Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMay 1, 2016

Among the four top statewide officials, no one walked away a winner from last week’s battle over the next insurance commissioner. Neither Gov. Rick Scott nor CFO Jeff Atwater got the candidate he wanted, with both settling on the third name Atwater threw out at Friday’s emergency Cabinet meeting, David Altmaier. And that was by a design that Atwater himself, […]

Peter SchorschApril 28, 2016

Monday’s Cabinet meeting was nothing like any of the other meetings. It was dramatic, intense, awkward, and anticlimactic — all at the same time. After four interviews by candidates for the post of Insurance Commissioner, Gov. Rick Scott read from a prepared statement and moved to appoint Jeffrey Bragg—a man whose legal eligibility for the job continues […]

Staff ReportsApril 18, 2016

Veteran journalist and award-winning writer and editor Rosanne Dunkelberger has been named Editor at Large for INFLUENCE Magazine and the websites of Extensive Enterprises Media. She will work from Tallahassee. Now a publishing consultant, Rosanne was the editor of Tallahassee Magazine for more than 10 years. She previously worked in the newsroom and advertising departments […]

Peter SchorschApril 11, 2016

If you drive into any one of our contiguous sister states, you’re treated to a sign cheerily announcing “Welcome to Florida!” and bearing reminders of two exotic imports that have decreasing relevance to our state’s economy — an image of an orange and Gov. Rick Scott’s name. Beneath these large signs are smaller signs that […]

Peter SchorschApril 10, 2016

Is State Sen. Greg Evers becoming the Hamlet of the Florida Panhandle? Reports first floated last year that the Okaloosa County Republican was toying with the idea of running for Santa Rosa County sheriff, to replace the retiring incumbent there. He was later mentioned as eyeing the job of Okaloosa County’s property appraiser. And Pensacola political blogger Rick Outzen added a 2018 run for Commissioner of Agriculture to […]

Mitch PerryMarch 30, 2016

With the 2016 Florida Legislative Session now in their rear view mirrors, the entire Pinellas County delegation – sans HD 65 Republican Chris Sprowls – discussed various aspects of what just went on in Tallahassee on Wednesday before a robust Suncoast Tiger Bay Club audience at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. The delegation skews heavily Republican, […]

Peter SchorschMarch 27, 2016

Another year passes, and another Rick Scott Chief of Staff is out the door. The Governor’s office announced last week that Kim McDougal will succeed Melissa Sellers in the top staff position, making McDougal Scott’s fifth CoS in six years. Which makes us wonder: Where are they now? Mike Prendergast, a retired Army colonel, moved over to become Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, […]

Peter SchorschMarch 16, 2016

The most common formulation for political failure in a presidential campaign is this: It was too little, too late. But in the case of Marco Rubio, it was too little, too soon. Rubio withdrew from the presidential race Tuesday, another patch of bloodstained pavement on Trump Boulevard. Our self-described favorite son managed to lose 66 of the […]

Peter SchorschMarch 2, 2016

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; but there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out. Mudville, in this case, is Tallahassee. And Casey is a stand-in for […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 29, 2016

If you want to better understand this year’s presidential election, you should read about a campaign almost 200 years old. In 1828, Andrew Jackson became the first president of the United States who wasn’t a founding father or son of a founding father. Jackson rode a wave of anti-Washington sentiment all the way to the […]

Tag: Peter Schorsch

Peter Schorsch: Testy process, minimum wage debate, geese tips

Peter Schorsch: Rick Scott, Cabinet continue to tussle over Insurance Commissioner

Rosanne Dunkelberger joins Extensive Enterprises Media

Peter Schorsch: Bureaucracy fails to deliver Rick Scott’s pro-business boasts

Peter Schorsch: The Top Five stories from Tallahassee – and more

Pinellas lawmakers talk 2016 Session, advice for Rick Scott, and who they think will be president

Peter Schorsch: Five big stories in Tallahassee last week

Peter Schorsch: Marco Rubio talked a good game, rarely delivered

Peter Schorsch: No joy in Mudville, the Legislature struck out

Peter Schorsch: Andrew Jackson wrote this tune, Donald Trump is just singing along