Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Ryan RayJune 16, 2015

At a final budget conference meeting that began at the tender hour of 11:05 p.m. and ran until nearly midnight, state budget writers failed to fully address new state funding for hospitals — the primary impetus for the June special Session to begin with. But they did find time to load up the budget with […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2015

Jeb Bush‘s presidential announcement day was a finely tuned 90-minute event at Miami-Dade College’s Kendall campus, but it went off script toward the conclusion when Bush began to speak about his mother, Barbara. That’s when a group of immigration activists stood as one wearing green T-shirts that read “Legal Status is not enough,” and began shouting. […]

Staff ReportsJune 11, 2015

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Thursday in Leon County Circuit Court to stop Florida’s new 24-hour waiting period on abortions from taking effect. The lawsuit was filed less than 24 hours after Gov. Rick Scott signed the bill into law. “It’s clear that the sole purpose of this law is to make […]

Mitch PerryJune 10, 2015

Although he’s not an official candidate yet, Orlando-area U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson better be taken seriously by the Democratic Party establishment in Florida. That’s advice especially for those who think Patrick Murphy is their best bet to capture the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Marco Rubio next year. That’s one conclusion that can be […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 9, 2015

Sen. Durell Peaden is stable in Pennsylvania after having double bypass surgery June 2. Peaden was traveling with his wife when he had the heart attack and was admitted to a hospital. Friends say he is in stable condition and should be able to return to Florida in the next few weeks. Peaden is the chairman […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 7, 2015

Florida legislators over the weekend tried to hammer out budget decisions on everything from hospital spending to money for Everglades restoration. But as they slogged through spreadsheets, proviso language and dollar amounts, fault lines quickly developed between the House and Senate over everything from member-backed projects, education policy and whether to borrow money to pay […]

Ryan RayJune 3, 2015

The Senate’s FHIX 2.0 health care insurance plan carried the day in the upper chamber by a vote of 33-3 Wednesday afternoon. It came after an hours-long session of back-patting and exhortations to the House to join them on their quest for a health care “revolution,” as one senator called it. Warm feelings and high-minded speeches rang […]

Tag: Don Gaetz
Image via AP.

Family matters: excitement builds for western Panhandle primary

Remembering Sen. Durell Peaden, 69

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

In last-minute budget talks, lawmakers add some $300+ million in new spending in dark of night

Jeb Bush says no one deserves to be president by right of family

After legislative battle comes legal battle on abortion

New poll shows Patrick Murphy beats all likely GOP Senate possibles by at least 15 points

Former Sen. Durell Peaden stable in Pennsylvania after open heart surgery

House, Senate remain divided over major budget items

Jeff Brandes bucks Senate, votes “no” on revamped FHIX health care plan