Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonMay 22, 2017

I am not a fan of term limits. I understand the argument from those who say we need a law that limits the power of incumbency. They say the longer a politician stays in office, the more likely they are to accumulate so much recognition and money that it becomes almost impossible to beat them. […]

Joe HendersonApril 11, 2017

Florida Democrats have become such a non-factor in state politics that the real drama frequently becomes which faction of the Republican party will prevail on a given issue. Think about it. We have had knockdown, drag-outs between the GOP-controlled House and Senate. This year the main event has been the ongoing feud between Republican Gov. […]

Joe HendersonNovember 25, 2016

Pat Kemp officially joined the Hillsborough County Commission when she was sworn into office Wednesday. If she stays true to her nature – and there is no to believe she won’t – Kemp might just turn the Commission on its ear. I hope she does. Most politicians like to play it safe and tell voters […]

Joe HendersonNovember 18, 2016

All politicians start out by saying how they want to make a difference. Well, Kevin Beckner did. His now-former colleagues at the Hillsborough County Commission acknowledged that Wednesday during his final meeting as a member of the board. He is leaving because of term limits after serving eight years. Yes, Beckner was the first openly […]

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2016

In a pair of results that could not be called surprising, Democrat Kathy Castor and Republican Dennis Ross won re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Castor took about 61 percent of the vote in her race, while Ross took 58 percent. Neither race was expected to be closely contended. Castor, a liberal Democrat who […]

Joe HendersonOctober 3, 2016

Ken Hagan has been elected five times to the Hillsborough County Commission. That ought to say something about the way voters feel he takes care of both his and the public’s business. Headlines tend to find him because he always seems to be involved in something important, but I wouldn’t say he seeks out publicity. […]

Tom JacksonAugust 3, 2016

They’d reached closing statements at a recent forum for Hillsborough County Commission District 6 Democratic hopefuls in Bealsville, near Plant City, and Pat Kemp, the Tampa lawyer and serial candidate, was feeling magnanimous. The town center was a thing of beauty, she said, praising the town hall, expanded library, a roundabout with a flag at […]

Joe HendersonAugust 2, 2016

Since the start of his campaign for Hillsborough County Commission District 6, Jim Norman has understood he has a lot of explaining to do. Right off the bat, he tried to address his checkered political past during a meeting last year with The Tampa Tribune editorial board. As a metro columnist for that late, great […]

Drew WilsonJuly 11, 2016

Democratic Rep. Ed Narain announced Monday that Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Lesley “Les” Miller has endorsed his bid for the District 19 seat in the Florida Senate. “I’ve known Ed Narain since he was a student leader at the University of South Florida and now as state representative,” said Miller, who himself served 14 years […]

Joe HendersonJune 15, 2016

I’m a little surprised by Tom Lee’s decision to run for re-election to the state Senate. Along with just about everyone else in the media and Florida politics, I’ve had lengthy chats with Lee about his future since a judge drew new district lines that essentially forced him to make a tough decision. Because his […]

Tag: Hillsborough County Commission
Lake Mary’s team celebrates in the eighth inning of the Little League World Series Championship game against Taiwan. Florida won in eight innings 2-1. Image via AP.

Joe Henderson: We already term limits. They’re called ‘elections’

Joe Henderson: Democrats may finally get the message that they need, well, a message

Joe Henderson: Look for Pat Kemp to turn Hillsborough Commission on its ear

Joe Henderson: Kevin Beckner made a difference, which should never be forgotten

Kathy Castor, Dennis Ross returning to Congress

Joe Henderson: Hillsborough rideshare decision could rest with ‘problem solver’ Ken Hagan

Tom Jackson: Old-school Democrat hopes Hillsborough can make a deal

Joe Henderson: Jim Norman’s climb to Hillsborough Commission steeper than he realized

Hillsborough County chair Les Miller endorses Ed Narain in SD 19 race

Joe Henderson: Tom Lee’s tough, surprising choice