Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 24, 2016

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Marco Rubio knew he wasn’t going to win in Nevada on Tuesday night, so he started doing early campaigning in Minnesota and Michigan, two states that are part of next week’s Super Tuesday slate of 11 different contests. Rubio finished a very distant second to Donald Trump in the Silver State, losing by 22 percentage […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 23, 2016

Former Department of Children and Families Secretary Lucy Hadi died Monday in Tallahassee, the department said Tuesday. She was head of DCF from 2004 to 2006. Hadi, 70, had a long career at DCF and its precursor institution, the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. She started at HRS in 1971 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 23, 2016

On Monday, Rick Scott said he wasn’t ready to endorse in Florida’s presidential primary election on March 15, but there are those who believe he might be leaning towards Donald Trump. That speculation was sparked last month, when Scott penned an op-ed in USA Today, a column in which he wrote very favorably about the New York City […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

Brandon state Sen. Tom Lee, conspicuously missing on a list last fall of Florida state senators backing Jeb Bush‘s presidential aspirations, said Monday he’s foursquare behind Marco Rubio for the GOP presidential nomination. “Beyond being a good friend, Marco Rubio is a committed conservative leader with a unrivaled record of accomplishment in Florida and Washington,” Lee said […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2016

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A trio of South Florida congressional leaders have officially backed Marco Rubio, Florida’s junior U.S. senator in his 2016 presidential bid. U.S. Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mario Diaz-Balart, and Carlos Curbelo said Monday they were endorsing Rubio. “From his leadership on foreign policy to his focus on improving our economy, Marco understands our country’s needs. From […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2016

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio always had an uphill battle to win Florida’s Republican Hispanic support away from Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential race, and now that Bush is gone there appears to be no automatic switch. Bush, who dropped out after a disappointing showing in South Carolina Saturday, had developed powerful loyalty among a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2016

If you already cast your ballot for Jeb Bush, there’s no going back now. Thousands of ballots have already been returned to elections officials across Florida in advance of the March 15 presidential preference primary. Once those ballots have been cast, voters can’t change their mind because their candidate dropped out. On Saturday, Bush said […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

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Jeb Bush’s disappointing fourth place finish in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary wasn’t stunning, but his decision to announce he was leaving the presidential race immediately after the results came in was. “The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken,” he told a crowd of supporters in Columbia less than two hours […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 22, 2016

As Marco Rubio continues to gain steam in the race for the Republican nomination, a leading political expert is looking into his crystal ball to make a few predictions. Larry Sabato, the director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics and editor-in-chief of “Sabato’s Crystal Ball,” suggested Rubio “consider a daring gambit.” The bold […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 22, 2016

Sorry, GOP Establishment, but Ben Carson and John Kasich aren’t shutting down their campaigns. Those rallying around Marco Rubio Monday morning are hoping they would, two days after Donald Trump‘s decisive victory Saturday night in South Carolina forced Jeb Bush out of the race. Rubio says it’s a three-man race between himself, Trump and Ted […]

Tag: Jeb Bush

Marco Rubio says with Jeb Bush out he’ll win Florida GOP primary

Former DCF head Lucy Hadi dies in Tallahassee

Rick Scott floated as potential running mate for Donald Trump

Tom Lee is now backing Marco Rubio for president

South Florida Republican congressional delegation throws support behind Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio not yet locking in Jeb Bush’s Florida Hispanic backers

Votes cast for Jeb Bush will still be counted in March 15 primary

Jeb Bush becomes the latest former Florida Governor to strike out in a run for president

“Crystal Ball” suggests Marco Rubio offer John Kasich VP spot in exchange for his backing

Mitch Perry Report for 2.22.16 – Rubio’s narrow pathway