Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 13, 2018

Republican Victor Crist is the closest thing to an incumbent in the District 5 race this fall, as he has served on the Hillsborough County Commission for the past eight years in District 2. He’s now switching to District 5 to run countywide for the first time, and has taken in $76,905 so far. Among […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 12, 2018

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As revelations of sexual misconduct continue to dominate headlines, Kathy Castor is seeking a way for those who have been harassed to know their rights. On Tuesday, the Tampa U.S. Rep. is hosting a community forum with a panel of experts to discuss resources for preventing and reporting sexual harassment. The event is between 10 a.m. […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

An environmental law professor said Thursday that Ryan Zinke saying last month that drilling off Florida’s coasts was “off the table” in reality gives the state no legal protections at all. Alyson Flournoy believes the Interior Secretary’s comments may make it more difficult for the Office of Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to defend a final decision […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 29, 2018

Victor Crist is hitting back hard at comments from Democrat Mariella Smith and her campaign over his intention to extend his career on the Hillsborough County Commission by running for the District 5 countywide seat. Smith is one of five Democrats seeking an opportunity this year to take on the GOP incumbent this fall. The Smith […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 25, 2018

Five Democrats have already filed for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat, but there’s no doubt the Party establishment is putting all their chips behind community activist Mariella Smith. Congresswoman Kathy Castor, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor and current County Commissioner Pat Kemp were part of Smith’s kickoff event Tuesday night. An audience of around […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 24, 2018

Both of Florida’s U.S. senators and 22 of its House members are in a dither over mixed signals on offshore oil drilling from Washington. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke assured Gov. Rick Scott that Florida was “off the table” earlier this month. Soon, Zinke’s position was undercut by Ocean Energy Management Acting Director Walter Cruickshank’s telling the House Natural Resources […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 17, 2018

Democrat Dianne Hart announced Wednesday that she will give it another go in House District 61, which is opening up this year due to Tampa Democratic Rep. Sean Shaw’s entry into the Attorney General race. “I know firsthand the struggles and the needs facing this District and spent a lifetime working to help our children […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 11, 2018

St. Petersburg House District 70 Democrat Wengay Newton now has two opponents going after him as he attempts to win reelection this summer, but at least at this early junction, he’s not being challenged seriously when it comes to fundraising. Newton raised $1,000 in December, and has now raised $17,370 overall for the seat with […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 9, 2018

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A bipartisan group from Florida’s congressional delegation sent a letter to the Donald Trump administration opposing any rollback of safety regulations adopted after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. In a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the group of 20 lawmakers — both Democrats and Republicans — warned that “an oil spill can devastate a regional […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Wengay Newton received a rebuke Monday when several high-profile St. Petersburg Democrats announced their support of Vito Sheeley, the political operative challenging the incumbent in the overwhelmingly Democratic House District 70 this year. In a joint statement, Pinellas County School Board Chair Rene Flowers, Pinellas County Commission Chair Ken Welch, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman and City Council Chair Lisa Wheeler-Bowman said they […]

Tag: Kathy Castor
Image via the Associated Press.

Victor Crist leads all candidates in HCC District 5 fundraising

Kathy Castor to host panel discussion on how to prevent sexual harassment Tuesday

Environmental attorney says Florida more vulnerable to offshore drilling after Ryan Zinke’s remarks

Victor Crist calls Mariella Smith a ‘political wannabe’ with little to show for herself

Mariella Smith says facing Victor Crist is like ‘David and Goliath’

Majority of Florida Delegation demands clarity on White House offshore drilling position

Dianne Hart already emerging as frontrunner to replace Sean Shaw in HD 61

Wengay Newton continues to increase fundraising advantage in HD 70 race

Most of Florida congressional delegation protests lifting oil rig safety rules

High-profile St. Pete Democrats now backing Vito Sheeley in contentious HD 70 primary