Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonNovember 8, 2018

Most Florida Democrats woke up consumed by what went wrong on Election Day. Another nil for five performance in statewide races, and a one for six performance in the state Senate, assuming current margins hold. But Ruth’s List Florida was more than a little cheery with an email celebrating its “historic victories” on Tuesday. Their […]

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says she’s braced for a recount in Florida’s closest statewide election. On Tuesday night, Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell came out ahead in the Cabinet position race, but on Wednesday morning the race tightened to 4,008,205 votes for Caldwell to 3,995,684 for Fried. That’s a margin of 12,521 votes, or 0.16 percent. […]

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell declared victory Tuesday night as he held a narrow advantage in the contest to succeed term-limited Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Caldwell, a real estate appraiser from North Fort Myers, gave an acceptance speech from an election watch party, according to WGCU Public Media. As of Wednesday morning, Caldwell led Democrat […]

Drew WilsonNovember 5, 2018

If Election Day were today, Democrat Nikki Fried would eke out a victory over Republican Matt Caldwell in Agriculture Commissioner race. That’s according to a new survey from St. Pete Polls conducted Thursday. The poll, commissioned by Florida Politics, found Fried leading by just under a percentage point with 6 percent of voters still undecided. The same survey […]

Jacob OglesNovember 4, 2018

Every Republican candidate seeking statewide office in Florida attended at least one of President Donald Trump’s rallies here during the week leading into Election Day. But no candidates from Florida’s tightest Congressional races bothered to show. The attendance habits shows the varying worth of appearing close to a president whose approval ratings remain underwater overall […]

Jacob OglesNovember 1, 2018

Republican Agriculture Commissioner candidate Matt Caldwell hopes supporters look not just at the dollars he’s spent this year but the miles he’s traveled. Though the war chest of dollars looks pretty nice, too. The candidate announced as of Thursday, his campaign trucked 104,000 miles, through all 67 counties in Florida. And he raised more than […]

Jacob OglesNovember 1, 2018

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When President Donald Trump held a rally days before the midterms, it drew a number of prominent Republican leaders to Fort Myers. But it failed to draw a few others. U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney and Congressional hopeful Greg Steube both gave speeches from the stage promoting the president’s agenda. And from the stage, Trump praised […]

Ryan NicolOctober 30, 2018

A new ad from Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is pitching change in her new ad, urging Floridians to “try something new” at the polls next week. Fried is competing in the race against Republican candidate Matt Caldwell. “What if instead of tolerating green algae and red tide, our leaders prioritized keeping Florida’s […]

Ryan NicolOctober 30, 2018

A new survey from the University of North Florida (UNF) projects a split Cabinet after next week’s midterms. The poll was conducted by UNF’s Public Opinion Research Lab. It shows Republican Ashley Moody leading her Democratic opponent, Sean Shaw, in the race for Attorney General. But Democrats are faring better in the Agriculture Commissioner contest, with […]

Jacob OglesOctober 30, 2018

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Two new ads from GOP Agriculture Commissioner candidate Matt Caldwell emphasize the farm and grime aspects of the job—and also highlight the North Fort Myers’ sense of humor. One 30-second spot, titled “No Bull,” features Caldwell in a field with a bovine co-star, rattling off political clichés with down-home aplomb. “I’m tired of all the […]

Tag: Matt Caldwell

Ruth’s List Florida dubs run-of-the-mill results “historic victories”

Agriculture Commissioner race: Nikki Fried readies for recount, hopes to catch Matt Caldwell

Matt Caldwell edges Nikki Fried in surprisingly competitive Ag. Commissioner race

Nikki Fried holds slim lead in final poll of Ag. Commissioner race

MAGA roll call: Who partied with Donald Trump this week? Who stayed home?

Matt Caldwell’s now racked up 104,000 miles on odometer, has $5.7M in the bank

Which Republicans snubbed the Florida #MAGA rally?

Nikki Fried ad says it’s time for ‘something new’

Poll shows party split in Cabinet races

Matt Caldwell ads show ‘no bull’ approach to ‘dirty jobs’