Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannNovember 24, 2014

Republican Howard Holley filed paperwork Friday for a special election in the Palm County House District 24, becoming the fifth candidate in the race to replace Rep. Travis Hutson. Hutson is vacating the seat to run for the seat of former Sen. John Thrasher, who in turn left the Senate this month to become Florida […]

Peter SchorschNovember 24, 2014

The first sign of trouble for Adam Hollingsworth arrived via email one year ago yesterday, when Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo emailed Gov. Rick Scott’s communications director, Melissa Sellers, with a pointed question. “I’m hearing Hollingsworth was fired from CSX for lying about his academic credentials. True?” With Rick Scott away in Arizona for a […]

Julie DelegalNovember 23, 2014

Human beings are complex. Some of the most creative, curious, intelligent and sensitive individuals also bear the most risk for spiraling into deadly neuro-behavioral disorders. It’s a cruel trick of nature, a curse of the genes. And so it was with Sensitive Joe. “Sensitive Joe” was the college fraternity nickname given years ago to Myron […]

Guest AuthorNovember 18, 2014

First impressions matter. It’s one of the truisms we must live with. Unfortunately, that’s a fact seemingly lost on new Florida State University President John Thrasher. Exhibit 1 is the former legislator’s tone-deaf response to last week’s New York Times article highlighting another instance in which an FSU football player not named Winston might have […]

Guest AuthorNovember 9, 2014

Gwen Graham’s victory should give Florida Democrats something to think about. The rookie politician knew she could not overcome Congressman Steve Southerland’s appeal in nine counties he carried by more than 60 percent in the previous election. She campaigned in them anyway. Southerland, R-Panama City, won election in the Tea Party wave in 2010 and […]

Peter SchorschNovember 8, 2014

State Sen. John Thrasher, Florida State University’s soon-to-be president, submitted his letter of resignation from the Legislature on Monday. His departure is effective midnight Sunday. The move set off a series of political events, beginning with formal filings by Republican state Reps. Ronald “Doc” Renuart and Travis Hutson to run for Thrasher’s Senate District 6 […]

Phil AmmannNovember 6, 2014

Anticipating a special election, three St. Johns County Republicans filed for campaign accounts to succeed state Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart in House District 17, according to the Florida Division of Elections. Although he easily won another term on Tuesday, Renuart intends to run in a special election for a Republican state Sen. John Thrasher’s seat. […]

Diane RobertsOctober 13, 2014

Hard rain falling here in the land where college football is the élan vital. First, the very large, very detailed, story in the New York Times: seems the Tallahassee police habitually cut Seminole football players some slack — a lot of slack — when they vandalize property, steal, and assault women. Fox Sports News had […]

Gary FineoutOctober 2, 2014

Florida State University has chosen state Sen. John Thrasher as its next president despite significant campus opposition. The FSU board voted 11-2 Tuesday to hire Thrasher over three academics. Thrasher is an attorney and former state House speaker. He has long-standing ties to the institution and helped FSU gain a medical school. But his candidacy […]

Martin DyckmanOctober 1, 2014

In considering the exploitation of college athletes, it’s usually about how little they share of the stupendous wealth they generate for the big football and basketball programs. Not much is said about the risks they take. In that regard, it would be hard to find a worse case than what happened to Ereck Plancher and […]

Tag: Florida State University
Image via AP.

Two more candidates file for northeast Florida special elections

For now, prospects not bright for Scott’s former chief of staff

Julie Delegal: When biology backfires: evolving through the stigma of mental illness

Andrew Skerritt: FSU’s president should be tougher on football player misconduct

James Call: Graham was smart to campaign where she knew she wouldn’t win

John Thrasher submits resignation letter, Travis Hutson, Doc Renuart angle for his seat

Three St. Johns County Republicans position to run for Doc Renuart seat

Diane Roberts: We rabid sports fans are loving college football to death

FSU picks state Sen. John Thrasher as its next president despite campus opposition

Martin Dyckman: Court to decide if college athletic programs can keep immunity