Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 3, 2017

Two weeks ago, state Rep. Janet Cruz was part of a group of Democrats angry at Florida Democratic Party Chair Stephen Bittel for racially-tinged remarks made backstage at the Party’s biggest annual fundraising event. Now, the House Minority Leader from Tampa says those bitter feelings are mostly forgotten as the party looks to seize on anti-Donald Trump […]

Phil AmmannMay 17, 2017

Senate Democrats are ready to work with Gov. Rick Scott should he veto the massive education reform bill pushed by House leaders in the final days of the 2017 Session. Mary Ellen Klas of the Miami Herald reports that Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon is prepared to help prevent an override of Scott’s veto, under […]

Joe ReedyMay 3, 2017

Devard Darling said his family can finally feel closure after the Florida Legislature passed a bill on Tuesday to compensate his parents $1.8 million for the death of his twin brother, Devaughn Darling, a Florida State football player who died during team drills. The bill’s passage comes more than 16 years after Devaughn Darling’s death. […]

Scott PowersApril 20, 2017

Five Democratic lawmakers led by Senate Minority Leader Oscar Braynon are preparing to file a brief with the Florida Supreme Court in support of Orlando’s State Attorney Aramis Ayala in her effort to challenge Gov. Rick Scott‘s power to take cases away from her. Braynon, state Sens. Jeff Clemens, Perry Thurston, and Gary Farmer, and state […]

Mitch PerryApril 19, 2017

Andrew Gillum is refusing to forgive Miami Republican Frank Artiles, who apologized on the Senate floor Wednesday for using the N-word toward two black lawmakers. The Tallahassee mayor, an African-American who is running for governor next year, says Artiles needs to resign from the Florida Senate. “We have struggled with days when these words were too common,” Gillum […]

Jim RosicaApril 19, 2017

Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon says fellow Sen. Frank Artiles‘ apology for using racial epithets and obscene insults is “not enough” and “the Senate must be compelled to act.” Braynon, who is black, issued a statement Wednesday after news that Artiles, a Cuban-American Republican, hurled insults at African-American Democratic Sens. Perry Thurston and Audrey Gibson at […]

Staff ReportsMarch 23, 2017

A top priority of Senate President Joe Negron’s took a hit this week, after Sen. Marco Rubio said a plan to build reservoirs wouldn’t get federal money and would wipe out farming communities. According to POLITICO Florida, Rubio said “there’s no federal money” for Negron’s proposed reservoirs. “We’re going to end up with nothing,” he […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 22, 2017

Sen. Rob Bradley indicated he is willing to support opening up the medical marijuana market more than he first proposed, but continues to believe vertical integration is the right system for Florida. Bradley, an Orange Park Republican, filed one of five medical marijuana implementing bills this Legislative Session. His proposal (SB 406) would, among other […]

Scott PowersMarch 7, 2017

Democratic leaders Janet Cruz of the House of Representatives and Oscar Braynon of the Florida Senate slammed Gov. Rick Scott‘s primary focal point — jobs creation — Tuesday by arguing that the jobs he’s attracting are low-wage, low-benefit. Scott boasted that Florida “is on the verge of becoming the job creation capital of the world!” and […]

Jim RosicaMarch 5, 2017

This is the first legislative session that South Florida’s Oscar Braynon II will be the Senate’s Democratic Leader. The 40-year-old, who succeeded term-limited former Leader Arthenia Joyner, was first elected in 2011 after serving in the House and on the Miami Gardens City Council before that. Though he’s in the minority, Braynon has high hopes […]

Tag: Oscar Braynon

Janet Cruz reflects on racially-tinged incident at Florida Democrats gala

Senate Democrats could help block budget veto override – with caveats

Deceased FSU player’s brother says bill provides closure

Oscar Braynon, four other Democrats, set to file in support of Aramis Ayala

Andrew Gillum: Frank Artiles needs to go

Oscar Braynon to Frank Artiles: Apology not accepted

Report: Marco Rubio says ‘there’s no federal money’ for reservoir south of Lake O

Senate begins discussion of medical marijuana implementing legislation

Janet Cruz and Oscar Braynon slam quality of Rick Scott’s jobs

2017 Legislative Session preview: Oscar Braynon on juvenile justice, incentives and Chance the Rapper