Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2016

The inaugural committee for Donald Trump has a Florida feel, with the president-elect tapping two prominent Floridians to serve as its finance vice chairs. Trump tapped former Ambassador Mel Sembler and Brian Ballard to serve as vice chairs of his inaugural committee. The two men join more than a dozen other high profile Trump supporters […]

Phil AmmannOctober 30, 2016

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Donald Trump may have said he was scaling back on high-dollar fundraising — ending with a Las Vegas luncheon held last week — but it didn’t mean he wasn’t quite done raising money. The Republican nominee, joined by Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus and former ambassador Mel Sembler, among others, returns to Florida for a breakfast […]

Staff ReportsAugust 12, 2016

There are just a few weeks until the election, and organizations across the state are rolling out endorsements for state and federal candidates. Several organizations — including Associated Industries of Florida, the Democratic Progressive Caucus, and the Florida Retail Federation — issued endorsements. — Associated Industries of Florida has endorsed Marco Rubio in his U.S. […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 25, 2016

Drug-Free Florida saw another big fundraising period, raising more than $800,000 in about a week. State records show the organization raised $805,000 between July 9 and July 15, the most recent fundraising period. That sum includes a single $800,000 donation from the Carol Jenkins Barnett Family Trust and brings its total fundraising haul to more […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJuly 19, 2016

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Drug Free Florida raised more than $500,000 in two weeks this month, the vast majority coming from a single donor. State records show Mel Sembler, a prominent St. Petersburg fundraiser, gave the committee $500,000 between July 2 and July 8, the most recent reporting period. The committee raised $510,035 in the fundraising period, boosting its fundraising […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 10, 2016

Drug-Free Florida raised more than $500,000 in May, outpacing the committee backing the effort to legalize medical marijuana 5-to-1. State records show Drug-Free Florida raised $500,85 in the one-month fundraising period. Mel Sembler, a prominent St. Petersburg fundraiser, gave the committee $500,000 in May. The substantial donation came just weeks after Sembler announced he once […]

Scott PowersMay 22, 2016

A solid 69 percent of Florida registered voters say they would support Amendment 2 on the November ballot, which would broadly legalize medical marijuana in Florida, according to a new poll by Gravis Marketing. The same poll also finds Floridians with mixed views on transgender restrooms, but not on locker rooms. The poll, taken last […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMay 16, 2016

The campaign to convince Floridians to “Vote No on 2” is officially heating up. Vote No On 2, the group leading the charge against the 2016 medical marijuana initiative, Monday aimed at highlighting the dangers of legalizing medical marijuana. Throughout the three-minute video, viewers see what happened in California after the Golden State approved its […]

Scott PowersMay 10, 2016

The Marijuana Business Conference & Expo in Orlando is more about business than pot. It’s where high-tech engineering for climate control gets introduced to cannabis growers. It’s where boutique banking and financial service operations troll for cannabis cash. It’s where packaging and marketing experts track down cannabis products in need of packaging. At the sixth […]

Guest AuthorMay 4, 2016

Mel Sembler and I have something in common. We both had children who abused drugs. The similarities end there. Mel’s children are all alive, thank goodness. My son, Jonathan, died of a heroin overdose in 2006, after being dumped outside of an ER in Hialeah by the dealers who sold him his final shot. Mr. […]

Tag: Mel Sembler

Donald Trump presidential inaugural committee has a Florida feel

Despite end of formal fundraising, Donald Trump to hold breakfast event at Doral Wednesday

Endorsement Watch: Associated Industries of Florida, Democratic Progressive Caucus, the Florida Retail Federation and others issue endorsements

Carol Jenkins Barnett Family Trust gives $800K to Drug Free Florida

Mel Sembler gives another $500K to Drug Free Florida

Mel Sembler donates $500K to Vote No on 2 campaign in May

Medical marijuana measure winning solidly in new Gravis poll

Successful in 2014, medical marijuana opponents ramp up campaign against latest ballot initiative

Marijuana Business Conference: John Morgan brings the holy mission message

Joy Fishman: Let’s tackle drug abuse with ‘harm reduction’ strategies