Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJuly 6, 2018

Carrie Pilon, the Democrat trial attorney challenging incumbent Republican Jeff Brandes in a battleground state Senate district, has withdrawn from the race. Citing serious and unexpected health problems of a close family member, Pilon said, in a statement first provided to Florida Politics, that it is “impossible for me to continue forward and give the […]

Staff ReportsJuly 3, 2018

It’s almost Independence Day, which in Florida means: Time to scare some birds. Although you can buy fireworks in the state, they’re not actually legal here. Indeed, The Tampa Tribune in 2014 called fireworks sales in Florida an “institutionalized charade,” leading one lawmaker to call for “more freedom (and) less fraud.” Retail sales are allowed only […]

Peter SchorschJuly 2, 2018

Poll numbers in two battleground state Senate seats have shifted significantly since last month, while a third race remains essentially deadlocked. In SD 16, the seat previously held by Jack Latvala, Republican Ed Hooper and Democrat Amanda Murphy remain deadlocked, with Hooper at 45 percent and Murphy at 43 percent. The good news here for the GOP is that this […]

Drew WilsonJune 29, 2018

Florida Democrats say Senate District 24 is one of their top targets in the fall, but it sure doesn’t feel like it. Democratic candidate Carrie Pilon narrowly outraised incumbent Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes in April, but followed that up with an underwhelming performance in May. Her newest report, which covers the first three weeks of […]

Peter SchorschJune 26, 2018

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that police generally need a search warrant if they want to track criminal suspects’ movements by collecting information about where they’ve used their cellphones. Republican state Sen. Jeff Brandes may not have been the first Florida lawmaker to raise concerns about that issue, but he has probably been the loudest. […]

Peter SchorschJune 24, 2018

A record number Democratic candidates qualified for state races this week, and the Florida Democratic Party said now it’s time to prepare for the “Blue Wave.” “From the Gubernatorial race, to State House and Senate, to county commissioners and mayors, we have the most qualified, committed, and exciting group of candidates we have ever seen,” […]

Kate BradshawJune 14, 2018

The Republican state Senator from St. Petersburg fell a few slots this year. That’s not to say Jeff Brandes doesn’t have the juice he did in prior years. And like in previous years, he had a busy 2018 Session. He sponsored some 65 bills and co-sponsored dozens more. He sat on seven committees, including as chair of […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2018

St. Petersburg Republican Jeff Brandes recorded another six-figure haul in his Senate District 24 re-election bid, while Democratic challenger Carrie Pilon saw a massive drop-off in fundraising in only her second month on the trail. In a Monday press release, the Brandes campaign celebrated raising nearly $187,000 in May, the third month in a row recording […]

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2018

The mayors of Pinellas County’s beach communities want to find a way to reclaim their power to restrict short-term rentals in their towns. The first step will be to organize a roundtable discussion involving state legislators and others involved in the short-term rental business. The mayors who make up the Big-C, the Barrier Islands Government […]

Staff ReportsJune 6, 2018

Floridians who want solar panels on their rooftop but are skittish about the cost will soon have an option: Sunrun. The solar-as-a-service biz is coming to the Sunshine State this summer with plans allowing customers to start generating their own electricity for as little as $0 upfront. And thanks to the company’s home battery, “Brightbox,” […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes

Carrie Pilon, Democratic challenger to Jeff Brandes, withdraws from state Senate race

Florida’s bizarre fireworks law still in place

Fresh polling: Jeff Brandes, Janet Cruz lead in battleground state Senate seats; Ed Hooper, Amanda Murphy deadlocked.

Carrie Pilon craters in SD 24 money race

Reconciliation

Florida Democrats say ‘no GOP seat is safe’ in 2018

#8 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Jeff Brandes

Jeff Brandes adds $187K for re-election, Carrie Pilon sputters

‘Leave us the heck alone’: Beach towns seek meeting with state lawmakers on short-term rentals

Solar-as-a-service coming to Sunshine State