Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 14, 2018

Democrats’ voter registration gains in greater Orlando is spelling bigger challenges for several Republicans running in GOP-held Florida House seats. It includes state Reps. Mike La Rosa and Bob Cortes, whose districts are turning bluer as they seek re-elections this fall. In many ways, Central Florida mirrors statewide trends in the era of President Donald […]

Scott PowersAugust 9, 2018

Three Democratic Orange County lawmakers joined with the Orange County Classroom Teachers Association Thursday to bash Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s record on public education. Outside the offices of the Orange County Public Schools headequarters in Orlando, State Sen. Victor Torres and state Reps. Carlos Guillermo Smith and Amy Mercado all went after the governor for […]

Scott PowersJune 22, 2018

Ten seats in Central Florida’s portion of the Florida House of Representatives will have primaries on August 28, with four Republican and six Democratic in-party battles set by Friday’s ballot qualifying. The big primary battles among Republicans are preparing for two open seats now held by Republicans, and among the Democrats for four places where […]

Drew WilsonJune 8, 2018

Orlando Democratic Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is no longer unopposed in his House District 49 re-election bid. Ben Griffin, a Republican who works as a learning assistant at Valencia College, opened a campaign account Thursday to challenge the freshman lawmaker in the Orange County based seat according to Florida Division of Elections records. In a […]

Drew WilsonMay 15, 2018

Contributions were sparse in April for five Central Florida lawmakers who are still unopposed in their re-election 2018 bids – Democratic Reps. Bruce Antone, Kamia Brown, John Cortes, Amy Mercado and Carlos Guillermo Smith. Of the five, Brown posted the best report last month. She showed $5,485 in contributions, which brings her to-date fundraising total […]

Drew WilsonApril 27, 2018

Orlando Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is participating in the 2nd Annual Puerto Rican Parade Saturday and encouraged his supporters to do the same in a Thursday email. “This year’s theme is ‘A New Beginning’ in recognition of the strength and resiliency of the island and its people in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. I’d LOVE […]

Scott PowersFebruary 13, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith picked up his campaign-fundraising pace in early January for his 2018 re-election effort in Florida House District 49, bringing in nearly $24,000 even as his only opponent dropped out of the race. Smith, of Orlando, reported that his campaign raised $23,838 in the first eight days of January prior […]

Scott PowersJanuary 2, 2018

Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith is kicking off the new year by kicking off his re-election campaign in Florida’s House District 49, with a new internet campaign video featuring a proud, unrelenting Smith, and a fundraiser set for Friday. Smith, who is openly gay and unabashedly liberal, puts those qualities front-and-center with a re-election […]

Scott PowersNovember 1, 2016

The national Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund is going up with digital video commercials in Florida to support several gay candidates for Florida House seats and attack their Republican opponents for voting with the gun lobby. The 30-second commercials begin by pegging onto the June 12 mass murder at Orlando’s popular gay nightclub Pulse, saying […]

Scott PowersOctober 7, 2016

Democratic House District 49 nominee Carlos Guillermo Smith never drew a political party opponent in his quest to win Florida House District 49 back from the Republicans, and he’s not taking lightly his lone rival, independent candidate Shea Silverman. Smith, who has pushed one of the strongest fundraising campaigns in Florida of any non-incumbent running for […]

Tag: House District 49

Voter registration trends suggest tougher races for Mike La Rosa, Bob Cortes

Victor Torres, Carlos Smith, Amy Mercado rip Rick Scott on education

Ten Central Florida house seats set for primaries August 28

Carlos Guillermo Smith draws challenger in HD 49

Light fundraising month for Orange County’s unopposed House incumbents

Carlos Guillermo Smith marching in Puerto Rican Parade Saturday

Carlos Smith tops Orange County legislative candidates, raising $23K

Carlos Smith re-election video doesn’t hold back

Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund internet videos to support LGBT state candidates; pushes gun issues

Carlos Guillermo Smith not taking independent opponent Shea Silverman for granted