Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bob SparksMarch 17, 2016

As Donald Trump marches closer to the Republican nomination for president, more prominent elected officials are endorsing him. Florida Gov. Rick Scott is the latest, giving his approval following Trump’s blowout victory in Florida on Tuesday. The day before the primary, Attorney General Pam Bondi endorsed Trump, the part-time resident of Palm Beach County. The […]

Mitch PerryMarch 17, 2016

Negative television advertising against Donald Trump meant nothing in Florida this week. Several Super PACs including American Future Fund, Club for Growth, and Our Principles PAC spent $7.4 million in anti-Trump ads, according to Vox. Meanwhile, native son Marco Rubio spent over $8 million, and got his clock cleaned by the Manhattan mogul. The Trump phenomenon is […]

Tamara LushMarch 16, 2016

Donald Trump drew thousands to his rallies around the Sunshine State, basking in their adoration, his face glowing like a Florida orange as he anticipated victory. “Florida loves Trump, and I love Florida, so I think I’m going to win Florida,” he repeated. Trump did win Florida on Tuesday, claiming victory with the bravado of […]

Mitch PerryMarch 16, 2016

We’ll save you our post-mortems about Marco Rubio‘s failed candidacy for the presidency, since you can find them all over the web this morning. We wrote last week how startled we were about the lack of support in his own state, and that was before Alex Leary‘s devastating portrayal in Sunday’s Tampa Bay Times. A notable […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2016

Joe Gruters‘ association with the Donald Trump campaign is controversial, because, well, Donald Trump is controversial. Gruters became campaign chairman for Trump in Florida last fall. His other public duties include being vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Executive Committee, and a member of Florida State University’s board […]

Peter SchorschMarch 15, 2016

For Jeb Bush, his presidential aspirations may be over, but not in the hearts of many of his more strident supporters. For the primaries and caucuses in 2016, nearly a quarter-million votes have been cast so far for 11 of the 13 Republicans who have already exited the race, including Bush, Ben Carson, Rand Paul […]

Mitch PerryMarch 14, 2016

Poised to take home Florida’s 99 delegates on Tuesday night, Donald Trump held a town-hall meeting at the Tampa Convention Center before about 1,000 people on Monday afternoon, where he acknowledged that he’s ready to close out the primary season and begin pivoting toward Hillary Clinton. “If we win Florida, and we win Ohio, we can go […]

Associated PressMarch 14, 2016

A potentially far-reaching trial that will determine whether the Florida Legislature is shortchanging public schools is starting in a Tallahassee courtroom. In the lawsuit filed six years ago, education groups and parents from Duval and Pasco counties contend the Legislature and state officials have not provided enough money to the state’s schools as required under […]

Scott PowersMarch 14, 2016

In the highest-profile Florida defection yet from favorite son Marco Rubio, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi Monday endorsed Donald Trump in the Florida Republican presidential primary, the Trump campaign announced. Bondi joined Trump at a rally in Tampa Monday afternoon and praised the Republican front-runner who is trying to stay ahead of Rubio, Florida’s junior U.S. senator. “People […]

Bob SparksMarch 11, 2016

With the state budget set to be passed Friday, attention will soon turn to the process of identifying dubious local projects funded within the budget deal. Budget “turkeys,” as they are called, are held up for scorn by Florida TaxWatch and often vetoed by the governor. As governor, Jeb Bush established firm criteria for funding […]

Tag: Jeb Bush

Bob Sparks: Groups believe Pam Bondi’s endorsement of Donald Trump is somehow corrupt

Mitch Perry Report for 3.17.16 — Can 2016 begin the decline of negative political advertising?

Donald Trump: Is he the quintessential Florida Man?

Mitch Perry Report for 3.16.16 – How does Bernie Sanders move on from here?

Joe Gruters confident GOP will come together to back Donald Trump

Candidates no longer in prez race take 229K votes in primaries; Jeb Bush leads with 88K

In Tampa, Donald Trump says he’s ready to take on Hillary Clinton

Failing grade? Trial over Florida’s schools finally starts

Pam Bondi endorses Donald Trump

Enticing JetBlue to Tallahassee offers statewide benefits