Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonDecember 14, 2018

Last month, House Speaker Jose Oliva tapped Estero Republican Rep. Ray Rodrigues to chair the House Health & Human Services Committee. On Friday, the chairs of the health care subcommittees were revealed. Second term Rep. Mel Ponder will take over the Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee. Gayle Harrell, who recently ascended to the state Senate, led the committee during the […]

Drew WilsonDecember 5, 2018

A newly minted state Senator and a quartet of fresh state Representatives opened campaign accounts for the 2020 election cycle this week. Sarasota Republican Joe Gruters, who took over for U.S. Rep.-elect Greg Steube in Senate District 23, filed his paperwork Tuesday. Gruters was a member of the House for a term before U.S. Rep. […]

Phil AmmannDecember 5, 2018

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round in the Florida Senate. Off and on: Andrew Liebert and Jae Williams became legislative assistants, and Karen Whaley became district secretary for Republican Sen. Ben Albritton of Bartow. Williams previously worked for former Sen. Denise Grimsley. Whaley worked with […]

Jacob OglesNovember 5, 2018

New attack ads criticize state Senate candidate Rob Levy for supporting Amendment 4. The problem? Most polling shows that referendum cruising to passage on Tuesday. “Senate candidate Ron Levy wants convicted felons to vote,” blares a headline on a mailer from the Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. Amendment 4, if passed, will automatically restore voting […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 26, 2018

Florida Democrats touted some impressive poll numbers in Republican-leaning state Senate races last week, but now that the sunshine pumping has worn off it looks like there’s some serious flaws in those numbers. To recap, the Florida Democratic Party pointed to a handful of Change Research polls that showed showing Melissa “Mel” Martin leading incumbent Sen. Dorothy […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 19, 2018

Despite recent public polls showing Democratic candidates down by a hair in some of the Florida Democratic Party’s major state Senate targets, the party is pointing to new measures that show another three more chances to overtake Republican-held districts. “While the focus has been on the State Senate Districts most affected by the Fair Districts […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 14, 2018

The Florida Chamber of Commerce has put out its third wave of endorsements for state legislative seats, giving the nod to 16 more candidates, including a pair of incumbents running for re-election in South Florida. A handful of the Florida Chamber’s new endorsements are revisions reflecting a handful of surprise victories in the Aug. 28 […]

Ryan NicolAugust 28, 2018

ELECTION-RESULTS-Gayle-Harrell-vs.-Belinda-Keiser.jpg

State Rep. Gayle Harrell has earned the chance for a promotion to the state Senate in November, defeating Belinda Keiser in the GOP primary for Senate District 25. Harrell ended the night with 56 percent of the vote, while Keiser earned 44 percent despite Keiser dumping $1.6 million into her campaign account. The pair were running […]

Drew WilsonAugust 22, 2018

A new ad attacking Republican Toby Overdorf is hitting the airwaves in the Treasure Coast’s House District 83. The 30-second spot, titled “Toby Overdorf Stinks,” comes off like a greatest hits list of the attacks levied against Overdorf thus far in his primary battle with Port St. Lucie attorney Sasha Dadan. “Something about Toby Overdorf […]

Drew WilsonAugust 13, 2018

Despite being massively outspent by Keiser University vice chancellor Belinda Keiser, a new poll shows state Rep. Gayle Harrell with a commanding lead in the Republican primary for Senate District 25. The St. Pete Polls survey, conducted Aug. 8, found Harrell with 48 percent support among voters who said they had either already cast a ballot […]

Tag: Gayle Harrell
Helene, early Sept. 27. Image via NOAA via AP.

Florida House’s health care policy subcommittee chairs named

More freshman lawmakers file for re-election

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round (Senate version)

Direct mail round-up: Republicans attack Rob Levy for supporting popular Amendment 4

Is faulty polling fueling Florida Democrats’ optimism in Dorothy Hukill-Mel Martin race?

Florida Democrats say their state Senate map is still expanding

Florida Chamber endorses 16 more legislative candidates

Gayle Harrell tops Belinda Keiser in SD 25

New HD 83 TV ad says Toby Overdorf ‘just plain stinks’

Gayle Harrell leads Belinda Keiser 48-26 in fresh SD 25 poll