Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Mitch PerryOctober 20, 2015

Equality Florida Development Officer Ida Eskamani says that for her, the personal is the political. “Our personal experiences are directly connected to the greater societal structures of power, privilege and oppression we work to dismantle through political advocacy,” she says when asked what principles she would put above politics. The 25-year-old Orlando resident credits her […]

Ryan RayAugust 10, 2015

It’s more than a year out from 2016 legislative elections, normally a quiet time when warring factions retreat to their camps and use the odd-numbered year to strategize and keep their powder dry. But with recent drama surrounding the race for the 2021-22 speakership, state party infighting involving sitting House Rep./RPOF Chairman Blaise Ingoglia and an imminent […]

Ryan RayJuly 24, 2015

House District 49 Democratic candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith announced to a rally of fast food workers he will stand with them in gesture of solidarity by agreeing to temporarily live on Florida’s minimum wage $8.05 an hour. The move, which liberal legislators such as Sen. Dwight Bullard and Rep. Cynthia Stafford have mirrored in the past, comes amid […]

Staff ReportsJune 11, 2015

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday signed HB 225 into law, formally codifying into state statute that all state, county and municipal governments who purchase American flags for public use must do so from manufacturers based in the United States. The bill provides, according to staff analysis, that: “The United States and state flags must be displayed […]

Phil AmmannJune 1, 2015

Carlos Guillermo Smith, the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee chairman, is running for Florida House District 49. Frank Torres of The Orlando Political Observer reported that the University of Central Florida graduate made his announcement Monday morning. Smith had previously suggested he might run in April. Smith previously was a legislative aide to Democratic state […]

Ryan RayApril 27, 2015

Former Democratic Rep. Joe Saunders is “talking to family and friends about what the future may hold” now that Rep. Rene Plasencia – who narrowly defeated Saunders in a razor-thin contest in District 49 last November – has opted to run in a more Republican-leaning adjacent district in 2016. Saunders took to social media on Sunday and later caught up with Florida […]

Tag: Joe Saunders

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

Meet Ida Eskamani, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

2016 House field continues to shape up in central Florida, Tallahassee

House candidate Carlos Smith accepts minimum wage challenge

New law requires made-in-USA flags for Florida governmental use

Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith enters House District 49 race

Democrat Joe Saunders considers comeback in House District 49