Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolOctober 1, 2018

More than a dozen Puerto Rican leaders across the U.S. have announced their support for Andrew Gillum‘s campaign for Governor. Gillum, the Democratic candidate in the race, currently serves as Mayor of Tallahassee. He is competing against former U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, the Republican nominee. Among Gillum’s new spate of backers are former Puerto Rico […]

Scott PowersMay 30, 2018

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The Democratic National Committee just weighed in on the Florida partisan fight for Puerto Rican voters, providing the state party with a $100,000 grant and arguments on why they should register as Democrats. DNC Chair Tom Perez and Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo joined U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Val Demings and others in […]

Scott PowersMay 11, 2018

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto‘s re-election campaign announced 20 endorsements from local elected officials in his battle with former U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson for the Democratic primary in Florida’s 9th Congressional District. The endorsements came from state Sen. Victor Torres; state Reps. John Cortes, Amy Mercado, Carlos Guillermo Smith and Kamia Brown; Kissimmee Mayor José Alvarez; Lake Wales […]

Scott PowersOctober 31, 2017

Federal and state comprehensive, strategic plans are desperately needed to coordinate services for Hurricane Maria evacuees from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands so that they can best find the services wherever they’re available in Florida, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs warned that someone needs to be coordinating where tens of […]

Scott PowersOctober 3, 2017

Help for Puerto Rico and for Puerto Ricans evacuating to Florida is going to be best provided by the rapidly-rising group of private groups, churches, and companies and government coordination will have to be done by the state, leaving little direct power for Orange County and other counties, Mayor Teresa Jacobs said Tuesday. Jacobs and […]

Scott PowersSeptember 30, 2017

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While joining a relief effort in Orlando that included U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy and several Florida lawmakers and local leaders, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham blasted President Donald Trump‘s response to Puerto Rico as “appalling” Saturday. Graham said that the world was witnessing “a failure of planning” for a deadly hurricane that was seen coming […]

Scott PowersMay 15, 2017

Democratic U.S. Rep. Darren Soto said Monday he intends to sponsor legislation to protect the Kissimmee River with a designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Such a move, if it were to be approved, would enact broad protections for the river, which starts in Osceola County’s Little Lake Tohopekaliga and, at least in […]

Scott PowersMarch 7, 2017

New Orange County Commissioner Emily Bonilla has to be getting used to being a kicked-around rookie on the Board of Commissioners, especially as an outspoken Democrat on a Republican-dominated panel, but Tuesday she got taken down by all of her fellow commissioners. “I feel it is pretty disrespectful,” Bonilla told them during Tuesday’s meeting, after […]

Scott PowersDecember 29, 2016

Story co-written by Orlando-Rising staff reporters Scott Powers and Lawrence Griffin. In Orlando, 2016 will always be remembered as the year of the Pulse gay nightclub massacre, and Pulse redefined everything; but it’s not the only major event to have shaped politics in Orlando during the year. Here are a few events that defined politics […]

Scott PowersNovember 30, 2016

Billionaire New York Democratic campaign financier George Soros‘s interest topped $1.7 million in Central Florida politics and $1.8 million statewide this year as he financed independent campaigns that helped three Democrats win local or state legislative races while three others he backed lost. Soros’ biggest investment came early, backing Aramis Ayala to the tune of $1.38 […]

Tag: Emily Bonilla
Jennifer Barbosa. Image via campaign website.

Boricua backers: Puerto Rican leaders endorse Andrew Gillum for Governor

National Democrats aid Florida Democrats’ Puerto Rican voter outreach

Darren Soto announces 20 local endorsements in CD 9 race

Teresa Jacobs expresses frustration over lack of FEMA, state coordination plans to help evacuees

Teresa Jacobs: Orange County’s role limited for Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans

Joining relief effort, Gwen Graham blasts Donald Trump’s Puerto Rico response as ‘appalling’

Darren Soto to push bill to declare Kissimmee River ‘Wild and Scenic’

Emily Bonilla clashes with other Orange commissioners over parks appointee

2016 in Orlando politics: Pulse, outside money, hotel taxes, frogs

George Soros spends $1.8 million in Florida local races; backs four winners, two losers