Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 26, 2018

The Tampa Bay region is well-represented in Tallahassee for the upcoming 2019 Legislative Session, at least in the Senate. Not only is Senate President Bill Galvano from the region — his district covers parts of southern Hillsborough County and Manatee County — but several other senators from the region have been posted to leadership positions. […]

Ryan NicolNovember 26, 2018

Democratic state Sen. Lauren Book and GOP state Sen. Manny Diaz are among the newly-named legislative committee chairs hailing from South Florida. Book, who represents Senate District 32, was one of only two Democrats (Tallahassee’s Bill Montford is the other) named to head a committee; she will lead the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder […]

Ryan NicolNovember 26, 2018

Sen. Lauren Book will again try to create a tax exemption for purchases of diapers and incontinence products in the 2019 Legislative Session. Book, who represents Senate District 32 in Broward County, has filed the measure before, though it didn’t pass. The 2019 version (SB 60) would exempt purchases of “diapers, incontinence undergarments, incontinence pads, or incontinence […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2018

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As expected — and scripted — the Florida Senate unanimously elected Bill Galvano as President of the GOP-controlled chamber for the 2019 and 2020 Legislative Sessions. The move came at a constitutionally mandated “organization session” on Tuesday after the 2018 general elections. Outgoing President and Stuart Republican Joe Negron passed the gavel, and 10 new members also took seats […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 19, 2018

A day after Hillsborough County’s hand recount officially concluded and two days after it was clear Janet Cruz was the Senate District 18 winner, Dana Young has conceded the race. “The supervisor of elections has finished both recounts and submitted the results. Although the final result was not what we had hoped for, I am extremely […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 17, 2018

Senate District 18 presumptive winner Janet Cruz is again declaring victory in her bid to unseat incumbent Republican Dana Young. After a manual recount conducted in Hillsborough County, Cruz — who was last the House Democratic Leader — maintains a 382-vote lead over Young, according to the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. Cruz’s victory is […]

Danny McAuliffeNovember 14, 2018

State Sen. David Simmons is primed to be the upper chamber’s second-in-command during the 2019 and 2020 Legislative Sessions. Senate President-elect Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, on Wednesday announced his selection of the Longwood Republican to fill the role. The Senate is expected to approve Simmons’ appointment on Tuesday, when the chamber meets for Organizational […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 11, 2018

Newly-elected state Sen. Ed Hooper has a lot of plans for his term in office, but the first order of business is finding an office. While hunting for real estate is a necessary first detail, the Pinellas Republican is still laying the groundwork to implement some of his priorities. The former state Representative bested Democrat Amanda […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 9, 2018

Janet Cruz’s lead over Dana Young in their Florida Senate District 18 race grew to 355 overnight after the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Canvassing Board began counting provisional ballots and uncounted vote-by-mail ballots. Cruz’s lead had been just shy of 300. The outgoing House Democratic Leader had challenged Young, a Republican, for the state Senate […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorNovember 7, 2018

GOP state Sen. Dana Young‘s future in the Florida Senate is still uncertain after a nail-biter race against Democratic state Rep. Janet Cruz. With nearly 200,000 votes cast in the Senate District 18 contest, the two were separated by 289 votes late Tuesday, with Cruz holding a slender advantage. If that margin holds, it would trigger an […]

Tag: Florida Senate

Tampa Bay lawmakers get Senate committee leadership posts

South Florida represents: Lauren Book, Manny Diaz named Senate committee chairs

Lauren Book renews effort to secure tax break for diapers

Pledging to be a ‘facilitator,’ Bill Galvano becomes Senate President

Dana Young finally concedes SD 18 race to Janet Cruz

With hand recount complete, Janet Cruz wins battleground state Senate seat

David Simmons selected Senate President Pro Tempore

After contentious election, Ed Hooper lays out Senate priorities

Janet Cruz lead over Dana Young grows, but recount still imminent

Recount? Janet Cruz vs. Dana Young race in SD 18 still too close to call