Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerrySeptember 8, 2015

The biggest news on Labor Day in Tampa was the report that, in the wake of the tragic stabbing death of former USF student and football player Elkino Watson early Sunday morning outside an Ybor City nightclub, head coach Willie Taggert was banning his players from visiting the historic entertainment district. The biggest story this morning […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 7, 2015

If Republican primary politics are all about reaching out to the conservative base, then on paper, Jacksonville-area Congressman Ron DeSantis should be a strong contender as the GOP Senate nominee in 2016. The Sunshine State native (who grew up in the quaint Pinellas County town of Dunedin) has only been in elected office for three years, […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 4, 2015

As expected, Tampa-based Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Castor officially came out on Friday morning as a supporter of the P5+1 nuclear deal with Iran. And like virtually every other Democrat who has announced their support, she says the decision didn’t come lightly, and she knows that it’s not perfect. “I’ve spoken with sanctions experts and military […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 4, 2015

Marco Rubio opposes giving Puerto Rico the same type of bankruptcy protection available to U.S. towns and cities mired in fiscal crisis, he writes in an op-ed published in both Spanish and English today in El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico’s largest daily newspaper. “While some have suggested Washington can deliver a silver bullet solution to […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 4, 2015

It was famed actor, celebrity and humanitarian George Clooney who once said that he doesn’t tweet. “Just because, I like to have a drink at night. I could easily say something stupid, and I also don’t think you need to be that available.” But there are lots of folks who just can’t help expressing themselves via the tools of […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 3, 2015

Republicans Polk City state Rep. Neil Combee and Jacksonville state Sen. Aaron Bean have filed the “Self-Defense Protection Act,” a bill that they contend would reform Florida’s “10-20-Life” sentencing law. The bill creates a narrow exception to otherwise applicable mandatory minimum sentences when a court finds a defendant had a good-faith belief that using a firearm […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 3, 2015

Dr. Ben Carson‘s movement in the GOP presidential polls isn’t happening just in Iowa. A new Monmouth University national poll of the Republican presidential candidates released on Thursday shows the staying power of real estate tycoon Donald Trump. He leads the field with 30 percent support – that’s 4 points higher than a similar poll […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 3, 2015

During the 2012 U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown, the two candidates signed a “People’s Pledge.” Under the pact, a candidate who benefited from a third-party ad had to pay a penalty to a charity chosen by the other. As the candidates wrote in a letter to third-party groups: “Your spending […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 3, 2015

There’s excitement in some quarters this week as it now appears that Carly Fiorina will appear in the second Republican Presidential debate taking place in 13 days in Los Angeles (Okay, Simi Valley, officially). Meanwhile, we’re still more than five weeks away before the first Democratic Presidential debate. And why is that? While some may say […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2015

For the past three years in the Florida Legislature, attempts to enact a pilot needle exchange program in Miami-Dade County have been unsuccessful. Plantation House Democrat Katie Edwards , though, is going to give it another shot next year. Edwards has filed legislation that aims to alleviate transmission of the HIV and Hepatitis viruses among intravenous drug […]

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Image via AP.

Mitch Perry Report for 9.8.15 – USF Athletics audibilize on Ybor ban

Ron DeSantis admits GOP faithful are “demoralized, depressed and dejected” at D.C. Republicans

Kathy Castor latest House Democrat to come out in support of Iran nuclear deal

In op-ed, Marco Rubio disdains bankruptcy protection for Puerto Rico

Mitch Perry Report for 9.4.15 – Sam Rashid is not backing down

Bill to reform Florida’s 10-20-Life law filed by Aaron Bean, Neil Combee

National GOP poll: Donald Trump 30%, Ben Carson 18% with Carson beating Trump one-on-one

Patrick Murphy rejects Alan Grayson’s “People’s Pledge” on accepting third-party campaign contributions

Mitch Perry Report for 9.3.15 – The DNC’s nondebate strategy

Katie Edwards introduces needle exchange bill in Legislature