Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes appears to have overcome months of sloppy campaigning to eek out a win in the Democratic primary for Hillsborough County’s House District 62. With 34 of 37 precincts reporting some outstanding mail votes, Valdes is leading Mike Alvarez, U.S. Marine Corps veteran by a few hundred votes with medical marijuana […]

Drew WilsonAugust 22, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez said Wednesday that if he’s elected to House District 62, he has a plan to bring much-needed construction and maintenance funding to public schools. The proposed plan, titled the “Make Schools Student Ready Act,” would boost the funding schools receive from the Public Education Capital Outlay Trust Fund, or PECO, which […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

House Minority Leader Janet Cruz announced Monday that she was yanking her endorsement of School Board member Susan Valdes. Valdes is running in the Democratic primary to decide who will succeed Cruz, the outgoing House Democratic Leader, in House District 62. “At a time when we’re learning Hillsborough schools have (broken) ACs, leaky roofs and […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez scored a last-minute endorsement from Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn in the race to succeed House Minority Leader Janet Cruz in Hillsborough County’s House District 62. “There is only one candidate in this race that speaks to the heart and soul of this district and that is Mike Alvarez,” Buckhorn said. “He […]

Drew WilsonAugust 15, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez has launched a new digital ad campaign that contrasts his record against that of his chief rival in the Democratic primary for House District 62, School Board member Susan Valdes. Sample ads provided by the campaign say that “District 62 has a choice,” with the one half of the ad featuring a full-color […]

Drew WilsonAugust 3, 2018

Florida Realtors PAC, the political arm of the state’s largest professional trade association, gave its blessing to another five candidates running for state legislative seats in the fall. Making the cut in the new round of endorsements were five state House candidates, three of them Republicans and two of them Democrats. In southeastern Hillsborough County’s […]

Drew WilsonAugust 2, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez landed a major backer Thursday as his chief rival in the three-way Democratic primary for House District 62, School Board member Susan Valdes, notched another campaign gaffe. The new endorsement came in from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents Florida’s 14th Congressional District, a territory that includes the Tampa-based state House […]

Drew WilsonJune 29, 2018

Three weeks into her campaign for House District 62, Susan Valdes is still playing defense. A video of the 14-year Hillsborough School Board member saying she was open to campaign contributions from charter school companies made waves in education circles, and Valdes is now changing course with a pledge to reject charter school donations. “As […]

Drew WilsonJune 28, 2018

The Florida Education Association and the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association are backing Democrat Mike Alvarez in the Democratic primary for House District 62. “Hillsborough teachers stand with Mike,” said Rob Kriete, President of the Hillsborough Classroom Teachers Association. “We’ve seen what happens when dysfunction, threats, and corruption infect our local government. Mike is an ethical […]

Drew WilsonJune 25, 2018

No write-in candidate has ever won elected office in the Sunshine State, but they have been effective in denying tens of thousands of voters from getting a say in who will represent them in the Florida Legislature. Florida law allows all voters, no matter their political affiliation, to cast a ballot in a primary race […]

Tag: House District 62
State Rep. Angie Nixon (center) leads a protest against immigration policies Saturday outside the Duval County Courthouse in Jacksonville. Image via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics.

Susan Valdes leading in HD 62 Democratic primary

Mike Alvarez pitches school funding bill in closing days of HD 62 primary

Janet Cruz rescinds endorsement of Susan Valdes in HD 62 primary

Bob Buckhorn endorses Mike Alvarez in HD 62 Democratic primary

Mike Alvarez rolls out new digital ads in HD 62 primary

Florida Realtors release third wave of legislative endorsements

Kathy Castor backs Mike Alvarez, admonishes Susan Valdes in HD 62

Susan Valdes lashes out after ‘gotcha’ video

Teacher unions back Mike Alvarez for HD 62

Write-ins lock down five state legislative primary races