Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 4, 2017

A bill to exempt fantasy sports play from state gambling regulation has again been filed in the Florida Legislature. State Rep. Jason Brodeur, a Sanford Republican, filed a measure (HB 149) on Wednesday. The bill would clarify that fantasy contests “reflect the relative knowledge and skill of the participants” and are not games of chance […]

Staff ReportsDecember 22, 2016

They can’t all be winners, but it’s fair to say several top Florida politicians had one heck of a 2016. In the winter edition of INFLUENCE Magazine, we recognize some of the runners-up for 2016 politician of the year. Sure, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry may have grabbed the top spot, but these Floridians also had […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 21, 2016

Erin Gaetz is paving her own way, but don’t expect her to veer too far from the family business. Gaetz, the 31-year-old daughter of former Senate President Don Gaetz and sister of Congressman-elect Matt Gaetz, recently launched her own digital content firm, Southpaw Content. The firm specializes in producing faster, more engaging and less expensive […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterNovember 30, 2016

Blaise Ingoglia has received the backing of nearly a dozen Republican members of Congress in his re-election campaign for GOP chairman. The Spring Hill Republican announced Wednesday that 11 Republican members of Florida’s congressional delegation have endorsed his re-election bid. “The organization Chairman Blaise Ingoglia put in place this past election cycle was crucial in […]

Peter SchorschNovember 10, 2016

Tuesday’s slate of general elections in Florida certainly provided a list of winners and losers, and I’m not just talking about the candidates. Here is my list of the real winners and losers coming out of Election Day. Winners Rick Scott — The Naples Republican was an early backer of the president-elect, comparing Trump’s rise to his own 2010 gubernatorial […]

Staff ReportsNovember 8, 2016

State Rep. Matt Gaetz and Panama City surgeon Neal Dunn, both Republicans, easily won their respective Panhandle congressional races Tuesday night. In the heavily conservative 1st Congressional District, Gaetz trounced Democrat Steven Specht, an Air Force veteran, by 68 percent to 32 percent as of 8:30 p.m. “Congrats to my friend, @MattGaetz!” Gov. Rick Scott tweeted from his campaign account. […]

Peter SchorschOctober 31, 2016

In both life and politics, the only thing that’s constant is change. While elections give voters a view of the future, it also provides some retiring politicians a chance to look back. As two influential Florida lawmakers say their goodbyes — former Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli — they reflect on changes, and legislative successes, during […]

Jim RosicaOctober 19, 2016

The list of applicants to Gov. Rick Scott for a seat on the state’s Constitution Revision Commission continues to grow, now including conservative lawmaker Matt Gaetz. The panel, which reviews the state’s constitution every two decades, is scheduled to convene 30 days before the beginning of the Legislature’s 2017 regular session on March 7. As […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 26, 2016

I’m not about to be a spoilsport and say that presidential debates are overrated, but the history shows there have been very, very few since they began being held regularly 1976 that have significantly moved voters. The first debate in 2000 between Al Gore and George W. Bush definitely changed some things. That’s the one, you might recall, where Gore was okay on substance […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/ESQPolitics/status/780069471960506368While people in Miami and around the nation mourned the news that 24-year-old Marlins pitching star Jose Fernandez had been killed in a boating accident, Matt Gaetz was stirring up a storm on social media. “To all who will kneel during the anthem today — just remember how Jose Fernandez risked his life just for the chance […]

Tag: Matt Gaetz

Fantasy sports bill filed again in Legislature

Philip Levine among INFLUENCE Magazine’s 2016 Politicians of the Year

Erin Gaetz launches her own digital content firm

Blaise Ingoglia rolls out more endorsements in Florida GOP Chair re-election bid

A rundown of the real winners and losers from Florida’s general election

GOP favorites take North Florida congressional seats

Don Gaetz, Steve Crisafulli reminisce on politics, legislative successes in heartfelt farewells

Matt Gaetz joins applicants to Rick Scott for CRC position

Mitch Perry Report for 9.26.16 – Keeping everything in perspective

Florida lawmaker Matt Gaetz unleashes firestorm with politicized tweet about Jose Fernandez