Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJuly 10, 2017

May saw blockbuster fundraising for “Florida Foundation for Liberty,” the political committee of future House Speaker Paul Renner. The total May haul: $266,000. With June obviously being where the rubber met the road in the leadership race, worth watching was how much of that May money was deployed, and to where it went. It turned out […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 30, 2017

For Paul Renner, the path to winning Friday’s 2022 Florida House Speaker election in Orlando — with 16 votes in the first round — was not a sure thing. First of all, he lost his first election for the House — a three-vote defeat to Rep. Jay Fant, a current Attorney General candidate, in House District […]

Peter SchorschJune 30, 2017

Rep. Paul Renner has won the support of his Republican classmates, grabbing the title of class leader and likely House Speaker beginning in 2022. The GOP freshmen class met in Orlando on Friday to vote on their class leader. The much-anticipated election pitted Renner against Byron Donalds, Erin Grall and Jamie Grant, who was seen as Renner’s […]

Scott PowersJune 30, 2017

The last-ditch politicking has begun behind closed doors at an Orlando airport hotel. Freshman state Reps. Byron Donalds of Naples, Erin Grall of Vero Beach, Jamie Grant of Tampa and Paul Renner of Palm Coast, and most of the other 23 Republicans in the class gathered Friday at the Orlando International Airport Hampton Inn & Suites, […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 23, 2017

Several state lawmakers — including Reps. Scott Plakon, Neil Combee, and Randy Fine — have received messages from their constituents asking them to block Grant from running for re-election and running for Speaker during the 2022-24 term, saying the Tampa Republican has already served eight years in office and any more would be in violation of the […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2017

With just one week until freshman House Republicans are scheduled to vote for their leader, it appears lawmakers have agreed upon rules governing the election. According to a copy of the rules obtained by FloridaPolitics.com, members will not be allowed to abstain from the vote; discussion between members between the announcement of the eliminated candidate […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 19, 2017

As we continue to read the tea leaves in the current Florida House Speaker’s race, we see evidence of how Northeast Florida is folding in behind Paul Renner. The latest example: an email sent out by Renner on behalf of Rep. Jason Fischer, pitching a big-dollar fundraiser with a deep host committee and an even more interesting […]

Peter SchorschJune 18, 2017

Rep. Randy Fine has officially dropped out of the Speaker’s race, telling his colleagues he would rather be a “member of a unified team than the leader of a fractured one.” In a lengthy email to his classmates Friday night, the Brevard County Republican explained why initially got into the Speaker’s race and why — […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 16, 2017

Byron Donalds started thinking about running for Speaker early on in his legislative career. He knew he could be a voice for change and offer a different perspective than some of his classmates, but also knew the traditional method for electing a leader meant the Speakership was unlikely for a lesser known freshman. Then the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 15, 2017

Erin Grall first thought about making a run for legislative leadership during the 2016 election cycle. At the time, she said it didn’t seem like there would be a chance for her to run for Speaker. But then Republican members voted to change the rules governing the election of their leader. Now every freshman had […]

Tag: Paul Renner
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

After winning Speaker’s race, a quiet month of fundraising for Paul Renner

Paul Renner wins, and so does ‘Team Northeast Florida’

Northeast Florida’s Paul Renner wins vote to put him in line to be House Speaker in 2022-24

Speaker contest underway for 2022 House leadership

Is U.S. Term Limits coordinating a grassroots campaign against Jamie Grant?

Final rules set for House Speaker’s race voting

Paul Renner headlining major fundraiser for Jason Fischer

Epilogue: Randy Fine explains to colleagues why he dropped out of Speaker’s race

Rules changes sparked Byron Donalds to seek Speakership

Could Erin Grall become ‘Madam Speaker?’