Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 10, 2015

July fundraising numbers are in, though none of the big ticket Senate races for 2016 got much action, and with the Special Session on Redistricting, it should stay that way for sitting lawmakers during the back half of August. Fort Walton Beach Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz brought in $16,855 for the month and spent $7,629, leaving him with a […]

Phil AmmannAugust 5, 2015

For state Rep. Matt Gaetz, “In God We Trust” is more than the nation’s motto since 1956. In a new email, Gaetz says it is “literally” the founding values of both Florida and the United States. So when Police Chief Chris Wells of Bonifay – a small town in Holmes County — is criticized for […]

Drew WilsonAugust 3, 2015

A third Republican has filed to run for the District 4 House seat being vacated by Fort Walton Beach Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is eyeing his father’s Senate seat in the 2016 cycle. Destin Mayor Mel Ponder said Monday he’s running for the seat, hitting small government and conservative values that play well in the Panhandle districts. “It […]

Ryan RayJuly 30, 2015

The Gaetz father-son team of Florida lawmakers will appear at a forum put together by Florida State University grad students at the Old Capitol in Tallahassee next week. Former Senate President Don Gaetz and his son Rep. Matt Gaetz – who attended FSU as an undergraduate – will speak on a range of issues and answer questions from […]

Matthew IsbellJune 29, 2015

Florida’s western Panhandle has not been exactly known as a hotbed of electoral campaigns during recent election cycles. The region stretching from Pensacola to Panama City is steadfastly Republican in registration and in electoral dominance. GOP primaries decide most fights in the region, and incumbency has ensured few contentious primaries outside of local offices. The region is […]

Ryan RayJune 22, 2015

As ever in the term limits era, the makeup of the Republican House majority is set to shift in terms of personnel, if not necessarily in degree of dominance. As the very House-inflected Rep. Matt Gaetz seeks to take over his father Sen. Don Gaetz‘s spot in the Legislature’s upper chamber, a Walton County commissioner has […]

Ryan RayJune 19, 2015

Just hours before a Friday evening vote on the state budget which will, with any luck, put to bed the specter of a government shutdown and/or constitutional crisis, Gov. Rick Scott announced that he will be taking his message of cutting taxes on the road. The “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” Tax Cut Victory Tour, as his office called […]

Ryan RayJune 16, 2015

After working alongside members of the House in a coordinated “No Tax is Safe” tax-cutting crusade, Gov. Rick Scott today signed into law HB33A, a tax package that reduces rates on the Communications Services Tax, reduces various licensure fees and creates a “supercharged” ten-day back-to-school sales tax holiday, to use Rep. Matt Gaetz‘s jaunty phrase. […]

Christine Jordan SextonJune 14, 2015

There’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The National Federation of Independent Business Florida wants to tuck “Small Business Saturday” between those days and has been advancing a proposal that would give shoppers a tax break for shopping locally-owned, independent businesses. The tax holiday was in the House tax reduction package HB 33A, and economists predicted it […]

Peter SchorschJune 4, 2015

While Tallahassee is buzzing today with news that Jeb Bush will officially launch his presidential campaign June 15, Adams Street is also buzzing with talk that Rep. Matt Gaetz is about to draw a serious contender in the race for State Senate District 1. Bay County Commissioner George Gainer, a Republican, is expected to file to […]

Tag: Matt Gaetz
The Yankees organization is generous with Helene relief in Florida. Image via AP.

Top Senate fundraisers have slow July

Email insights: Matt Gaetz enters the fray over ‘In God We Trust’

Destin Mayor Mel Ponder files to succeed Matt Gaetz in HD 4

Don & Matt Gaetz to talk politics and family next week at Old Capitol

Family matters: excitement builds for western Panhandle primary

Amid legislative turnover, new House candidates reach for safe GOP seats

Rick Scott set to kick off “tax cut victory tour”

Rick Scott signs $400 milion tax cut package into law

Senate says no to Small Biz Saturday tax break

Matt Gaetz about to draw a serious challenger for Senate race in George Gainer