Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 3, 2017

The number of lawmakers prepping for another run keeps on growing. State elections records show dozens of members of the state House and Senate have filed to run for re-election in 2018. Many of those are incumbents who faced little-to-no opposition in 2016, while others ran hard fought battles to win their spot in the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 28, 2016

Nearly a dozen state senators are throwing their support behind Blaise Ingoglia’s bid to keep his job as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. The Spring Hill Republican announced Wednesday the support of 10 state senators, including former Majority Leader Bill Galvano and former House Majority Leader and newly elected Sen. Dana Young. “Over […]

Mitch PerryDecember 13, 2016

A host of groups and individuals – led by the Florida ACLU – have filed a lawsuit in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Florida challenging a state law that requires groups to register with the state and pay a fee if they advise or help women seek abortions. The lawsuit also challenges a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 29, 2016

Sen. Wilton Simpson has been appointed Senate Majority Leader for the 2016-18 legislative term, marking the second term in a row a likely Senate President has held the role. Senate President Joe Negron appointed Simpson to the position Tuesday. The announcement came as the Stuart Republican announced committee chair assignments for the two-year legislative term. […]

Bill RuftyNovember 8, 2016

Tuesday will reveal whether the I-4 corridor is still an important swing corridor or whether it has become an important Democratic Party corridor. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump hit the counties along that stretch of interstate many times as well — and not just the big cities of St. Petersburg, Tampa and Orlando. Smaller cities […]

Peter SchorschJuly 21, 2016

They’ve raised money in California. They’ve raised money in Maine. Now, Florida’s Republican state senators are coming home, hosting a major fundraiser next week in Orlando. The Florida Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee (the FRSCC) will host a fundraising reception July 28 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando. Headlining the event are Senate President-designate Joe […]

Staff ReportsJuly 5, 2016

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements — both on and off — of the legislative merry-go-round. Off and on: Randy Havlicak is no longer staff director of the House Judiciary Committee; he is replacing Joe Gillespie as senior staff director for the House Bill Drafting Service. On: Don Rubottom is the new interim staff director for Judiciary. […]

Mitch PerryJuly 1, 2016

America celebrates its 240th birthday Monday, and the 40th anniversary of the Bicentennial. I was a relatively young kid who doesn’t have a whole lot of recollection of that particular day (other than our family was on vacation someplace in Northern California), but I certainly do remember the yearlong hype into that summer. Two days […]

Associated PressJune 30, 2016

Planned Parenthood says it will work with its abortion-rights allies in eight states to repeal laws that may be vulnerable following the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down tough abortion restrictions in Texas. The repeal campaign, announced Thursday, will initially target laws in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia, as well […]

Mitch PerryJune 29, 2016

Perhaps it was the recent survey that showed St. Petersburg state Rep. Darryl Rouson leading Ed Narain in the Senate District 19 race that has fired him up. In any case, Narain is firing back hard on his Democratic challenger, along with some help from his friend, Congresswoman Kathy Castor. Narain and Castor took issue Wednesday with a statement Rouson had released regarding the U.S. Supreme […]

Tag: Kelli Stargel

More than a dozen lawmakers file for re-election in 2018

Blaise Ingoglia touts support from state senators in Florida GOP chair re-election bid

ACLU files suit challenging Florida law requiring those who advise a woman considering an abortion to register with the state

Wilton Simpson appointed Senate Majority Leader for 2016-18 term

Bill Rufty: Will I-4, Polk County go blue?

Republican state senators plan major fundraiser for July 28 in Orlando

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Mitch Perry Report for 7.1.16 — The wheels of justice move excruciatingly slow

Planned Parenthood seeks repeal of abortion laws in 8 states, including Florida

Ed Narain and Kathy Castor call out Darryl Rouson — again