Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Darryl PaulsonAugust 28, 2017

I have been a Republican all my life. I remember watching the Republican National Convention in 1956, when I was 8 years old, and seeing President Dwight Eisenhower nominated for a second term. When I turned 21, I registered as a Republican and have voted for all but two of the Republican presidential candidates since […]

Associated PressAugust 27, 2017

The election of President Donald Trump and Republican control of Congress meant the National Rifle Association could probably rest easy that gun laws wouldn’t change for at least four years. But the NRA has begun a campaign not against pending legislation but what it sees as liberal forces bent on undoing the progress it’s made […]

Associated PressAugust 22, 2017

Donald Trump was just a few weeks into his candidacy in 2015 when he came to Phoenix for a speech that ended up being a bigger moment in his campaign than most people realized at the time. Trump savaged his critics and the media, vowed to fine Mexico $100,000 for each immigrant entering the country […]

Phil AmmannAugust 9, 2017

While not yet official a candidate for Florida governor, state Sen. Jack Latvala has made a major hire: Fred Davis, who was once described as the “GOP’s most notorious ad man.” Latvala tells Florida Politics that Davis has been retained by his Florida Leadership Committee. Latvala has said he will announce his 2018 plans on August […]

Associated PressJuly 30, 2017

Six months into his presidency, Donald Trump is saddled with a stalled agenda, a West Wing that resembles a viper’s nest, a pile of investigations and a Republican Party that’s starting to break away. Trump on Friday indirectly acknowledged the troubled state of his unconventional White House when he abruptly replaced his chief of staff […]

Mitch PerryJune 19, 2017

Rick Baker knew for months that Rick Kriseman was going to attack him as an out-of-step Republican in a Democratically friendly city, even before entering the mayoral campaign last month. In his campaign kickoff announcement, the former St. Petersburg Mayor warned supporters they’d be getting a dose of such rhetoric from the Kriseman camp: “Because that’s the […]

Scott PowersMay 31, 2017

Winter Park’s U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who was born in Vietnam and escaped with her family in a boat lift when she was six months old, returned to Vietnam Wednesday and joined U.S. Sen. John McCain and other members of Congress for a tour of the notorious “Hanoi Hilton” Vietnam War prison. Murphy, a freshman […]

Steve SchaleMay 24, 2017

In my earliest days on the Barack Obama campaign in 2008, one of our first statewide polls showed a weakness with Black voters, at least compared to other states. It wasn’t necessarily that John McCain was doing better than elsewhere, just that there were more voters on the sidelines. It didn’t take long to figure […]

Associated PressMay 17, 2017

Surrounded by multiplying questions, President Donald Trump complained Wednesday that “no politician in history” has been treated worse. Democrats demanded an independent commission to dig into his firing of FBI Director James Comey, but Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan cautioned against “rushing to judgment.” Ryan said Congress needs to get the facts, but “it is […]

Associated PressMay 3, 2017

Washington policymakers have a time-tested method for rolling out new ideas: float a trial balloon. Spread rumors of a policy change or selectively leak it to the press, then see how it plays and proceed only if it looks doable. President Donald Trump has flipped that script. Big and startling ideas fly out of his […]

Tag: John McCain

Darryl Paulson: Why I left the Republican Party

NRA’s video message to ‘elites’: ‘We’re coming for you’

Donald Trump returns to Arizona – and a chaotic political landscape

Jack Latvala hires prominent GOP ad maker Fred Davis

Donald Trump’s six-month stall sparks a White House shake-up

Rick Baker, Rick Kriseman still question which has been more partisan as mayor

Stephanie Murphy joins John McCain for Vietnam war-era prison tour

Steve Schale: Dear Dems, one 2018 project — Caribbean voters

Worst treatment ever, Donald Trump grumbles; Dems demand deep probe

No trial balloons: Donald Trump flips script with startling ideas