Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaJanuary 8, 2019

Gov. Ron DeSantis and wife, Casey DeSantis, will hold a baptism ceremony Tuesday afternoon for son Mason in the Governor’s Mansion, he told the audience at a pre-inaugural prayer breakfast. That’s why he did not want a traditional parade after his 11 a.m. inauguration, DeSantis said at the event, held at the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center […]

Jacob OglesDecember 16, 2018

Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis on Saturday made three more stops on a “Thank You” tour after narrowly winning a four-year tenure in the Governor’s Mansion. Along the way, he took with Republican legislative leaders who he will work with in the coming legislative session. DeSantis started in Destin, a day after touring areas of the Panhandle […]

Drew WilsonDecember 14, 2018

Last month, House Speaker Jose Oliva tapped Estero Republican Rep. Ray Rodrigues to chair the House Health & Human Services Committee. On Friday, the chairs of the health care subcommittees were revealed. Second term Rep. Mel Ponder will take over the Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee. Gayle Harrell, who recently ascended to the state Senate, led the committee during the […]

Drew WilsonJuly 16, 2018

The Florida Retail Federation announced Friday that it was backing Destin Republican Rep. Mel Ponder’s re-election bid in Okaloosa County’s House District 4. “Representative Ponder is a successful small business owner and fought on behalf of the thousands of other small business owners throughout Florida during his first term in the House,” said FRF President/CEO […]

Drew WilsonJuly 10, 2018

The political arm of the Florida Realtors rolled out endorsements Monday for nearly every state legislative election slated for the 2018 ballot. “As Realtors, we pride ourselves on our long-standing efforts to defend private property rights, promote community prosperity and preserve a professional climate that ensures the economic growth of Florida,” said Ann DeFries, chair […]

Drew WilsonJune 18, 2018

New candidates filed Monday for three Republican-held seats in the state Legislature. In Senate District 2, Fort Walton Beach Democrat Mary Jeanne “Gigi” Gibson is challenging Panama City Republican Sen. George Gainer. Gibson is currently Gainer’s only real challenger — Pensacola Republican Jantzen Craine has had his name down to run for the seat since 2015, but has not […]

Drew WilsonMay 1, 2018

The Associated Industries of Florida on Tuesday released a report measuring how closely Florida lawmakers’ votes aligned with its interests. The conservative business group’s 2018 Voting Records report found a slight uptick in lawmaker support for AIF-backed legislation, with 78 percent of the Senate and 91 percent of the House voting in favor of its […]

Drew WilsonMarch 5, 2018

The Senate last week unanimously passed a House bill to help cut fees tacked on to college tuition for students who are active duty service members. HB 75, sponsored by Destin Republican Rep. Mel Ponder, would give Florida College System institutions, formerly known as community colleges, the option of waiving all or part of their […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 25, 2018

A group supporting a wave of first-time candidates for elected office took out a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of the Sun-Sentinel calling on Floridians to run against NRA-backed state lawmakers in 2018. The Run for Something ad states “The NRA is killing our kids” at the top and then includes an sheet with […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 16, 2018

A Senate committee approved a resolution calling Congress to keep in place a moratorium against oil drilling in the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico. The military uses the area in question for air and sea training. Tuesday’s vote by the Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation comes a week after the Donald Trump administration […]

Tag: Mel Ponder

The real reason Ron DeSantis doesn’t want an inaugural parade

Ron DeSantis, Jeannette Nunez bring ‘Thank You’ tour to Destin, Naples, Miami

Florida House’s health care policy subcommittee chairs named

Florida Retailers back Mel Ponder for re-election

Florida Realtors make endorsements in 87 legislative races

North Florida lawmakers draw re-election challengers as qualifying begins

Republican lawmakers earn high grades on Associated Industries’ report card

Bill to cut college tuition fees for military clears Legislature

Run for Something ad highlights unopposed Florida lawmakers with NRA ties

Senate committee advances moratorium on oil drilling in part of eastern Gulf