Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

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 […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

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

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