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Staff ReportsApril 30, 2018

Former House Democratic Leader Mark Pafford is taking over as co-chair of The Florida Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, the organization announced Friday. Pafford, 52, originally a West Palm Beach Democrat, served in the House 2008-16, when he was term limited. He rose to Leader for the 2015 and 2016 Legislative Sessions after being Deputy Whip and […]

Scott PowersNovember 27, 2017

Democratic House candidate Anna Eskamani on Monday announced a volunteer campaign finance committee that includes three former state reps and other prominent Central Florida Democrats. Eskamani, of Orlando, is running for the District 47 seat, occupied by Republican state Rep. Mike Miller, who is running for Congress. She faces Republican candidate Stockton Reeves of Winter […]

Scott PowersJune 29, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham has drawn more endorsements including former Florida House Minority Leader Mark Pafford and state Reps. Katie Edwards and John Cortes The endorsements announced by her campaign Thursday also included Duval County Soil and Water District Chair Shannon Blankenship, and Jacksonville City Councilman Tommy Hazouri. Her campaign also announced the first […]

Staff ReportsJune 28, 2017

Mark Pafford, the former House Democratic Leader, has joined the board of directors of the League of Women Voters of Florida, the organization announced Tuesday. Pafford “brings extensive government experience to the League,” President Pamela Goodman said in a statement. In a phone interview, Pafford told Florida Politics he hopes “to be a great resource, bringing […]

Scott PowersMarch 1, 2017

A gun laws debate featuring staunch 2nd Amendment Republican state Rep. Scott Plakon and irrepressible “common-sense reforms” Democrat state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith boiled down Tuesday night between a demand that fundamental rights should not be abridged without compelling reasons, and expressions of perceived compelling reasons. Plakon, a Longwood Republican who sponsored House Bill 6005, […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 23, 2017

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As long expected, Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda is pulling a reverse Charlie Crist. The former state representative for Tallahassee, who quit the Democratic Party and became an independent shortly before being term limited out of office last year, now has officially become a Republican. Rehwinkel Vasilinda, 56, officially announced the switch at the 2017 Leon GOP Lincoln Day Dinner held in […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 24, 2016

In recent debates and interviews with this outlet, HD 13 Democrat Tracie Davis has discussed being trusted by both sides of the aisle. Davis’ latest campaign finance report, spanning the gap between Oct. 8 and Oct. 14, shows that trust for Davis, who just got into the race as a general election candidate in early October. […]

Scott PowersAugust 5, 2016

Democratic challenger Sheena Meade had the stage to herself and won strong support at what was supposed to be a House District 46 debate sponsored by the Young Democrats of Orange County Thursday night, because state Rep. Bruce Antone was a late scratch. Antone’s decision not to come — sent by email to Young Democrats President Robert […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 27, 2016

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Florida House District 13 incumbent Democrat Reggie Fullwood was left for dead, politically speaking, not too long ago. With a federal trial on 14 counts pending, Fullwood drew Democratic and Republican challengers alike in his solidly Democratic Jacksonville seat. Now, however, Fullwood appears to have overcome those issues to some degree. After a hearing last week in which […]

Drew WilsonJuly 11, 2016

Democratic Rep. Ed Narain announced Monday that Hillsborough County Commission Chairman Lesley “Les” Miller has endorsed his bid for the District 19 seat in the Florida Senate. “I’ve known Ed Narain since he was a student leader at the University of South Florida and now as state representative,” said Miller, who himself served 14 years […]

Tag: Mark Pafford

Personnel note: Mark Pafford named co-chair of gun violence prevention group

Anna Eskamani announces finance team

Gwen Graham draws more endorsements: Steelworkers, Mark Pafford, Katie Edwards, John Cortes

Personnel note: Mark Pafford joins state League of Women Voters board

Young Dems’ guns debate pits ‘fundamental rights’ versus ‘compelling reasons’

Surprise (or not): Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda joins the Republican Party

Bipartisan backing finds Tracie Davis, but Mark Griffin holds HD 13 money lead

Bruce Antone’s late scratch at HD 46 debate brings backlash, lifts Sheena Meade

Dem leaders, unions back Reggie Fullwood for re-election

Hillsborough County chair Les Miller endorses Ed Narain in SD 19 race