Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 24, 2017

Are Osceola County and eastern Polk County ready for a determined, old-school feminist representing them in the Florida House of Representatives? Democrat Barbara Cady, 59, of Kissimmee, filed last week to run against Republican incumbent state Rep. Mike LaRosa in House District 42. She’s bringing a wealth of Democratic Party and feminist-leadership connections to run […]

Mitch PerryApril 3, 2017

In Tampa, Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel waxed optimistically last month about the Democrats’ chance of winning back the state Senate in 2020. Notably, he didn’t say anything about the House, where Republicans outnumber Democrats, 79-41. Tampa Rep. Janet Cruz, serving the first year of a two-year stint as Minority Leader and four weeks into the 2017 Session, admits […]

Mitch PerryMarch 28, 2017

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A bill to repeal all local ordinances and regulations on vacation rental homes, rolling them back to 2011 levels, advanced Tuesday in the House Careers and Competition Subcommittee. The proposal, by St. Cloud Republican Mike LaRosa (HB 425), would require local governments in Florida to treat vacation rental homes like any other home in any given neighborhood. […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2017

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn says a bill co-introduced by Tampa state Senator Dana Young would take away local control of public spaces, but Young says that the mayor has it wrong in his concerns about what the bill will actually do. “Telecommunications companies are pushing SB 596 and HB 687, legislation that would allow them to place small refrigerator-sized equipment, and even towering poles, […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 30, 2016

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When State Rep. Reggie Fullwood pleaded guilty to two felony counts in his wire fraud trial Thursday, there were some in Jacksonville who might have been surprised by the Democratic stalwart’s fate. Clearly, those observers didn’t know Jacksonville. Fullwood’s guilty plea was more notable for being in the midst of his re-election campaign than it […]

Scott PowersJune 24, 2016

In what has been a frantic last day of filing and qualifying for Florida House of Representatives, Republican state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle of Windermere appears to have won re-election in House District 44. More than five hours after the close of qualifying, Eisnaugle’s anticipated Democratic opponent, David Trotter of Orlando, has not qualified. If that holds […]

Drew WilsonMay 10, 2016

Republican Peter Vivaldi announced Tuesday that eight Central Florida lawmakers are backing his bid for the District 15 seat in the Florida Senate. “I am very honored and encouraged to have the support of so many members of our area’s delegation,” Vivaldi said. “They are all great conservative leaders, and I look forward to working […]

Scott PowersApril 27, 2016

Most of Central Florida’s Republicans in the Florida House of Representatives made a joint endorsement Tuesday of Dean Asher in the Orlando-based Florida Senate District 13 race. Asher announced the endorsements Tuesday from state Reps. Mike Miller of Winter Park, Rene Plasencia of Orlando, Eric Eisnaugle of Orlando, Bob Cortes of Altamonte Springs, Jason Brodeur of Sanford, […]

Mitch PerryNovember 11, 2015

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Like his fellow Republicans in the U.S. Senate race, Carlos Lopez-Cantera will be appearing this weekend at the Republican Party of Florida’s Sunshine Summit, but unlike his opponents, he’ll have a a number of Orlando-area lawmakers by his side supporting him. The lieutenant governor announced endorsements from nine Central Florida Republicans on Wednesday. They are: […]

Frank TorresOctober 13, 2015

St. Cloud Republican state Rep. Mike LaRosa said Tuesday morning he won’t be running for Florida’s 9th Congressional District next year, saying: “Looking ahead to 2016, I’ve received overwhelming encouragement from my family, community and colleagues, and although I’m totally fed up with politicians in Washington D.C. and believe that Washington and Congress need a complete and […]

Tag: mike larosa

Barbara Cady bringing Democratic, feminist connections to HD 42 run

Janet Cruz’s ‘tough haul,’ frustrations of the Democratic House caucus

Bill to deregulate vacation rentals advances in House Committee

Dana Young says Bob Buckhorn should support utility legislation

Why Duval Democrats may retain Reggie Fullwood’s seat despite his guilty plea

Eric Eisnaugle wins another term in busy Central Florida House race filings

Central Florida lawmakers back Peter Vivaldi in SD 15 race

Central Florida Republican lawmakers endorse Dean Asher in SD 13 race

Carlos Lopez-Cantera rolls out nods from 9 Central Florida Republicans

Mike LaRosa passes up run for Congress in 2016