Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 8, 2018

Kathy Castor is endorsing longtime neighborhood and environmentalist activist Mariella Smith in her bid for Hillsborough County Commission District 5. “Mariella Smith is a champion for citizens, our neighborhoods, a healthy environment and a strong local economy,” the Hillsborough County congresswoman said in a statement Monday. “She has a deep understanding of how to move […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2018

Republican Todd Marks has to run for the District 1 seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. The attorney and small-business owner joins Aakash Patel in the race for the GOP nomination. Florida House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz, who is term-limited from running again, is the lone Democrat in the race. Marks runs Westchase Law, a Tampa-based law […]

Mitch PerryDecember 29, 2017

Senator Bill Nelson met with local representatives from the Tampa Bay Puerto Rican community on Friday, blasting recent actions (and non-actions) by congressional Republicans in the wake of Hurricane Maria’s devastating impact on the island exactly 100 days ago. “A knife was put to the neck of Puerto Rico.” That’s the phrase the Florida Democrat […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

Recent DEA raids on storefront shops that specialize in selling Canadian prescriptions drugs to Central Florida seniors have U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and others in Florida’s congressional delegation wondering whether there has been an unannounced change in federal policy. In the past few weeks, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration raided nine shops in the region […]

Mitch PerryDecember 12, 2017

KathyCastorHouseHoldsOrganizationalMeetingBlKaYp3HJ2jl.jpg

As one of only five Democrats on the joint Senate-House Tax Conference committee charged with reconciling the two GOP-passed bills, Kathy Castor is the only representative from Florida. And like most members of her party, Castor has serious objections about the legislation, as detailed in a new letter to Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, the conference committee chair. “The tax […]

Mitch PerryDecember 11, 2017

Last week, Minnesota Sen. Al Franken announced he would soon resign from office following multiple reports of women accusing him of groping and forcibly kissing them. Immediately after, some rank and file Democrats said Franken was a sacrificial lamb, so the party could go all-in attacking President Donald Trump and Alabama Sen. candidate Roy Moore for […]

Mitch PerryDecember 11, 2017

With just four days left before the 2018 Affordable Care Act sign-up deadline, the Tampa Bay area’s two Democrats — Charlie Crist and Kathy Castor — met Monday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in West Tampa to get the word out before they head back to Washington. “Time is short,” said Castor, repeating her frustration that […]

Mitch PerryDecember 8, 2017

Vito Sheeley, who has filed to oppose Wengay Newton in 2018 for House District 70, blasted the St. Petersburg Democrat Friday for proposing legislation that would criminally charge car theft victims. “This is one of the worst ideas I’ve ever heard out of Wengay Newton,” Sheeley said. “And that’s saying a lot.” Making his first run […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2017

Less than 48 hours before a select group of Florida Democrats chooses their new state leader, Alma Gonzalez announced a series of new endorsements in the race for the party’s state chair. Tampa Rep. Kathy Castor announced that she was backing the Hillsborough County State Committeewoman, who is competing against Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Terrie […]

Mitch PerryNovember 16, 2017

A recent trip to Cuba by Tampa City Council Chair Yolie Capin and Councilman Harry Cohen was just the latest by members of the political establishment who have worked for nearly a decade to set up closer relations between the city and the Communist island. Former Councilwoman Mary Mulhern first visited Cuba as part of a […]

Tag: Kathy Castor
Image via the Associated Press.

Kathy Castor is Mariella Smith’s first major endorsement for county commission bid

Republican Todd Marks takes aim at Hillsborough Commission District 1 seat

Bill Nelson slams GOP response to Puerto Rico

Local DEA raids lead Bill Nelson to inquire on Canadian drug availability

Kathy Castor offers a list of objections to GOP tax bill

Kathy Castor: If Al Franken must go, so should Blake Farenthold

Charlie Crist, Kathy Castor call for Obamacare sign-ups as deadline looms

Wengay Newton shrugs off Vito Sheeley criticism of car theft measure

Alma Gonzalez backed by Kathy Castor and Democratic Labor Caucus as chair election nears

Old tensions about Cuba resurface at Tampa City Council meeting