Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 26, 2016

Robert and Nancy Watkins may be the two most essential players in Florida’s political universe. Through their South Tampa accounting firm moves tens, if not hundreds, of millions in political contributions and expenditures. Nancy is the treasurer for dozens of candidates and committees, including Conservative Solutions PAC, the most prominent super PAC supporting Marco Rubio’s bid for the White House. Among […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 6, 2016

Tampa House Democrat Janet Cruz is emotionally torn. The HD 62 Representative has worked hard over the past year in working to fundraise and recruit candidates to run for the state House in 2016, all part of her job duties as she is scheduled to become the incoming House Minority Leader in 2017. It’s a […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2016

Political prognostication is not an exact science despite what forecasters and pundits would have readers believe. Many fall somewhere between the obvious and the inane, and often take a familiar and non-threatening shape. “The race for (insert candidate here) comes down to which campaign turns out their voters,” or some similar form. Imagine a sports […]

Jim RosicaDecember 9, 2015

The Orlando Sentinel’s loss is Florida Politics’ gain. Scott Michael Powers, a veteran reporter who has worked at the Sentinel the past 15 years, is joining the Florida Politics roster of writers, publisher Peter Schorsch announced Wednesday. Powers – who for the past five years has covered government, politics, NASA, Kennedy Space Center and business – also will be leading […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

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Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, a 10-year veteran of the Naples Daily News, is leaving the paper to join Florida Politics’ growing lineup of writers. She will continue to write on regional and statewide politics and policy from her Southwest Florida base. “Jenna’s been on my must-read list since she began covering Florida politics,” said Peter Schorsch, publisher […]

Peter SchorschOctober 4, 2015

Earlier this week, POLITICO ran “5 Reasons to Bet $5 on Marco Rubio” and tried to make the case for a path to the presidency for Florida’s talented junior senator. Rubio has had very good showings in the first two debates — the same in which Jeb Bush had performed at what charitably might be called a workmanlike […]

Tag: Peter Schorsch
Hall of Presidents (screenshot Scott Gustin)

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

Peter Schorsch: Politicos watch parade — of candidates in 2016 races

Janet Cruz undecided about whether to run for new Senate seat

Peter Schorsch: 5 bold predictions for 2016

Political reporting veteran Scott Powers joining Extensive Enterprises Media

Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster joining Florida Politics

Peter Schorsch: Is it time to bet on Jeb Bush again?