Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Kate BradshawJune 11, 2018

Everybody likes state Rep. Ben Diamond. At least, that’s what people close to the freshman Democrat from St. Petersburg say. Elected to represent House District 68, Diamond took over for then-state Rep. Dwight Dudley, who left office to run for a judgeship. While he’s popular in his district, especially with Democrats, getting bills passed has been […]

Scott PowersNovember 14, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham wants to put a stop to Florida utility ratepayers paying for nuclear power plants that were never built or which never worked, or for paying for fracking exploration in Florida. The former congresswoman from Tallahassee went nuclear Tuesday denouncing the 2006 law that allowed Florida investor-owned utility companies to charge […]

Phil AmmannNovember 3, 2017

Three prominent Democratic leaders from Tampa and St. Petersburg are lining up behind Gwen Graham’s bid for governor. Former U.S. Rep. Jim Davis of Tampa, former Pinellas County-area state Rep. Dwight Dudley and St. Pete Councilman Karl Nurse are each endorsing Graham in a campaign announcement Friday. Davis, a former Florida House majority leader, congressman and […]

Anne LindbergOctober 25, 2016

Outgoing Democratic state Rep. Dwight Dudley and several Pinellas activists gathered Tuesday to call out U.S. Rep. David Jolly for his “failure to stand up for” the people of Congressional District 13. Dudley and the others gathered in Williams Park, across from Duke Energy, which they accused of “ripping off” consumers. “Big energy companies like […]

Mitch PerryOctober 4, 2016

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House Majority PAC is out with its second ad of the political cycle attacking David Jolly — this time on Florida’s controversial nuclear cost recovery law. Called “Cost,” the ad hits the Congressional District 13 Republican for taking thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from Duke Energy while saying he was doing nothing to stop the utility […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 26, 2016

Joseph “JB” Bensmihen is used to having people underestimate him, so he says it’s not surprising if people want to go by metrics such as fundraising to surmise his fate in his House District 68 encounter with Democrat Ben Diamond. With six weeks to go before the election in Pinellas County, the 47-year-old Benshimen, a home health […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 27, 2016

Eric Lynn is spending the weekend getting out the vote. The St. Petersburg Democrat is set to attend get-out-the-vote events throughout House District 68 this weekend. The events mark a final push to get voters to the polls ahead of Tuesday’s primary. Lynn is scheduled to hold a volunteer get-out-the-vote event at 10 a.m. today at […]

Mitch PerryAugust 25, 2016

During a radio debate Thursday, House District 68 Democrat Ben Diamond challenged what exactly his opponent, Eric Lynn has done in the community, while Lynn turned around to question Diamond’s independence when it comes to the insurance industry. Those two exchanges came toward the conclusion of a 38-minute debate on Tampa radio station WMNF 88.5 this afternoon, when the […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2016

Florida Republicans dominate state government in Tallahassee, and in the state House, it’s not even close. Yet incoming House Minority Leader Janet Cruz says she “conservatively” believes the Democrats can flip six seats this coming fall, and — just as importantly — retain that number in 2018, beginning the party’s journey to finally getting close […]

Mitch PerryJuly 20, 2016

The primary race in House District 68 between fellow St. Petersburg Democrats Eric Lynn and Ben Diamond is becoming so competitive that when one candidate announces an endorsement, the other also seems to follow suit a few hours later. The Lynn camp announced Wednesday they have received the backing of the Florida Medical Association (FMA) PAC. That comes just a few hours after […]

Tag: Dwight Dudley

#25 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Ben Diamond (tie)

Gwen Graham goes nuclear over recovery fees, fracking fees

Gwen Graham gets nod from Tampa, St. Pete Democratic leaders

Dwight Dudley, activists slam David Jolly; Jolly’s spokeswoman slams Charlie Crist

Outside group hits David Jolly over nuke fees

HD 68 Republican JB Benshimen hits fundraising rut

Eric Lynn makes last-minute push in HD 68 primary

Ben Diamond and Eric Lynn confront each during WMNF radio debate

Janet Cruz says she believes Florida Democrats can flip 6 House seats this fall

Eric Lynn gets Florida Medical Association endorsement in HD 68 contest