Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayNovember 11, 2015

Republican Rep. Ray Pilon narrowly topped his Democratic challenger Edward James in October fundraising, amid what has become a hotly contested race for a moderate-leaning swing seat in Sarasota ahead of 2016 statehouse elections. Pilon, elected to the House in 2010 when he ousted then-incumbent Keith Fitzgerald, raised $8,000 during last month’s fundraising reporting period in HD 72. The former […]

Ryan RayOctober 22, 2015

I am … 25 years young. I live in … Sarasota/Tallahassee. I got into politics because … My family exposed me to the power of community organizing as a child. My great-grandmother along with a group of other concerned citizens helped desegregate the public beaches in Sarasota in the 1950s by organizing caravans of people who went […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Campaign donations are filling campaign accounts in Southwest Florida, with Republican Reps. Jim Boyd, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube each posting their best fundraising reports since the start of the 2015 session. Boyd, running unopposed in House District 71, added $39,000 in contributions this past month, raising his on-hand cash to $56,246 for his fourth […]

Ryan RayAugust 28, 2015

Republican state Rep. Ray Pilon has found an unlikely ally in his 2016 House re-election campaign in Sarasota-based District 72: leading Democratic strategist Steve Schale. Schale appears on the host committee for an upcoming fundraiser for the third-term Republican lawmaker, according to an invitation obtained by FloridaPolitics.com. Schale cited Pilon’s stance this year in a major battle over Medicaid […]

Ryan RayAugust 11, 2015

Democrat Edward James says he not only out-raised his opponent incumbent Rep. Ray Pilon last month – he also raised more than all other candidates for the House. According to an analysis conducted by James’ finance chairman and campaign treasurer, James’ July campaign finance haul – $26,388, on top of $10,100 that came into a political committee, New Direction […]

Ryan RayJuly 10, 2015

Rep. Ray Pilon raised just $1,985 this past month while his opponent in Sarasota’s HD 72, Democrat Edward James, brought in more than $30,000 between his campaign account and an affiliated PAC. That blowout margin bears an asterisk — Pilon was prohibited from taking contributions for most of June because of the Special Session — but it […]

Ryan RayJuly 9, 2015

Democrat Edward James III won’t hold yet his first official fundraiser until next week, but that hasn’t stopped him from raising about a thousand dollars a day since he entered the race last month. James has raised a total of $30,175 according to just-released campaign finance reports, an unusually high figure for a Democratic newcomer. A majority […]

Ryan RayJune 17, 2015

After several weeks of deliberation, Edward James III has made it official — the Sarasota-born Democrat told FloridaPolitics.com he filed 2016 campaign paperwork on Tuesday to run in House District 72. James said he was spurred to run by what he called the “cold-heartedness” of the GOP-led House, which abruptly adjourned and left town early last month in […]

Ryan RayMay 18, 2015

SaintPetersblog has learned that Democrat Edward James, III is in the early stages of a likely run for the state House in northern Sarasota-based House District 72. “I’m exploring the idea right now,” said James on Friday. “Several people have reached out to me about running for that particular seat. I’m seriously considering it and consulting […]

Tag: Edward James

Ray Pilon raises $8k in October; challenger Edward James takes in $7k

Meet Edward James, one of “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Money flows in Southwest Florida House races

Democratic strategist Steve Schale reaches across the aisle to support Ray Pilon’s re-election

Edward James says his HD 72 July fundraising is No. 1 among all House candidates

Ray Pilon, out-raised in June, unfazed by Democratic challenge

First-time candidate Edward James tops $30k in HD 72 fundraising

Democrat Edward James files for 2016 House run in Sarasota’s HD 72

Democrat Edward James “seriously considering” taking on Ray Pilon for HD 72