal with Supreme Court ruling on redistricting

Mitch Perry Report for 7.7.15 – Last call for change with Hillsborough County Board size?

Don Gaetz still vexed by some Rick Scott vetoes