Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2018

There are a number of first-time candidates running for office in Hillsborough County this year, but none are more successful at raising campaign cash than Aakash Patel, the 33-year-old Tampa businessman who is running for the District 1 seat on the Hillsborough County Commission. Patel added more than $9,000 to his campaign coffers last month and now […]

Scott PowersDecember 21, 2017

President Donald Trump‘s decision to move America’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem has a congressional sponsor, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who’s been pushing the issue for several years. DeSantis, the Republican from Ponte Vedra Beach, introduced a bill Thursday to have Congress declare Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to seek to move the […]

Scott PowersDecember 20, 2017

U.S. Rep. Val Demings of Orlando has been appointed to the House Judiciary Committee, her office announced Wednesday. Demings, a former Orlando chief of police with 27 years as a police officer, becomes one of 17 Democrats on the 40-seat committee overseeing criminal and civil justice legislation, including oversight of federal courts, administrative agencies, and […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 19, 2017

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz appeared on MSNBC Tuesday, just minutes before the U.S. House voted to approve the tax reform bill. Gaetz noted that the deficit wouldn’t “balloon” as a result of the tax cuts, if there were “bipartisan” cooperation on spending cuts, such as a Republican proposal to force “able-bodied, childless adults to actually go to […]

Scott PowersDecember 15, 2017

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gwen Graham, a former member of Congress herself, on Friday attacked U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz for his campaign to get the FBI investigated and to halt the bureau’s investigation of President Donald Trump, then challenged her Republican rivals to state their positions. Graham, of Tallahassee, took to Twitter first, calling out, “Matt […]

Mitch PerryDecember 14, 2017

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Count Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi among the increasing number of Republicans who are blasting special counsel Robert Mueller‘s Russian probe for being rife with partisan bias. Bondi appeared on Fox News “Hannity” program Wednesday night as part of a panel discussion with host Sean Hannity and Sebastian Gorka, a former Donald Trump deputy assistant hired by the network […]

Peter SchorschDecember 12, 2017

Politicians are quick to criticize “the media” when they receive less-than-flattering news coverage. On the other hand, many lawmakers and candidates are embracing media — especially social media — as an efficient way to reach out to voters, offering unfiltered views on critical issues. Few politicos understand this new political reality better than Panhandle Republican […]

Ana CeballosDecember 11, 2017

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz thinks the Senate sexual harassment investigation into Sen. Jack Latvala is a “sham” and refused to speak to the attorney leading the investigation, according to a POLITICO Florida report. “The Florida Senate’s ‘investigation’ into Senator Latvala is a sham. I will not validate it by participating,” Gaetz wrote in a letter […]

Drew WilsonDecember 4, 2017

Hillsborough County Commission candidate Aakash Patel piled on another and a few thousand more for his campaign and committee last month, to give him $310,121 in total fundraising a year out from Election Day. Patel is running for the District 1 seat being vacated prematurely by Commissioner Sandy Murman next year. Murman intends to leave the […]

Peter SchorschNovember 22, 2017

From the soup kitchens of Tallahassee to the conch houses of Key West, from the toniest mansions in Coral Gables to the double wides in Dixie County, people from all walks of life will sit down to celebrate the most American of holidays: Thanksgiving. “Americans traditionally recognize the ‘first’ Thanksgiving as having taken place at […]

Tag: Matt Gaetz

Aakash Patel continues fundraising prowess in Hillsborough Commission race

Ron DeSantis introduces Jerusalem bill

Val Demings appointed to U.S. House Judiciary Committee

Matt Gaetz admits tax bill will spike deficit, benefit Donald Trump

Gwen Graham mocks Matt Gaetz’ FBI probe, taunts Adam Putnam, Richard Corcoran

On Fox’s ‘Hannity,’ Pam Bondi suggests that Robert Mueller ‘corrupt’ probe ‘worse than Watergate’

Matt Gaetz, a savvy politician with smart, effective digital growth

Congressman says Jack Latvala Senate investigation is a ‘sham’

Aakash Patel has raised more than $310K for Hillsborough Commission bid

What Florida’s political elite should be thankful for