Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 31, 2016

Everyone expected Florida to play an important role in politics this year. And why wouldn’t they? Presidential hopefuls hailed from here; the state’s electoral votes were coveted; and its Senate race could have determined control of the U.S. Senate. But just like many predictions in 2016, some of the prophecies for Florida’s outsized role on […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 28, 2016

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam raised more than $2 million in 2016, boosting his war chest ahead of a likely 2018 gubernatorial bid. State records show Florida Grown, Putnam’s political committee, raised more than $2.3 million through Nov. 30. The committee has raised more than $6.3 million since February 2015, according to state campaign finance records. […]

Staff ReportsDecember 22, 2016

They can’t all be winners, but it’s fair to say several top Florida politicians had one heck of a 2016. In the winter edition of INFLUENCE Magazine, we recognize some of the runners-up for 2016 politician of the year. Sure, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry may have grabbed the top spot, but these Floridians also had […]

Brendan FarringtonDecember 16, 2016

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham says she wants to run for governor, and she plans to run for governor. But there’s one very important factor that’s weighing on her decision: her husband has cancer. “Every part of me wants to run for governor, that’s what I feel passionate about, that’s what I know I need […]

Jim RosicaDecember 8, 2016

The push to draft Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum to run for governor has picked up two more supporters. Mayor Lauren Poe of Gainesville and Mayor Eric Jones of West Park hopped on the bandwagon Thursday. Gillum, a 37-year-old Democrat, has been the capital’s mayor since 2014. He first was a city commissioner, the youngest person ever […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 8, 2016

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The 2018 gubernatorial race has officially begun — even though none of the likely candidates have filed paperwork to run. In an email Thursday, the Republican Governors Association blasted outgoing Rep. Gwen Graham, one of several Democrats considering a 2018 run. The association said Graham’s office hasn’t responded to Freedom of Information Act requests made […]

Mitch PerryDecember 7, 2016

“Image is everything” that great philosopher, Andre Agassi, once said in a series of television ads for Canon in the early 1990’s. Though a bit of an exaggeration, there’s no question that the image of the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee has taken a significant body blow following its reorganization meeting on Monday night. To recap: Party Chair Ione Townsend concluded that the party’s by-laws […]

Mitch PerryNovember 18, 2016

What the hell do you have to lose? That was, of course, Donald Trump‘s rather crude appeal to black voters in our last national nightmare of a campaign that mercifully concluded 10 days ago. But that line could be one offered to Florida Democrats, in the wake of the movement to get John Morgan to run […]

Mitch PerryNovember 8, 2016

Charlie Crist has defeated David Jolly in Florida’s 13th Congressional District by four percentage points, 52 percent to 48 percent. The Associated Press called the race with 239 precincts out of 241 reporting. His victory will be framed as his political comeback, following two rough losses statewide for U.S. Senate in 2010 and governor in 2014. Crist originally […]

Anne LindbergOctober 21, 2016

As the election enters the homestretch, a group of African-American mayors and former mayors from across the U.S. have jumped on the bus for Hillary Clinton — literally. They’re taking a bus around Florida on the “Souls to Polls Train” to take a message to the African-American and Latin communities in particular — elect Hillary. “Her message […]

Tag: Philip Levine
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Infamous dates: The moments that shaped Florida politics in 2016

Adam Putnam political committee brings in more than $2.3 million in 2016

Philip Levine among INFLUENCE Magazine’s 2016 Politicians of the Year

Husband’s cancer is a factor in Gwen Graham’s decision to run for governor

Andrew Gillum is “real deal” for governor, supporters say

Email Insights: Republican Governors Association takes aim at Gwen Graham

Mitch Perry Report for 12.7.16 – The Hillsborough County DEC melts down

Mitch Perry Report for 11.18.16 — John Morgan for the people?

Charlie Crist defeats David Jolly in CD 13 race

African-American mayors bring a message to St. Pete and Tampa: Vote for Hillary