Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 7, 2017

On Monday evening, state Sen. Audrey Gibson won a narrow 8-7 vote of Senate Democrats to become Senate Democratic Leader Designate for the 2018-2020 legislative term. Gibson will succeed current Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon II when his term ends next November. The split was described by one observers as moderates versus progressives, a dynamic which […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 25, 2017

Florida Department of Corrections’s troubled security operations were big talkers Wednesday in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice. DOC Secretary Julie L. Jones addressed staffing patterns, contraband reduction efforts and use-of-force incidents. Major issues faced by the DOC are familiar to longtime observers, including continued staff attrition, overcrowding, increases in contraband, and a secretary confronting […]

Scott PowersOctober 16, 2017

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State Sen. Linda Stewart and state Rep. Bruce Antone announced Monday they are pushing legislation that would require day care centers to install sensor alarms on their transport vans and other vehicles that would alert workers if a child was left inside. Joined by other Democratic members of the Orange County Legislative Caucus, many of […]

Danny McAuliffeOctober 9, 2017

Should Florida law enforcement be required to inform subjects of their right to refuse a search? A Senate panel says that’s a question for another day. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee on Monday postponed a bill (SB 262), filed by Sen. Gary Farmer, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat, that seeks to prevent police from conducting searches without first […]

Scott PowersSeptember 26, 2017

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Three state senators from Orlando, Linda Stewart, Victor Torres and Randolph Bracy have sent a letter to Florida’s U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson to do all they can to help the people of Puerto Rico. Both Rubio, a Republican, and Nelson, a Democrat, have been highly active on that front. Rubio is sending […]

Scott PowersSeptember 18, 2017

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Seminole County Florida lawmakers have sent a protest letter to Duke Energy for not meeting its electricity restoration goals and state Rep. Bob Cortes has asked Duke officials to attend a county delegation meeting Tuesday to look into delays. “Eight days after Hurricane Irma blew through our districts, the struggle for residents and businesses to […]

Phil AmmannJuly 25, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Amber Moody is a new support analyst for the House Office of Information Technology. Off: Michael Ellis is no longer a journal writer/editor for the Legislative Process Division. Off and on: Natasha Sutherland has […]

Scott PowersJuly 10, 2017

Democratic state Sen. Randolph Bracy has thrown his support behind Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum in the 2018 governor’s race. Bracy’s Oakland-based district covers much of west Orange County. “Orlando and Central Floridians can trust that Mayor Gillum will fight fiercely for the issues that matter most to us, from rebuilding our economy, fighting for healthcare […]

Scott PowersJune 21, 2017

The race for the special election to fill Florida House District 44 got off to a big start Tuesday, the day five candidates qualified for the ballot, as Republican John Newstreet‘s campaign held a fundraiser aides say pulled in almost $20,000 and attracted a bevy of influential elected supporters. Newstreet, executive director of the Kissimmee/Osceola […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

The Senate approved legislation Wednesday increasing penalties for trafficking in synthetic opioids including fentanyl and carfentanil, The vote was 37-0 to send the measure back to the House. HB 477 targets fentanyl and related substances that, when administered by themselves or in combination with other drugs, can prove deadly, for tougher sentencing. For example, it would […]

Tag: Randolph Bracy
Image via AP.

Audrey Gibson wins close vote to lead Senate Democrats

Florida Corrections head: ‘We’re working staff to death’

Linda Stewart, Bruce Antone push for day care van alarms

Senate committee passes on search bill for now

Linda Stewart, Victor Torres, Randolph Bracy urging U.S. senators to help Puerto Rico

Seminole County lawmakers want response from Duke Energy

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

Endorsements: Randolph Bracy for Andrew Gillum, Clovis Watson for Gwen Graham

Republican HD 44 candidate John Newstreet fundraiser claims $20K

Senate sends amended version of opioid crackdown bill back to House