Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesNovember 6, 2018

Republican Joe Gruters gets a promotion to state Senate, after defeating Democratic opponent Faith Olivia Babis in Florida Senate District 23. Gruters led in Sarasota County with 53 percent of the vote over Babis’ 47 percent, with all early and absentee votes and 28 percent of precincts counted. In the slice of Charlotte County within […]

Jacob OglesOctober 28, 2018

Republican state Senate candidate Joe Gruters knows his success this year relies on the strength of the GOP ticket as a whole. “We’re trying to drive turnout for the entire team,” he said. As the 10-year chairman of the Republican Party of Sarasota, Gruters knows the importance of lifting the entire slate more acutely than […]

Jacob OglesSeptember 24, 2018

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Faith Olivia Babis and Kathy Lewis attended the same conferences for advocates for the disabled before either became a political candidate. Now the two hope to join forces in the state Senate. They face long odds — both Democrats running in heavily Republican districts — but a challenge never stopped these women before. “People tell me […]

Mitch PerryAugust 31, 2016

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Democrat Frank Alcock is wasting no time in preparing for his formidable challenge running against Republican Greg Steube in the Florida Senate District 23 race — and he’s doing it on wheels. Dubbing it “Tour de Frank,” Alcock — an associate professor of political science at New College of Florida and frequent television commentator — will begin a Labor Day weekend 100-plus-mile bicycle […]

Peter SchorschAugust 23, 2016

Four points separate three Republicans running in an open primary for state Senate District 23, according to a poll taken one week before election day. State Rep. Greg Steube receives 26 percent in a new survey conducted by St. Pete Polls for FloridaPolitics.com. Nora Patterson, a former member of the Sarasota County Commission and Sarasota City Commission is […]

Tag: Florida Senate District 23
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Call him ‘Senator’: Joe Gruters wins SD 23, overcomes Olivia Babis

Joe Gruters shifts into overdrive for himself, fellow Republicans

Enabled, not disabled: Candidates run to raise disability rights awareness

Frank Alcock ‘taking it to the streets’ as he begins general election campaign against Greg Steube in SD 23 race

New poll shows GOP primary in SD 23 coming down to the wire