Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonJune 15, 2016

I’m a little surprised by Tom Lee’s decision to run for re-election to the state Senate. Along with just about everyone else in the media and Florida politics, I’ve had lengthy chats with Lee about his future since a judge drew new district lines that essentially forced him to make a tough decision. Because his […]

Mitch PerryJune 14, 2016

After months of deliberation, Hillsborough County Republican Tom Lee has apparently decided to run for re-election to the newly created Senate District 20 seat later this fall. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the news. Lee is currently serving in Senate District 24, a seat he won back in 2012. It was a return to […]

Mitch PerryMay 19, 2016

Let’s talk about somebody I assiduously generally eschew writing about in this space, Donald Trump. (That’s not to make any editorial point at all. It’s just that there’s so much going on in news and politics right now, and you can get your fill of Trump a thousand other places on the internet). On Tuesday, […]

Mitch PerryApril 14, 2016

Tom Lee is facing eviction from the state Legislature this fall due to redistricting, but now says he is seriously eyeing a possible run for office in Hillsborough County in 2016. The Brandon Republican told FloridaPolitics he decide within the next few weeks where his political destination lies, and it could be a county commission seat. “I’m thinking […]

Mitch PerryApril 6, 2016

Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders won big-time in Wisconsin Tuesday night, but you already knew that. Did you know that the University of Connecticut women’s basketball team won their fourth straight NCAA championship Tuesday night, or that the Golden State Warriors stunningly lost in O.T. in Oakland, requiring them to sweep their remaining four games […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 13, 2016

The Republican Party tapped South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to give the official response to President Obama‘s final (and very boring) State of the Union address Tuesday night, and if anything, it exposed the fissures that are ongoing with the GOP nationally. Although the first few minutes of her speech bashed Obama in ways that […]

Mitch PerryDecember 30, 2015

As first said by Greek philosopher Heraclitus, in the universe change is the only constant. Nowhere was that more applicable than in Tampa Bay during the past 12 months. From the much-ballyhooed dismissal of MaryEllen Elia as Hillsborough County School Board District superintendent to redistricting and the rising (and falling) fortunes for hizzoner Bob Buckhorn, many of the leading […]

Mitch PerryDecember 11, 2015

Since he began campaigning for president this year, one part of Donald Trump’s stump speech that has remained intact is when he attacks Bowe Bergdahl, calling him a traitor and saying he should be executed for deserting. “We’re tired of Sgt. Bergdahl, who’s a traitor, a no-good traitor, who should have been executed,’ Trump said in […]

Mitch PerryNovember 12, 2015

Overnight returns give Fox Business Network’s prime-time GOP presidential debate an 8.9 rating among households and 13.5 million viewers in prime-time. That’s just shy of the 9.5 rating and 14 million viewers earned by CNBC’s recent coverage for the third. Although it’s not nearly as large as the gaudy ratings numbers that Fox and CNN […]

Peter SchorschOctober 9, 2015

Former Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman began his return to public office in September with solid fundraising. On Friday, Norman’s campaign announced raising $84,000 for his inaugural month. “When we started this campaign, we reached out immediately to close friends and family for support,” Norman said in a prepared statement. “I’m incredibly humbled by the […]

Tag: Jim Norman

Joe Henderson: Tom Lee’s tough, surprising choice

Tom Lee to run for SD 20 seat

Mitch Perry Report for 5.19.16 — The yin and yang of Donald J. Trump

Tom Lee is considering a run in Hillsborough County this year – but for what seat?

Mitch Perry Report for 4.6.16 – Alan Grayson and the hedge funds

Mitch Perry Report for 1.13.16 – The right hates Nikki Haley’s response on the SOTU

Mitch Perry’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Hillsborough politics

Mitch Perry Report for 12.11.15 – Bowe Bergdahl speaks

Mitch Perry Report for 11.12.15 — Does the DNC want anyone to watch its debates?

Jim Norman dominates Hillsborough County race with impressive first month fundraising