Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyJune 14, 2018

The Tampa Tiger Bay Club will host all candidates who are running to fill the vacancy in Florida’s 15th Congressional District at a meeting Friday at the Ferguson Law Center in Tampa. Tiger Bay officials invited the three Democrats and six Republicans competing to replace Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland, who is retiring […]

Bill RuftyJune 13, 2018

Ray Pena, of Lakeland, is running for the Democratic Party’s nomination for Florida’s 15th Congressional District as the first Hispanic-American to seek the district located in portions of Hillsborough, Polk and Lake counties. He is doing it the old-fashioned way, handshaking every person he meets and appearing at all public candidate meetings. He enumerates the issues […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2018

Auburndale Republican Neil Combee has added another Polk County backer in his campaign to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross in Florida’s 15th Congressional District. Former Polk County Sheriff Lawrence Crow on Monday joined a dozen other current and former Polk County officials in endorsing Combee, a former state representative and Polk County commissioner. “I’ve […]

Bill RuftyJune 7, 2018

EMILY’s List, the progressive organization that supports women candidates for office, has recommended Kristen Carlson, Lakeland attorney and 11th-hour entrant into the Democratic primary, for Florida’s 15th Congressional District. The endorsement put two organizations that support Democratic candidates at odds with one another. At least one Democratic candidate, Greg Pilkington of Indian Lake Estates, withdrew […]

Bill RuftyMay 31, 2018

Republican Sean Harper believes that, in the era of Donald Trump, business expertise will win out over political experience. That’s why the Lakeland contractor is running against five other Republicans for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, two of whom have experience in the state Legislature. Harper entered the race May 2, two days before the filing […]

Staff ReportsMay 29, 2018

While new polling gives state Rep. Ross Spano a six-point lead in the Republican primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District, a third of voters surveyed say they are unsure. St. Pete Polls conducted the survey May 25-27 which has the Dover Republican leading fellow state Rep. Neil Combee, 29-23 percent. The poll asked 494 likely […]

Bill RuftyMay 23, 2018

Kristen Carlson of Lakeland entered the Democratic Primary for Florida’s 15th Congressional District just over two weeks ago and has reported campaign donations of more than $100,000 already. Her staff said most of it came in during the first 13 days. Carlson, a former General Counsel for the Florida Department of Citrus, current counsel for […]

Drew WilsonMay 21, 2018

State Rep. Ross Spano landed a big endorsement for his congressional campaign Monday: Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Today, I am proud to endorse my friend Ross Spano to be the next Congressman in Florida’s 15th District. Along with being a fighter for the people of Florida, Ross is a tried and true rock solid Conservative […]

Drew WilsonMay 21, 2018

The endorsements keep rolling in for former state Rep. Neil Combee, who is running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross in Florida’s 15th Congressional District. With the addition of Dover state Rep. Lawrence McClure, former state Reps. Rachel Burgin and Carl Carpenter as well as Temple Terrace Mayor Mel Jurado, Combee’s list of backers […]

Bill RuftyMay 21, 2018

Many political junkies are questioning whether two different entities that support the same goal — a Democrat in Florida’s 15th Congressional District — are backing two different candidates in the primary. Andrew Learned of Valrico has been a candidate for the post since June 23, 2017, and has the advice and help from the Democratic […]

Tag: Florida’s 15th Congressional District
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Tampa Tiger Bay Club to host bipartisan CD 15 candidate forum

Democratic hopeful Ray Pena hits CD 15 with old-school handshaking, retail politics

Former Polk County sheriff backs Neil Combee for CD 15

CD 15 primary support puts Democratic groups at odds

Last one in; first one with votes, CD 15 candidate says

Ross Spano leading CD 15 primary, but one-third undecided

Hitting the ground collecting in CD 15

Ross Spano lands Pam Bondi’s support in CD 15 primary

Neil Combee’s congressional campaign adds Hillsborough support

Two progressive organizations, but different candidates?