Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 29, 2015

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Many higher education officials, teachers and parents cheered this year when a single Florida GOP senator killed proposed legislation that would allow holders of concealed weapons permits to carry guns on Florida college and university campuses. Although the bill cleared three committees in the House and two in the Senate, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Miguel Diaz […]

Julie DelegalJune 15, 2015

State Rep. Mia Jones tried. In the spirit of compromise, the Democrat from Jacksonville moved right to embrace the health care-expansion plan backed by the Florida Senate: the Florida Healthcare Affordability Insurance Exchange, aka FHIX. Jones told The Jacksonville Times-Union that she had set aside her doubts about the plan and would “stand on the […]

Ryan RayMay 12, 2015

Republican Rep. Paul Renner may have just joined the Florida House, but he’s already getting a taste of the “permanent campaign” that characterizes the chamber. After officially taking office in an April 7 swearing-in ceremony with Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, another electoral beneficiary of the long tail of Sen. John Thrasher‘s exit from the Legislature to head […]

Ryan RayApril 12, 2015

Fresh off easy general election victories in special elections to fill vacancies left in the wake of former Sen. John Thrasher‘s move from the Legislature to the helm of Florida State University, three newly minted legislators representing the northeastern corner of Florida received their committee assignments this week. Sen. Travis Hutson of Elkton, who replaced Thrasher in Senate […]

James CallApril 10, 2015

Sen. Travis Hutson won a special election Tuesday night to replace John Thrasher, who had resigned to become president of the Florida State University. As the House District 24 representative, the Elkton Republican already represented three of the four counties in Senate District 6. Now as a senator, Hutson also represents Putnam County, in addition to […]

Ryan RayApril 7, 2015

Rep. Travis Hutson prevailed big time Tuesday in his bid to jump up to the Legislature’s upper chamber, defeating Democratic nominee Adam Cox by a margin of about 2-to-1 with nearly all precincts reporting. Hutson will be District 6 senator-elect on Wednesday. Down the ballot, the battle to replace Hutson — who in turn is resigning from the House […]

Ryan RayApril 6, 2015

The long tail of legislative seat-hopping put into motion when former Sen. John Thrasher decided to resign to become Florida State University’s new president will come to an end Tuesday. Special elections are slated to be held in Senate District 6 — Thrasher’s old seat — as well as House Districts 24 and 17, which Reps. Travis Hutson and “Doc” Renuart were enticed […]

Phil AmmannApril 5, 2015

As the House District 24 special election on Tuesday approaches, Paul Renner finishes the campaign with a substantial fundraising lead. The Palm Coast Republican added $56,210 from March 1 through April 2, according to the state Division of Elections. Renner raised $294,340 overall, spending $261,748. HD 24 covers Flagler County and sections of St. Johns […]

Phil AmmannApril 3, 2015

As early voting ends in the Northeast Florida special legislative election for House District 17, candidate Cyndi Stevenson added to her fundraising advantage, according to the state Division of Elections website. Stevenson, a St. Johns County Republican, is seeking to replace Republican Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart from Ponte Vedra Beach. The special election is Tuesday. […]

Marc YachtMarch 30, 2015

The late Johnny Cash sang, “Don’t take your guns to town, son. Leave your guns at home….” I would suspect that the Second Amendment crowd might boycott his music today. Guns on campus are on the Florida legislative fast tract. Florida Senate Bill 176 and House Bill 4005 allow students with concealed weapons permits to […]

Tag: John Thrasher
Image via AP.

Guns-on-campuses bill coming back to Florida Legislature in 2016

Julie Delegal: Health care defeated by politics of personal resentment

Paul Renner gears up ahead of 2016 re-election bid

New NE Florida lawmakers receive committee assignments

Five minutes with Travis Hutson

Republicans sweep NE Florida House, Senate special elections

John Thrasher-induced limbo to be resolved in Northeast Florida special elections Tuesday

Travis Hutson, Paul Renner campaign accounts grow as special elections near

Cyndi Stevenson widens cash lead in HD 17 contest

Marc J. Yacht: Concealed weapons on campus — tragedy in the making!