Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaDecember 14, 2015

A plaintiffs’ lawyer on Monday squarely set up his boogeyman for this week’s state Senate redistricting trial: Sen. Bill Galvano, the chamber’s redistricting chair, its Republican leader and a future Senate president. “He made all the significant decisions regarding their map,” said attorney David King in his opening statement. “None of the other senators ever saw […]

Gary FineoutNovember 11, 2015

A long-running legal battle over Florida’s political landscape wound up back before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday where several justices sounded skeptical about the changes proposed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The hope is that the court will soon end three years of lawsuits, court hearings and special sessions by finally endorsing a new map […]

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2015

The “coalition plaintiffs” in the state Senate redistricting challenge announced Tuesday night they were submitting their own redrawn district map – weeks after the chairman of the chamber’s redistricting panel invited them to participate in the map-making process. The Senate set up its own map on Tuesday for a Wednesday vote, one that combines a version of South Florida districts […]

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2015

Without comment, the Florida Supreme Court has denied a request from Republican U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster to become a new party in the ongoing court challenge to congressional redistricting. The court issued its one-sentence order on Tuesday. In his motion, Webster had admitted recognizing that “generally intervention is not authorized at the appellate level.” And plantiffs including […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

Those now involved in the ongoing congressional redistricting challenge are against letting Republican U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster become a new party in the case, according to court filings released Monday. The Florida House of Representatives, Florida Senate, Common Cause and League of Women Voters of Florida, among others, filed responses opposing Webster’s motion to intervene, submitted last week […]

Jim RosicaOctober 20, 2015

Two Democratic lawmakers have filed identical bills that would punish state lawmakers for gerrymandering political districts, up to removal from office. State Sen. Darren Soto of Orlando and state Rep. Dwight Dudley of St. Petersburg filed the legislation (SB 6-C/HB 3-C) on Tuesday. But it’s almost certain the bills won’t be taken up by the Legislature; they would first need […]

Gary FineoutOctober 19, 2015

Florida’s Republican-led Legislature, which has split this year over everything from health care spending to new congressional districts, could be engulfed in a new political firestorm. Legislators opened up a 19-day Special Session on Monday with the goal of redrawing state Senate districts. Legislative leaders called the Special Session after the Senate acknowledged in court […]

Gary FineoutOctober 19, 2015

Despite a bumpy and contentious year, the Republican-led Florida Legislature returns to the state Capitol on Monday with the goal of trying to draw up new maps for 40 state Senate districts. It’s the third Special Session of the year for legislators, and also marks the third time that lawmakers have altered the boundaries of […]

Jim RosicaOctober 16, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court has reset oral argument in the congressional redistricting case for Nov. 10, according to an order released Friday. Arguments will begin at 2 p.m. Lawyers for the Florida House of Representatives on Thursday had asked the court to postpone argument, originally set for Nov. 2, because it conflicted with the upcoming Special Session […]

Jim RosicaOctober 14, 2015

The Florida Legislature on Wednesday released six proposed new maps for state Senate districts before the start of a three-week Special Session on redistricting. All of the staff-drawn maps, however, contain districts that cross Tampa Bay. That runs afoul of direction the Florida Supreme Court gave in a similar case involving congressional districts to “avoid crossing Tampa Bay.” […]

Tag: League of Women Voters of Florida

Plaintiffs lay blame for redistricting mess on Bill Galvano

Supreme Court considers changes to Florida’s political map

Plaintiffs now say they’re filing their own Senate district map

State Supreme Court to Daniel Webster: Nope

Parties in redistricting case tell Daniel Webster: Butt out

Democratic legislation would create penalties for gerrymandering

Florida legislators already at odds over new Senate maps

It’s map-drawing time again for Florida legislators

Supreme Court grants House’s request to reschedule oral argument in redistricting case

New maps for state Senate include districts crossing Tampa Bay