Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Sarah Fortney, an incoming Polk County School Board member, will become Florida’s first openly lesbian member of a Florida school district. Joe Saunders of Equality Florida Action PAC celebrated Fortney’s win in a statement. “Sarah has made history as the first out lesbian elected to a School Board in the State of Florida,” said Saunders, one of […]

Drew WilsonJune 6, 2018

Jason Pizzo’s insurgent Democratic primary campaign against Miami Sen. Daphne Campbell picked up another major backer Wednesday: LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida. The nod was delivered by former state Rep. Joe Saunders, who resumed his job as the organization’s political director after leaving office. “The Equality Florida Action PAC endorsement is a recognition of the […]

Peter SchorschDecember 29, 2017

‘Tis the season, and the Legislature’s dubious Christmas present this year was moving up the 2018 Legislative Session two months from its usual March start date. We will no doubt have many gifts in store, besides the inevitable policy food fights, such as perhaps seeing some lawmakers in their ugly holiday sweaters (the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts “sunny, turning warm” for […]

Drew WilsonDecember 18, 2017

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis picked up an endorsement for his mayoral campaign from LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida. Equality Florida announced the endorsement in a Friday email, with senior Political Director Joe Saunders calling Trantalis’ mayoral run “an unprecedented opportunity to elect a true champion for our LGBTQ community.” “When he’s elected, Dean […]

Scott PowersNovember 27, 2017

Democratic House candidate Anna Eskamani on Monday announced a volunteer campaign finance committee that includes three former state reps and other prominent Central Florida Democrats. Eskamani, of Orlando, is running for the District 47 seat, occupied by Republican state Rep. Mike Miller, who is running for Congress. She faces Republican candidate Stockton Reeves of Winter […]

Drew WilsonNovember 7, 2017

St. Petersburg voters chose Tuesday to give Mayor Rick Kriseman a second term and keep City Councilmember Darden Rice in place for another four years, both of which were cheered by LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida. “Tonight the LGBTQ community in Tampa Bay saw two of its most vocal champions re-elected for a second term. […]

Scott PowersOctober 30, 2017

The political committee for Florida’s largest LGBTQ public policy organization is endorsing Anna Eskamani in Florida’s House District 47. Equality Florida Action Political Action Committee announced Eskamani’s endorsement as the group’s first in the 2018 election cycle, noting that HD 47 is home to both a large lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, as […]

Mitch PerryAugust 9, 2017

Joe Saunders, who along with David Richardson, became the first openly gay member of the Florida Legislature in 2012, is rejoining Equality Florida as its new senior political director. In his new position, Saunders will lead the organization’s civic engagement programs, pro-LGBTQ mobilization efforts, and electoral programs. “I can’t think of a more important place to […]

Drew WilsonApril 26, 2016

A no-party affiliated candidate has filed to run against Democrat Carlos Smith and Republican Amber Mariano in House District 49. Shea Silverman, a one-time intern for former state Senator and current U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, filed for the Orlando-based House seat April 14. Silverman currently works as a developer for the Center for Distributed Learning […]

Drew WilsonMarch 17, 2016

One of Republican Rep. Rene Plasencia’s interns has filed to run in House District 49, setting up a battle between two young aspiring politicians in the Orange County seat. Amber Mariano filed paperwork to run for the seat as a Republican Monday, joining Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith, who worked as former Rep. Joe Saunders’ chief […]

Tag: Joe Saunders

Milestone: Sarah Fortney elected first openly gay School Board member in Florida

Jason Pizzo gets Equality Florida’s stamp of approval in SD 38

The 12 Days of Christmas, as brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and politicos

Equality Florida backing Dean Trantalis for Fort Lauderdale mayor

Anna Eskamani announces finance team

Equality Florida celebrates Rick Kriseman, Darden Rice wins

Equality Florida endorses Anna Eskamani in HD 47 race

Joe Saunders back at Equality Florida as senior political director

Carlos Smith, Amber Mariano draw NPA challenger in HD 49 race

Rene Plasencia’s intern files in HD 49 race