Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryMay 11, 2016

Last week, a grand jury indicted a for-profit school management company runs four Pinellas County charter schools, and the advocacy group Florida Strong is demanding that state Senator Jeff Brandes answer for it. The Tampa Bay Times reported that Newpoint Education Partners had been indicted on charges of grand theft, money laundering and aggravated white crime. The company has, according to […]

Peter SchorschMay 9, 2016

For an entire eight days — EIGHT DAYS — local Democrats had their sh*t together. On April 25, state Rep. Dwight Dudley announces he will not seek re-election. Hours later, the well-liked Ben Diamond announces his candidacy for Dudley’s seat along with the endorsements of almost all of Pinellas’ Democratic elected officials. The seamless transition […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 3, 2016

The report cards are out, and three dozen state lawmakers got top marks from one of Florida’s leading advocates for economic freedom. On Tuesday, Americans for Prosperity-Florida (AFP-FL) released its annual Economic Freedom Scorecard. To tabulate the grades, the organization recorded more than 4,300 individual votes on 59 legislative proposals. “A big part of our […]

Drew WilsonApril 27, 2016

State Sen. Jeff Brandes is hosting a kickoff reception Wednesday evening for his re-election effort. More than three dozen current and former local officials are on the host committee for the event, set for the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Host committee members include Republican Reps. Larry Ahern, Chris Latvala, Kathleen Peters, Chris Sprowls and Dana Young, as well as former Rep. Frank […]

Mitch PerryApril 14, 2016

Florida Strong, the independent advocacy organization, is going after South Tampa House Republican Dana Young, alleging that she is more aligned with her campaign contributors than her constituents. “Dana Young has shown she works for her campaign contributors, not the people of Florida,” reads the front page of a mailer being sent residents who live in […]

Ryan RayApril 12, 2016

Consumers for Smart Solar kicked-off a new phase of its effort to pass a solar energy amendment to the state constitution at a press conference Tuesday. The campaign was once seen as merely a foil for a rival amendment, pitched by environmental groups like the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. That initiative ran out of gas when it […]

Drew WilsonApril 11, 2016

House District 67 Republican Rep. Chris Latvala will begin his re-election run with a May 2 event at the Island Way Grill in Clearwater, his campaign said Monday. Among those listed on the invite are incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran, Republican Reps. Chris Sprowls, Kathleen Peters, Larry Ahern, and Jamie Grant, as well as Sen. […]

Mitch PerryApril 11, 2016

St. Petersburg-based House Democrat Dwight Dudley confirmed recently what has been common knowledge the past month or so: He has no intention of challenging Jeff Brandes in the state Senate District 22 seat this year. Dudley said if last year’s redistricting of the Senate districts had turned out differently, he may have chosen to run, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 11, 2016

The future is here. Gone are the days when self-driving cars were just a thing of science fiction. The technology is being tested across the country; and autonomous vehicles could be hitting Florida’s roads soon, thanks in part to a transportation bill signed into law last week. Tucked into the omnibus transportation passed by the Florida […]

Mitch PerryApril 11, 2016

Happy Monday, y’all. I hope you had a good weekend. I’m feeling good this morning after my Golden State Warriors took care of the San Antonio Spurs last night with dispatch, and are only a victory away this Wednesday from capturing the greatest regular season record in NBA history. The Masters also had some drama. […]

Tag: Jeff Brandes
Image via AP.

Florida Strong goes after Jeff Brandes again, this time over for profit charter schools

Here’s where sh*t stands — the ‘Democrats can’t keep it together’ edition

Three dozen lawmakers get A+ on AFP-FL’s 2016 Economic Freedom Scorecard

Who’s who of Pinellas politics join Jeff Brandes for campaign kickoff in St. Pete

Florida Strong now going after Dana Young in new mailer

“Consumers for Smart Solar” launches new phase of ballot initiative campaign

Chris Latvala starts HD 67 re-election with May 2 Clearwater event

Dwight Dudley fixes aim on HD 68 re-election after opting out of Senate bid

Open roads: Florida preparing for self-driving vehicles

Mitch Perry Report for 4.11.16 – Time for Obama to release those 28 pages in 9/11 report