Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryApril 27, 2015

Marco Rubio can’t escape the Tom Steyer-funded NextGen Climate activist group. Two weeks ago, Rubio announced his candidacy for president at the Freedom Tower Hotel in downtown Miami. Across Biscayne Boulevard greeting those attending as they left the speech were a group of NextGen activists, denouncing Rubio for his stance on climate change. Weekend before last […]

Guest AuthorApril 26, 2015

If the Florida Legislature fails to pass a medical marijuana bill this session the issue is almost certain to resurface as a proposed constitutional amendment in 2016. A similar amendment narrowly failed in 2014. However, it is widely believed that in a presidential election cycle (when Democrats in Florida turn out by 4-6 percent more […]

Phil AmmannApril 24, 2015

With a shrinking Republican bench for Marco Rubio’s open seat, one big-name Floridian — Bill McCollum — is considering a third shot at the U.S. Senate. If he chooses a run in 2016, McCollum will make history, not only as the second Floridian to attempt a Senate run after two unsuccessful campaigns, but also by […]

Mitch PerryApril 24, 2015

Last week it was Nashua, New Hampshire. Tomorrow, Waukee, Iowa. Waukee is the site of the next GOP presidential cattle call, where Marco Rubio will make his first appearance in the Hawkeye State since officially declaring his candidacy for president earlier this month. He’ll be joined by at least seven other presidential hopefuls who will speak […]

Associated PressApril 24, 2015

Marco Rubio lacks the experience to be president and Jeb Bush is a brilliant man ready for the job. So said Marco Rubio. Thing is, that was Rubio a few years ago, a man of seeming humility who joked that the only thing he deserved being president of was a condo association. He dismissed in […]

Mitch PerryApril 24, 2015

Running for president means sometimes having to alter your brand, and sometimes your integrity. Case in point: Rand Paul. Nobody has been more prominent in U.S. politics being critical of drone strikes, particularly against American citizens, such as Anwar al-Awlaki, an Al Qaeda operative killed by a U.S. drone strike in Yemen in 2011. In […]

Mitch PerryApril 23, 2015

The Senate voted 56-43 Thursday to approve the nomination of Loretta Lynch as U.S. attorney general, ending a more than five-month-long political impasse that had stalled her bid to become the first black woman to lead the Justice Department. Three Republicans senators running for president next year — Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz […]

Melissa RossApril 22, 2015

Just as President Obama touched down in the Everglades to mark Earth Day (and score some political points around climate change and Rick Scott), a globally recognized thought leader on the emerging green economy had a North Florida announcement of her own. Hazel Henderson of the St. Augustine-based Ethical Markets has released her firm’s 2015 Green […]

Mitch PerryApril 22, 2015

This past weekend, Nashua, N.H., was the center of the political universe. About 20 announced presidential candidates, probable candidates, and long-shot possibilities were offered 30 minutes each by the New Hampshire Republican Party to present themselves and answer questions from 600 Republicans at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Summit. In addition to reporting […]

Mitch PerryApril 21, 2015

A week ago I spoke with someone close to David Jolly about the Pinellas County congressman taking time to consider a candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2016. The still-newbie Republican U.S. Representative has a number of pros and cons to contemplate before making such a momentous career decision. The biggest downside is the real […]

NextGen Climate counters Marco Rubio’s claims about clean economy

Jeff Kottkamp: Medical marijuana amendment could sway 2016 presidential election

Bill McCollum’s possible Senate run: 3rd time the charm?

Marco Rubio returns to Iowa for the first time as a declared presidential candidate

Not long ago, Marco Rubio questioned his own readiness for presidency

Mitch Perry Report for 4.24.15 — The politics of convenience

Loretta Lynch loses Marco Rubio’s AG vote over civil forfeiture stance

On Earth Day, Florida’s Ethical Markets releases 2015 “Green Transition Scoreboard”

The voice (of a few) New Hampshire voters at GOP confab

Mitch Perry Report for 4.21.15 — Senate in ’16 odds looking better for David Jolly?