Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 28, 2016

It’s easy to call Chris Sprowls tough. He beat cancer as a teenager; made a name for himself prosecuting violent offenders; and has become one of the go-to guys to get things done in the Florida House. Friends, though, say Sprowls is also a genuinely nice person who cares deeply about his community and the state of […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterMarch 16, 2016

How do you celebrate the end of a Legislative Session? If you’re Florida House and Senate Republicans, you do it with a fundraiser at Universal Orlando. Republican leaders will hold a fundraiser at Universal Orlando on April 9 and 10. The event, first reported by POLITICO Florida reporter Matt Dixon, will benefit the House and […]

Peter SchorschMarch 11, 2016

It’s over. Officially. The contest between Orlando’s Eric Eisnaugle and Pinellas Chris Sprowls to serve as Speaker of the Florida House beginning in 2021 ended Friday evening, just hours after the 2016 Legislative Session came to a fitful conclusion. According to three sources, Eisnaugle personally conceded to Sprowls, who just the day before won over the support […]

Peter SchorschMarch 10, 2016

State Rep. Chris Sprowls, a freshman Republican from Pinellas County, appears to have sewn up the race for Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives with Thursday’s support from fellow freshman Paul Renner. Renner, a Palm Coast Republican, pledged his commitment to Sprowls, of Palm Harbor, in a memo obtained first by FloridaPolitics.com. The move decisively ends the contentious race to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 18, 2016

Paul Renner is seen as Northeast Florida’s best hope for a Florida House Speaker anytime soon. And his PAC reflects the power that he has, as recent fundraising totals show. Through the end of December, the PAC had raised almost $347,000, with almost $33,000 in December. Big dollars came in from General Motors, U.S. Sugar, […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 10, 2016

The start of the 2016 Legislative Session means a cessation of political fundraising – sitting lawmakers are barred from ginning up cash while they legislate. But session begins Tuesday, so the Monday before is the usual orgy of tippling, grip-and-grinning and check writing. House Majority 2016, Senate Majority 2016 and others sent out emails last week detailing the various events, subject […]

Peter SchorschDecember 9, 2015

Shawn Harrison wants to make it clear that he still very much likes Eric Eisnaugle, his colleague in the Florida House. What Harrison did last week was business, not personal. But with his decision to shift his support from Eisnaugle to Pinellas Republican Chris Sprowls, Harrison has changed the narrative about who will be Speaker of […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2015

Word is that the PAC formed by Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry supporters, Build Something That Lasts, had a quiet November in terms of fundraising. With no events, $7,300 was raised, and no Jaguars money was collected ahead of the Jacksonville City Council amphitheater vote, in November. The big donation: $5,000 from Stellar, the company of Curry […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 25, 2015

If you’re reading this, you likely have a positive relationship with the Thanksgiving holiday. This should be especially true for the doughty stalwarts of the #JaxPol universe, where seemingly everyone, from the congressional level down to City Council, have tangible things for which they should be grateful. U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, for one, can be grateful […]

Ryan RayNovember 18, 2015

A House budget panel on agriculture and the environment passed an expansive water policy bill by Rep. Matt Caldwell Wednesday afternoon. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Committee approved HB 7005 by a vote of 11 to 1, with Democratic Rep. José Javier Rodríguez opposing. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has signaled its approval for the bill, as did a number […]

Tag: Paul Renner

For Chris Sprowls, shot at leadership means an opportunity to be “as bold as possible”

House, Senate Republicans to hold fundraiser at Universal Orlando

Speaker’s race is over as Eric Eisnaugle concedes to Chris Sprowls, releases pledges

Chris Sprowls clinches House Speakership for 2021-22

Florida Foundation for Liberty, Paul Renner’s PAC, dazzling with January money

Fundraising galore before start of 2016 Legislative Session

Shawn Harrison says Eric Eisnaugle’s plan to rely on votes from future classes to win Speakership is why he flipped to Chris Sprowls

Lenny Curry supporters’ PAC spends big in November

Thanksgiving, the #JaxPol edition

Long-awaited water policy bill passes House committee