Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 6, 2018

Last week, Sunshine State News, the right-leaning news website covering Florida politics, celebrated its eighth anniversary. In the brutal economy of journalism, that’s no small feat. Sunshine State News has been around longer than Florida Politics or POLITICO Florida. And it’s maintained a presence in Tallahassee when other legacy media outlets, such as the Palm […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 21, 2018

Well-regarded research strategy firm Bendixen and Amandi International released a poll of the CD 27 Democratic field Tuesday showing as-yet-unannounced candidate Donna Shalala holding a solid lead among likely primary voters. First, let me say this: I have no qualms about the poll. Sure, it was paid for by Team Shalala, but the pollster is […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 31, 2018

Rep. Jason Brodeur is telling the state’s top health officials to get to work on medical marijuana—or they won’t get paid. The Sanford Republican has offered an amendment to the House’s 2018-19 budget proposal that would freeze more than $1.9 million in salaries and benefits for the Department of Health‘s brass, including Secretary and state Surgeon General Celeste […]

Mitch PerryDecember 16, 2017

South Florida law professor and 2016 Democratic congressional candidate Tim Canova is calling for a congressional investigation into why Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes destroyed all of the ballots in his 2016 primary race against Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District. Canova lost to Wasserman Schultz by 13 points in their […]

Jim RosicaDecember 5, 2017

The Florida Democratic Party now says Sen. Jack Latvala “must resign” in light of “the numerous allegations of sexual harassment against” him. The party released a statement Tuesday through its spokeswoman, Johanna Cervone. It follows calls from fellow GOP senators also calling for him to, or suggesting that he, step down from office. “Latvala’s behavior is […]

Jim RosicaDecember 4, 2017

Planes-autoridades-sur-de-florida-huracan-matthew-rick-scott.jpg

Gov. Rick Scott‘s top lawyer has – at least for now – turned down a request to appoint a special prosecutor from the attorney representing Rachel Perrin Rogers, a Senate staffer who has accused Sen. Jack Latvala of sexual harassment. The reason: Scott doesn’t yet have “the legal authority” to appoint a prosecutor. “This morning, […]

Ana CeballosNovember 10, 2017

Arek Sarkissian, the chief of the one-man Tallahassee bureau for the Naples Daily News, announced Friday he will be joining POLITICO Florida early next month to cover medical marijuana and gambling. “The Team of POLITICO Florida is fearless in reporting Florida’s government,” Sarkissian told Florida Politics. “They exemplify the dogged reporting this state’s journalism is […]

Ana CeballosNovember 5, 2017

After six women anonymously accused Sen. Jack Latvala of sexually harassing and groping them, at least five women who have worked closely with the powerful senator have come to his defense. The allegations against Latvala, a Republican candidate for governor who turned 66 Friday, range from him grabbing a female lobbyist’s buttocks to making unsolicited […]

Peter SchorschNovember 3, 2017

In the eyes of Jack Latvala, recent accusations of rampant sexual harassment in the Florida Senate are becoming more like a witch hunt than real news. On Thursday, the Senate budget chief offered a sharp retort to POLITICO Florida reporter Alexandra Glorioso over the suggestions he acted improperly with a female lobbyist, despite an affidavit […]

Peter SchorschOctober 27, 2017

This morning, POLITICO Florida reported that incoming Senate Democratic leader Jeff Clemens apologized for having an affair with a lobbyist during the last legislative session. “The affair between Clemens and lobbyist Devon West came to a head at the end of the regular spring lawmaking session, when West came into possession of Clemens’ Apple laptop, and […]

Tag: POLITICO Florida

What’s next for Sunshine State News?

Is Donna Shalala ‘dominating’ the CD 27 field?

Jason Brodeur to Health Dep’t: No pay till progress on marijuana

Tim Canova wants a state and federal investigation into why Broward County SOE destroyed ballots in 2016 race

Florida Democratic Party: Jack Latvala ‘must resign’

Request denied: Rick Scott won’t (yet) appoint special prosecutor in Jack Latvala case

Personnel note: Arek Sarkissian to join POLITICO Florida

Jack Latvala allies come to his defense after sexual harassment claims

Jack Latvala slams POLITICO reporting as ‘fake news’

Thoughts on L’Affaire Clemens