Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 20, 2016

U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson blasted U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Friday, a week after Reid called on him to quit the race for U.S. Senate in Florida. A New York Times report about a Grayson hedge fund moved Reid to make his comment and to further say, “Grayson claims to be a progressive, but it […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2016

There are now three candidates vying to become the next chairman of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, and none of them are Mark Hanisee. Ione Townsend (pictured), Mike Newett, and Alvin Wolfe have all declared their intentions to lead the party when the Hillsborough DEC membership convenes to vote to succeed Elizabeth Belcher on Jan. […]

Mitch PerryNovember 3, 2015

Through redistricting efforts, Florida Democrats will surely see their numbers grow in the congressional ranks next year, and there’s a possibility they could see more of their own in the Legislature as well. That depends on how the state Senate lines are ultimately draw (and approved by the Florida Supreme Court). But they’ll still be vastly outnumbered, […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 12, 2015

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Patrick Murphy’s improbable victory over Allen West in Florida’s 18th Congressional election in 2012 made the then 29-year-old construction executive an immediate budding star in Florida Democratic politics. Outspent by more than four times than in a Republican-leaning district against a Tea Party hero, Murphy’s victory over West made national news. He followed that up by easily winning reelection […]

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 PerryMay 6, 2015

The Hillsborough County Commission voted 6-1 on Wednesday to ask the the Florida Commission on Ethics to pursue legal frees from a Plant City winery owner whose ethics complaint against Commissioner Al Higginbotham was deemed to be without merit by that same commission. Joe Keel, owner of Keel and Curley Winery, filed an ethics complaint against […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

On Wednesday, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren blasted the $1.1 trillion spending package in the House put together by Republicans and Democrats that would keep most government agencies operating through next summer. Warren’s ire was with two parts of the bill that were added on to it in the past week: provisions that would sharply increase the influence of […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2014

A rumored floor challenge to the lone candidate for the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee failed to materialize Thursday night, allowing Elizabeth Belcher to win the position without opposition. Belcher has been involved with the DEC since 2008. She became more involved with local politics retiring from a 27-year career as a special agent with […]

Mitch PerryDecember 9, 2014

Hillsborough County Democrats are scheduled to vote for new officers this Thursday night, but the man who looked likely to become the next chair of the party, Tim Heberlein, is dropping out of the race. The reason is because of a potential conflict of interest with his day job. Recently Heberlein took on employment with […]

Tag: Elizabeth Belcher

Alan Grayson calls Harry Reid “human cash register” in Tiger Bay appearance

3 candidates vie to lead Hillsborough County Democrats in 2016

Florida Democratic Party unveils “Municipal Victory Project” to attempt to flip GOP seats in 2016

Patrick Murphy touts his ability to work with Republicans in speech to Hillsborough County Democrats

Tampa Bay area party chairs deal with Supreme Court ruling on redistricting

Hillsborough Commissioners want winery owner to pay Al Higginbotham’s legal fees

Mitch Perry Report for 12.12.14 – House Dems side with Warren over Obama in budget vote

Elizabeth Belcher selected as Hillsborough County Democratic Party chair

Tim Heberlein drops out of contention for Hillsborough Democratic chair