Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 31, 2016

The Republican race for House District 60 was a nail-biter Tuesday night, with civil engineer Jackie Toledo getting just 246 more votes (out of 12,528 cast) than businesswoman Rebecca Smith, giving her a less than two-percentage-point victory. Smith was the clear GOP establishment favorite in the race, but obviously, not among the electorate. Toledo raised […]

Peter SchorschAugust 28, 2016

There are less than 48 hours before Election Day and in both local politics and the weather forecast, it’s the calm before the storm. One of the most difficult aspects of being in this game is the waiting. All of the television ads and direct mail and brochures and yard signs have been produced and sent […]

Joe HendersonAugust 24, 2016

Jackie Toledo has made the repeal of some immigration reforms a centerpiece of her campaign against Rebecca Smith for the House District 60 seat in next week’s Republican primary. In a recent mailer to voters, she vowed to seek the repeal of a Republican-passed law that grant in-state college tuition to what she called “illegal […]

Mitch PerryAugust 18, 2016

While Rebecca Smith, Jackie Toledo’s opponent in the House District 60 primary, won’t comment on Toledo’s vow to “crack down on illegal aliens,” David Singer is speaking out. Singer is a Tampa land use attorney and the Democrat who will face the winner of the Toledo/Smith primary later this month. He issued a statement after reading about Toledo’s pledge to repeal two bills passed […]

Mitch PerryAugust 16, 2016

House District 60 Republican candidate Jackie Toledo says if elected to the Florida Legislature, she’d work to repeal two immigration laws passed by the Republican majority in recent years. Toledo is battling business person Rebecca Smith in the Republican race for the HD 60 seat Aug. 30. In a campaign mailer, Toledo says, “Politicians have passed […]

Mitch PerryAugust 15, 2016

Rebecca Smith, the Tampa businesswoman locked in a battle against Jackie Toledo for the Republican nomination to the House District 60 seat, is touting endorsements from half of the Florida Cabinet. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater and Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam announced their support for Smith Monday, three days after she snagged photos with the two officials at an event Putnam […]

Peter SchorschAugust 12, 2016

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is making a high-risk, high-reward investment in a Florida legislative race where the choice of which candidates it is supporting does not, at first glance, appear to be a black-and-white decision. In Florida Senate District 1, the Chamber is backing Republican state Rep. Doug Broxson over his House colleague Mike Hill, despite the latter’s A rating […]

Mitch PerryJuly 11, 2016

The West Central Florida Police Benevolent Association is endorsing Jackie Toledo in the House District 60 contest. “This endorsement means more to me than I can express,” Toledo said in a statement issued Monday. “Our law enforcement officers are heroes who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe. Their jobs are […]

Mitch PerryJuly 7, 2016

The Rebecca Smith campaign announced Thursday the House District 60 Republican has yet another feather in her cap of support, getting the endorsement of the Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS (GTAR). “With more than three decades of experience in the Tampa Bay area construction industry, GTAR is pleased to endorse Rebecca Smith for the Florida House District […]

Mitch PerryJune 14, 2016

Former St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker is backing local Tampa businesswoman Rebecca Smith in the race for House District 60 in Hillsborough County. “Rebecca Smith is a principled, conservative Republican and proven business leader, with a strong track record of accomplishment,” Baker said in a statement issued by the Smith campaign. “I am confident that […]

Tag: Florida House District 60

David Singer compares Jackie Toledo to Donald Trump as the HD 60 general election race begins

Here’s where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay politics — the ‘counting down the hours ‘ edition

Joe Henderson: Jackie Toledo would be better off talking kitchen counter issues than immigration

David Singer calls Jackie Toledo’s call to repeal immigration bills an ‘appeal to our lowest common denominator’

In mailer, HD 60 candidate Jackie Toledo says she’d crack down on ‘illegal aliens’ if elected

Adam Putnam and Jeff Atwater are backing Rebecca Smith in Hillsborough HD 60 race

The Florida Chamber makes an interesting bet; HD 60 candidate Rebecca Smith not the NRA’s choice

Police union backs Jackie Toledo in HD 60 race

Greater Tampa Association of Realtors backing Rebecca Smith in HD 60 race

Rick Baker endorses Rebecca Smith in HD 60 race