Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Matthew IsbellJune 29, 2015

Florida’s western Panhandle has not been exactly known as a hotbed of electoral campaigns during recent election cycles. The region stretching from Pensacola to Panama City is steadfastly Republican in registration and in electoral dominance. GOP primaries decide most fights in the region, and incumbency has ensured few contentious primaries outside of local offices. The region is […]

Ryan RayJune 24, 2015

Sen. Durell Peaden, a beloved and bemusing former lawmaker from the Panhandle known for his passion and savvy on health care issues, passed away Wednesday morning. He was 69. Peadon, known to intimates as “Doc,” had undergone double bypass surgery earlier this month and was in stable condition, resting in Pennsylvania afterward. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, […]

Ryan RayJune 22, 2015

As ever in the term limits era, the makeup of the Republican House majority is set to shift in terms of personnel, if not necessarily in degree of dominance. As the very House-inflected Rep. Matt Gaetz seeks to take over his father Sen. Don Gaetz‘s spot in the Legislature’s upper chamber, a Walton County commissioner has […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

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

Family matters: excitement builds for western Panhandle primary

Remembering Sen. Durell Peaden, 69

Amid legislative turnover, new House candidates reach for safe GOP seats