Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bill RuftyJune 13, 2018

Ray Pena, of Lakeland, is running for the Democratic Party’s nomination for Florida’s 15th Congressional District as the first Hispanic-American to seek the district located in portions of Hillsborough, Polk and Lake counties. He is doing it the old-fashioned way, handshaking every person he meets and appearing at all public candidate meetings. He enumerates the issues […]

Kate BradshawJune 13, 2018

In the time that’s elapsed since the noise that erupted around U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis in early 2017 died down following his brave decision to face angry constituents at a packed town hall, things have been pretty quiet for the Palm Harbor Republican. That’s no surprise to anyone familiar with Bilirakis, 55, who tends to eschew political […]

Bill RuftyMay 21, 2018

Many political junkies are questioning whether two different entities that support the same goal — a Democrat in Florida’s 15th Congressional District — are backing two different candidates in the primary. Andrew Learned of Valrico has been a candidate for the post since June 23, 2017, and has the advice and help from the Democratic […]

Bill RuftyMay 4, 2018

Accusing the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee of meddling in the 15th Congressional District Primary, Gregg Pilkington of Indian Lake Estates said he is discontinuing his race for the seat. “It would be against my principles to continue, knowing that this is a rigged (primary) election by the DCCC,” Pilkington said. He added that he wouldn’t […]

Scott PowersMay 3, 2018

Puerto Rican evacuees from Hurricane Maria’s wrath last fall have been granted another six weeks of federal assistance to live in emergency motel shelters in Florida, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy announced Thursday. The latest extension, through June 30 according to social media posts Thursday afternoon from the Winter Park Democrat, means that families who migrated […]

Bill RuftyApril 20, 2018

Public-school teachers should not have to pay federal income taxes, a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 15th Congressional District declared Thursday. “It will be the Rewarding American Educators Act, and I will file it when I get to Congress,” said Gregory Pilkington of Indian Lakes Estate. “It will attract new teachers and keep those who then will […]

Scott PowersApril 12, 2018

Congressional letters signed by a large majority of Florida’s delegation are urging congressional leaders to support full funding not just for NASA’s next spacecraft and rocket but for critical upgrades at Kennedy Space Center to launch them. The letters to chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees subcommittees overseeing space have drawn signatures of […]

Drew WilsonApril 6, 2018

U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Kathy Castor are sponsoring a bipartisan bill to close the campaign finance loopholes highlighted in “Zombie Campaigns,” an investigative report from the Tampa Bay Times and 10News WTSP. Bilirakis, a Tarpon Springs Republican, and Castor, a Tampa Democrat, told the Times they were sponsoring the “Honest Elections and Campaign, No […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 28, 2018

Fresh off a Cuban visit last week, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor is calling on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to return consular officials and diplomatic personnel to the U.S. Embassy in Havana as soon as possible. Tillerson withdrew 60 percent of diplomats from the embassy in Havana last fall after unexplained attacks harmed at least […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 13, 2018

Until Tuesday, only those in a courtroom heard former firefighter Tanja Vidovic detail the sexual harassment and discrimination she suffered inside the Tampa Fire Rescue Department. It was her testimony in federal court last fall that resulted in a successful lawsuit, which she won in December. Now it was the public’s turn to hear Vidovic speak about her […]

Tag: Kathy Castor
Image via the Associated Press.

Democratic hopeful Ray Pena hits CD 15 with old-school handshaking, retail politics

#15 on list of Tampa Bay’s Most Powerful Politicians — Gus Bilirakis

Two progressive organizations, but different candidates?

Democrat Gregg Pilkington drops out of CD 15 race, blames ‘rigged primary’

FEMA extends Puerto Rican transitional housing to June 30

CD 15 Democratic hopeful puts focus on fixing public education

Florida’s delegation presses for Kennedy Space Center launch support money for NASA’s next big rocket

Gus Bilirakis, Kathy Castor set sights on ‘zombie campaigns’

Kathy Castor urges Rex Tillerson to restore U.S. diplomats to Cuba

Former Tampa firefighter who won sex discrimination lawsuit speaks out