Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryDecember 2, 2016

There is no region in the country that has been more involved in engaging with Cuba over the past five years than Tampa, but where that relationship goes in the future is now at the whims of President-elect Donald Trump. “Until a month ago, I thought that the biggest obstacle to trade between Tampa and Cuba […]

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2016

Republican Shawn Harrison held on in a rough-and-tumble race against challenger Lisa Montelione to represent House District 63. With all precincts reporting, Harrison had 51 percent of 71,483 votes cast. Montelione held a close early lead but Harrison overcame that and steadily pulled ahead as the night progressed. “Obviously, we’re very happy,” Harrison said in […]

Mitch PerryOctober 21, 2016

Forget about Marco Rubio in 2020, what about Rick Scott? Troy Kinsey from Bay News 9 reports that “some GOP operatives are floating him as a potential presidential contender in 2020, should Trump lose in November.” Kinsey then quotes all of one lone such operative in his story. But it does make for a good headline. Now, what about Marco Rubio? The […]

Peter SchorschOctober 4, 2016

Jackie Toledo, the oft-controversial Republican running for Florida House District 60, has a major fundraiser planned for Tuesday. And while the invitation for the event is studded with dozens of local Republican heavyweights, I’m still not sure what to make of Toledo. Is she, as I want to believe, the latest in a line of […]

Peter SchorschOctober 3, 2016

Hello, October. This is the final full month of the 2016 campaign cycle. In five weeks, we will know so much more about the future of the country, the state and our communities. But, no matter what, life will go on. For those in “The Process” — Florida Politics’ term for the unending legislative campaign/legislative session […]

Jim RosicaOctober 1, 2016

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La Gaceta, Tampa’s trilingual weekly newspaper, has endorsed incumbent Shawn Harrison in the state House District 63 race. Harrison, a one-term Republican, faces Democrat Lisa Montelione in the November general election. The area, which includes New Tampa, has been a swing district. An editorial in the newspaper — publishing articles in English, Spanish and Italian — said that “normally, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 13, 2016

The issue of school choice and vouchers is a touchy one for Democrats. In the Democratic Party platform completed last weekend in Orlando, it declares support for “high-quality public charter schools” and opposition to “for-profit charter schools focused on making a profit off of public resources.” The national NAACP, however, is against public support for school choice AND vouchers, saying it takes […]

Peter SchorschMay 4, 2016

The shock from the news that the Tampa Bay Times has purchased and folded the Tampa Tribune has yet to wear off. In fact, there are probably a few hundred (maybe thousands) subscribers to the Trib who don’t pay attention to social media (think of all those seniors at Sun City Center) and were likely […]

Peter SchorschApril 27, 2016

Just when you think Tampa Bay’s newspaper wars have settled down, along comes La Gaceta publisher Patrick Manteiga to stir things up. Writing in his “As We Heard It” column, Manteiga reports that “sales and circulation staff, writers, graphic artists and just about everyone else at the Tampa Tribune are looking for jobs.” That’s not […]

Mitch PerryMay 27, 2015

The consensus amongst political pundits in Florida is that state Republicans won’t be hurt by the budget impasse that led the Legislature to break three days early last month. Those observers, though, acknowledge it could make a difference on the margins, in those few swing legislative districts across the state. One is House District 63, occupied […]

Tag: Patrick Manteiga

Donald Trump’s unknown policy on dealing with Cuba worries Tampa advocates

Shawn Harrison holds on in rough-and-tumble HD 63 race

Mitch Perry Report for 10.21.16 — Rick Scott in 2020?

What to make of House candidate Jackie Toledo?

Here’s where stuff stands in Tampa Bay politics — the ‘it’s October’ edition

La Gaceta endorses Shawn Harrison for HD 63

Darryl Rouson and Ed Narain battle it out on policy in SD 19 NAACP-sponsored debate

Patrick Manteiga was right about demise of Tampa Trib; so was Noah Pransky

Patrick Manteiga serves up quite a rumor about the Tampa Tribune

Mike Reedy says Shawn Harrison showed no leadership in 2015 Legislative Session