Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Ryan RayJune 1, 2015

Health care committees in the House and Senate on Monday discussed the same proposal to expand health care access to the uninsured–SB 2A–in Florida. But it might not have sounded like it. In a “Tale of Two Cities”-esque tableau, the Senate discussed the bill for one hour before unanimously agreeing to pass it with sponsor […]

Phil AmmannJune 1, 2015

Although Northwest Florida U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller faced only nominal challenges in every election district since 2001, a run for U.S. Senate is a different story. A prospective Senate run may be why the Chumuckla Republican added the strategic services of OnMessage to his team. It makes perfect sense, says Marc Caputo in POLITICO Florida […]

Phil AmmannMay 31, 2015

State Sen. Don Gaetz will not be running for the U.S. Senate in 2016. NWF Daily News staff writer Tom McLaughlin says the Niceville Republican could be a candidate for the seat of Northwest Florida Congressman Jeff Miller, who hinted at a Senate run to replace presidential candidate Marco Rubio. With only about 530 days […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2015

The imminent special session is just the warm-up to a hot political summer in Florida. The answers to these 10 questions will shape the immediate future for the state and – in some cases – the nation. What does Jeb Bush’s presidential campaign roll-out look like? Bush may look like a candidate, sound like a […]

Tag: Don Gaetz

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

Dueling committee presentations on FHIX plan show merits of health care expansion all in the eye of the beholder

Adding high-profile GOP firm suggests Jeff Miller interest in Senate run

Don Gaetz will not run for U.S. Senate, but considers House seat

Peter Schorsch: Ten big questions facing Florida politics heading into summer