Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyMay 2, 2018

A ‘blue wave’ Democrats in Polk and Osceola counties had hoped for Tuesday barely made a ripple as Republican newcomer Josie Tomkow won over Democrat Ricky Shirah with a 60 percent victory in the special election for Florida House District 39. The results contrasted with the surprise February election victory in Sarasota County in which […]

Drew WilsonMay 1, 2018

Republican Josie Tomkow easily dispatched Democrat Ricky Shirah in Tuesday’s special election for House District 39. With 31 of 35 precincts counted, Tomkow held an insurmountable lead of 62 to 37 percent. “I’m honored to be entrusted by my neighbors to be their voice in Tallahassee,” Tomkow told Florida Politics. “No one will work harder […]

Bill RuftyApril 30, 2018

While the hapless state Democratic Party has done almost nothing for the underdog campaign of Ricky Shira of Lakeland in preparation for Tuesday’s special election to fill a vacancy in Florida House District 39, local grassroots organizations did. At the last minute, Shira received $280 in in-kind services from the state. But the county party, […]

Bill RuftyApril 26, 2018

Voters in Florida House District 39 will go to the polls May 1 to fill a vacancy which has existed since Nov. 24 when then-Rep. Neil Combee, a Polk City Republican, resigned to accept a presidential appointment to a U.S. Agriculture Department agency in Gainesville. But the winner will not sit in the House, because […]

Phil AmmannFebruary 20, 2018

In what may be shaping up as the political “Year of the Woman,” Josie Tomkow has won the Republican primary for House District 39, which opened up over Thanksgiving with the departure of Neil Combee. Tomkow, a 22-year-old University of Florida student, took a decisive 65 percent of the vote to become her party’s nominee for […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 4, 2018

Republican House District 39 candidate Josie Tomkow announced Wednesday that she had picked up endorsements from the National Rifle Association and the Unified Sportsmen of Florida. “Josie Tomkow is the only candidate in this race we can trust to uphold the constitution rights of law-abiding firearms owners and sportsmen,” former NRA President Marion Hammer said. […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2018

HD 39 candidate Josie Tomkow raised nearly $62,000 last month, building on her strong lead in the race to replace former Rep. Neil Combee in House District 39. The banner month gives the Polk City Republican a total of $75,155 raised for her campaign account in less than two months, and she has $57,800 of […]

Drew WilsonDecember 20, 2017

Republican Josie Tomkow announced Wednesday she qualified via petition for the special election to replace former Rep. Neil Combee in House District 39. “We have been going door-to-door for weeks, meeting with voters throughout HD 39 and I am humbled by the outpouring of support. This is going to be a grassroots campaign — we […]

Scott PowersDecember 5, 2017

Former prosecutor Jennifer Spath has filed to run for the special election in House District 39, seeking to replace form state Rep. Neil Combee, who resigned last month to take a federal job. Spath, a Republican from Bartow, is a fourth generation Floridian who said she’ll be running on conservative principles, including support for gun rights, […]

Drew WilsonDecember 5, 2017

Republican Josie Tomkow is currently running solo in the special election for House District 39, but that hasn’t stopped her from raising plenty of money for her campaign. Though Tomkow has not yet filed her November campaign finance report, her campaign announced the first-time politician brought in more than $50,000 last month. The campaign news […]

Tag: Josie Tomkow
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In HD 39, the ‘blue wave’ barely causes a ripple

Josie Tomkow wins HD 39 special election

Polk grassroots Democrats pick up the slack in HD 39

The strange election of House District 39

Josie Tomkow KOs Jennifer Spath in HD 39 special primary election

Josie Tomkow endorsed by NRA, Unified Sportsmen of Florida

Josie Tomkow crosses $75K-raised mark in HD 39 special election

Josie Tomkow qualifies for HD 39 by petition

Republican Jennifer Spath enters HD 39 special election race

HD 39 candidate Josie Tomkow raises $50K in first three weeks on campaign trail