Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 28, 2017

Former Mayor Rick Baker continues building momentum in his quest to return for a third term as St. Petersburg Mayor. Coming off a successful campaign kickoff event last week, Baker, who served two terms from 2001-2010, is following with another high-profile reception Wednesday in Clearwater Beach. Co-chairs of the event – with the tagline “Proven Leadership” […]

Gary FineoutMay 23, 2017

Debby Dawson, who lives in southwest Florida, has a simple message to Gov. Rick Scott: The state’s existing scholarship program for disabled children is “life changing” and has helped her 7-year-old autistic son “develop by leaps and bounds.” Dawson is part of a chorus of parents from around the state who have mounted a campaign […]

Phil AmmannMay 17, 2017

Senate Democrats are ready to work with Gov. Rick Scott should he veto the massive education reform bill pushed by House leaders in the final days of the 2017 Session. Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald reports that Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon is prepared to help prevent an override of Scott’s veto, under […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2017

Adam Putnam may have some competition for the Republican nomination for Florida Governor after all. Sources very familiar with the thinking of U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis note that he is looking at a run for the state’s top job, with a decision to be made late in the summer. Were he to run, he would be […]

Joe HendersonMay 15, 2017

Well, I guess that is settled. House Speaker Richard Corcoran has emphatically ruled out running for the U.S. Senate, and I admit I’m a little disappointed. The thought of a bare-knuckle campaign between him and Gov. Rick Scott for the Republican nomination would have been immensely entertaining. Not gonna happen. “Those are the only two […]

Staff ReportsMay 11, 2017

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Call it an April slowdown. Ed Hooper, the former Republican state representative and Clearwater city commissioner, posted just over $600 in April after two consecutive months of five-digit fundraising. Hooper, aiming to replace term-limited Jack Latvala in Senate District 16, put up only $640 in contributions and showed $20 in expenditures for the month. That’s after bringing […]

Staff ReportsMay 11, 2017

Gwen Graham is out with her first campaign video, highlighting recent Workdays and her 2018 gubernatorial launch. “My love for Florida runs deep, but my patience, my patience for inaction in the state I love has run out,” Graham says in the video over scenes of her announcement speech and Workdays across Florida teaching, installing […]

Mitch PerryMay 10, 2017

With a setting out of a Norman Rockwell painting, Florida Agriculture Commissioner and fifth generation Floridian Adam Putnam formally announced his candidacy for governor on Wednesday morning before hundreds of adoring friends and supporters in his home town of Bartow in Polk County. Harkening back to an earlier era, Putnam said “some people say that […]

Peter SchorschMay 8, 2017

Dysfunction seems to run in Tallahassee like a sine wave. We went from the collapse of 2015 – the House going home early, no budget, a Special Budget Session – to the trains-on-time Session of 2016, to the no-budget-at-the-end-of-regulation Session in 2017. We saw another Session in which we got oh-so-close to a gambling bill, […]

Phil AmmannMay 5, 2017

Working toward a final Florida state budget, news of a skirmish between the Senate and House emerges. A war of words appears to have broken out between House Speaker Richard Corcoran and Senate Appropriations Chair Jack Latvala. The Tampa Bay Times reports that Latvala ended budget negotiations after Corcoran “changed the deal” by insisting the final agreement link […]

Tag: Jack Latvala
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Pinellas GOP heavyweights raising money for Rick Baker on Wednesday in Clearwater Beach

Fate of program for disabled children rests with Rick Scott

Senate Democrats could help block budget veto override – with caveats

Ron DeSantis for Governor? Don’t rule it out

Joe Henderson: Richard Corcoran in the Governor’s race? Adam Putnam would be hard to catch

After strong start, Ed Hooper raises just $640 in April for Senate bid

Gwen Graham talks about making a difference in first campaign video

Adam Putnam touts Florida exceptionalism as he starts his campaign for governor

Winners and losers emerging from the 2017 Legislative Session

Jack Latvala blames final budget stalemate on Richard Corcoran’s ‘last-minute switcheroo’