Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Gary FineoutOctober 19, 2016

Florida Democrats, expressing worries that voters could be disenfranchised, want a federal judge to impose new election rules some state officials are warning could create chaos. The Florida Democratic Party this week asked U.S. District Judge Mark Walker to order state election officials to allow people to cast a ballot during early voting even if […]

Associated PressOctober 17, 2016

Florida’s top election official is going to accept a ruling that says the state must give thousands of voters a chance to make sure their vote-by-mail ballots are counted. Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Monday told county election supervisors that they needed to follow the order issued by U.S. District Judge Mark Walker. Walker […]

Scott PowersOctober 17, 2016

U.S. Rep. John Mica is finding himself defending a “no” vote and comments he made 36 years ago in the Florida House of Representatives against a bill that would have made marital rape a crime. Apparently in 1980 it was unclear whether Florida statutes considered marital rape as rape. It took two more years before […]

Associated PressOctober 15, 2016

A federal judge on Saturday issued a scathing rebuke to Florida’s top election official in an order canceling a hearing on a lawsuit over vote-by-mail ballots. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker accused Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner of delaying a hearing on the lawsuit “so that he could use every second available to run […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 14, 2016

Both Republicans and Democrats have prioritized the race in the Gainesville-centric Senate District 8 race, and Democrat Rod Smith‘s latest campaign finance report provides yet more evidence that, for Democrats, this one is a must-win. All told, Smith has raised $539,570, received $227,939 in in-kind contributions (largely staff and polling from the Florida Democratic Party), and […]

Michael MolineOctober 14, 2016

The race for Florida House District 9 centers on effectiveness. So argued a Republican running in the Democratic district during a campaign forum Thursday night. “I want this district to be relevant again in the Florida House,” GOP candidate Jim Messer said. “Goals without results are just wishes. What I say is, give me the […]

Bob SparksOctober 13, 2016

Floridians now have an extra week to register to vote. The State of Florida, according to a federal judge, has set up “unconstitutional” firm deadlines for voter registration, which must be remedied. The offending statute is 97.055 Florida Statutes that says voter registration “must be closed on the 29th day before each election and must remain […]

Jim RosicaOctober 12, 2016

Calling the state’s Oct. 11 voter registration deadline “constitutionally untenable” in the wake of Hurricane Matthew, a federal judge ordered Florida’s registration books remain open till next Tuesday, Oct. 18. In a Wednesday hearing, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker of Tallahassee made clear he had no opinion on when the state closes registration, which is consistent with […]

Scott PowersOctober 7, 2016

Republican state Rep. Scott Plakon will be declared re-elected to his seat in Florida’s House District 29 at 5 p.m. Friday because the Florida Democratic Party will not nominate a replacement candidate for Fred Marra, who dropped out last week. Plakon has been in limbo for seven days since Marra dropped out Sept. 30 for […]

Scott PowersOctober 7, 2016

Those who want to see Republican state Rep. Mike Miller win re-election in his tough battle with Beth Tuura for Florida House District 47 are coming to the table. The Orlando incumbent raised more than $52,000 in the last two weeks of September, not including another nearly $30,000 worth of in-kind services such as research, […]

Tag: Florida Democratic Party

Democrats want judge to put in new voting rules for Florida

Ken Detzner will comply with vote-by-mail ruling

John Mica: 1980 ‘spousal rape’ bill was flawed, and spousal rape is rape

Judge rebukes Florida’s top election official in ballot case

Big spending for and by Rod Smith in competitive state Senate race

Republican seeks to make House District 9 race about results

Bob Sparks: The unconstitutional burden of voter registration deadlines

Federal judge orders Fla. voter registration extended to Oct. 18

Scott Plakon to be declared winner of HD 29 seat

Mike Miller collects $52K cash plus $30K in services from RPOF