Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2018

In Jacksonville, tales of the next year of elections have just begun. In this edition: congressional fundraising. For those needing a guide to both contenders and pretenders, a look at the money (months before voters cast ballots) will tell that tale. Down the page, our story on City Council fundraising. Some candidates who are not […]

Bill RuftyApril 18, 2018

Most candidates in (or soon to be in) the Democratic primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, left open by the retirement of Lakeland Republican Dennis Ross, will likely agree on many issues, especially over safety nets. But there will be a crucial difference, said Andrew Learned, a Valrico Democrat seeking the office. “Veterans and the military […]

Bill RuftyApril 17, 2018

Former State Rep. Neil Combee, a Polk City Republican, announced Tuesday that he will seek Florida’s 15th Congressional District seat left open by U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross. Ross, a Republican from Lakeland, announced last week he will not seek re-election to the post he has held since January 2011. Combee, 58, made his announcement at […]

Danny McAuliffeApril 14, 2018

Amid increasing tensions with Russia, Sen. Bill Nelson offered modest assurance that the U.S. has a military edge in air, water and on land — but on the cyber front, Russia has the advantage. “Vladimir Putin can beat us in cyber,” Nelson said frankly of Russia’s President. Citing the Russian breaches into the American elections process, […]

Staff ReportsApril 13, 2018

In campaigns, there is always a watershed moment when all the gauzy, aspirational rhetoric fades — like so many temporary tattoos — replaced by the hard realities of campaign finance and infrastructure. For races on the 2018 ballot, we are there — even if some candidates haven’t figured it out. If one is looking to […]

Peter SchorschApril 12, 2018

If the election were held today Florida voters would send a Democrat to the Governor’s Mansion for the first time in nearly 20 years. That’s according to a new PPP poll, which found voters preferred former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and Congresswoman Gwen Graham, both Democrats, in hypothetical head-to-heads against Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and Northeast Florida […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2018

During a quick press gaggle Wednesday in Jacksonville, Gov. Rick Scott addressed foreign policy; specifically, what appears to be an escalation of the American role in Syria. The Syrian imbroglio is the first foreign policy crisis that has popped up in the two days since Scott officially became a candidate. With President Donald Trump vowing that “nice […]

Peter SchorschApril 10, 2018

Qatar has hired Donald Trump-connected Ballard Partners for counsel and assistance related to its outreach to government officials and business/NGO executives in Washington and Florida. The firm is to receive $2.1 million in fees, plus “reasonable costs,” during the one-year campaign that runs through March 31, 2019. Brian Ballard chaired the Trump Victory organization in Florida […]

Scott PowersApril 9, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott sought to reclaim his image as an outsider when he announced Monday morning in Orlando that he is running for the U.S. Senate. Scott ended more than a year of little suspense as he formally announced his Republican bid for the Senate seat held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. He did […]

Joe HendersonApril 9, 2018

Guns and Trump. Let’s just cut to what figures to be the essence of a showdown between three-term incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson and two-term Republican Gov. Rick Scott for a Florida U.S. Senate seat. Scott’s entry into the race, long a foregone conclusion, becomes official Monday and signals the start of what could the most expensive […]

Tag: Donald Trump
A scene from a Caribe Royale Orlando fight. Image via Caribe.

Jacksonville Bold for 4.20.18 — Can’t knock the hustle

Democrats will still campaign against a departing Dennis Ross

Neil Combee makes it official; announces run for Dennis Ross’ seat

Bill Nelson: If Russia has an edge, it’s cyber

Jacksonville Bold for 4.13.18 — Infrastructure week

Philip Levine holding own against Adam Putnam, Ron DeSantis in latest poll

Rick Scott sees intervention in Syria as a ‘fight for freedom’

Qatar taps Ballard Partners for $2.1 million push ahead of emir’s visit

Rick Scott: I don’t intend to fit in

Joe Henderson: Guns and Trump form backdrop of Rick Scott