Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesJanuary 3, 2019

Sen. Joe Gruters brings his fight against dark money to the Senate. The first-term state lawmaker filed a bill (SB 224) to stop the practice of contributions funneling through multiple political committees, his third attempt since joining the Legislature in 2016. “We have legal laundering of campaign contributions through a system so nobody can see […]

Jacob OglesJanuary 2, 2019

Could cigarette butts become a thing of the past on Florida beaches? A bill filed by state Sen. Joe Gruters would outlaw smoking on all Florida beaches. But the ACLU already has voiced concerns about how the law will be enforced. The legislation (SB 218) would penalize smokers with a $25 fine and up to 10 […]

Jacob OglesDecember 29, 2018

State Sen. Joe Gruters filed three bills Friday related to water quality and predicts the issue will dominate this year’s legislative session. “If I had to guess, I’d say the environmental bills will triple from last year,” he said. That’s because red tide dominated politics in a different way in 2018, particularly in coastal communities. […]

Jacob OglesDecember 28, 2018

Rep. Randy Fine made clear his first priority for the 2019 Legislative Session: Cleaning up the polluted Indian River Lagoon. Fine, a Palm Bay Republican, filed new legislation (HB 141) to budget $50 million in annual state matching funds for cleanup projects in the water body, which the Audubon Society says faces an “ecological crisis.” […]

Jacob OglesDecember 18, 2018

Christian Ziegler, currently the Sarasota County Republican State Committeeman, said he has racked up enough endorsements to guarantee his ascension to Vice Chair of the Republican Party of Florida. He released a list Tuesday of 121 grassroots and State Executive Committee endorsements, including Joe Gruters, the front-runner for state Chair position, and Michael Barnett, the […]

Jacob OglesDecember 10, 2018

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Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis this morning heaped praise on state Sen. Joe Gruters, Republican Party of Sarasota chair and a top contender to lead the Republican Party of Florida. “The one guy that has really come out is Joe Gruters,” DeSantis said. “He would be a great pick. We have 67 county chairmen, and Joe has really […]

Jacob OglesDecember 9, 2018

Bob Starr, Republican state committeeman for Charlotte County, has no interest in getting into a fight with the next Governor, but as he prepares to run for state chair for Republican Party of Florida, he’s more concerned with the opinions of party activists around the state. “We have to get back to where the grassroots […]

Jacob OglesDecember 5, 2018

State Sen. Joe Gruters appears poised to become the next Republican Party of Florida chair. He appears to have the support of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis, remains one of President Donald Trump’s chief allies in Florida and now has a clear path to the chair post with one of his lead competitors stepping aside. The Republican […]

Jacob OglesDecember 5, 2018

Leon County Republican Party Chair Evan Power is endorsing Joe Gruters for Republican Party of Florida chair and announced his intention to run for vice chair. “There are few people in the Party that I have known as long and have worked together as well with as Joe Gruters,” Power said in a statement. “I look […]

Drew WilsonDecember 5, 2018

A newly minted state Senator and a quartet of fresh state Representatives opened campaign accounts for the 2020 election cycle this week. Sarasota Republican Joe Gruters, who took over for U.S. Rep.-elect Greg Steube in Senate District 23, filed his paperwork Tuesday. Gruters was a member of the House for a term before U.S. Rep. […]

Tag: Joe Gruters
Image via AP.

Joe Gruters seeks to close dark money channels

Joe Gruters wants to ban smoking on state’s beaches

Joe Gruters files water quality bills ahead of session

Randy Fine seeks $50M to help Indian River Lagoon

Christian Ziegler says he has the votes to be Florida GOP Vice Chair

Ron DeSantis goes on record in support of Joe Gruters for state GOP chair

Bob Starr plans to offer alternative in race for GOP state chair

Joe Gruters emerges as front-runner for Florida GOP chair

Evan Power lines up behind Joe Gruters for Florida GOP chair, says he’ll run for vice

More freshman lawmakers file for re-election