Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonNovember 7, 2017

A pair of Republican state lawmakers filed bills Tuesday to strengthen a 2016 law capping contracts between Florida governments and companies that support the anti-Israel “Boycott, Divestiture, and Sanctions” movement. Current law allows Florida municipal governments to do up to $1 million of business each year with anti-Israel companies, but the 2018 measures, HB 545 […]

Guest AuthorAugust 16, 2017

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A mayor who received $84,529 from a side job paid for by taxpayers. A grand jury report stating that government officials were “spending large amounts of taxpayer dollars on what appeared to be pet projects of elected officials.” An inspector general’s report finding over $2 million in questionable expenditures and political cronyism involving a city commissioner. […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 10, 2017

May saw blockbuster fundraising for “Florida Foundation for Liberty,” the political committee of future House Speaker Paul Renner. The total May haul: $266,000. With June obviously being where the rubber met the road in the leadership race, worth watching was how much of that May money was deployed, and to where it went. It turned out […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 23, 2017

Several state lawmakers — including Reps. Scott Plakon, Neil Combee, and Randy Fine — have received messages from their constituents asking them to block Grant from running for re-election and running for Speaker during the 2022-24 term, saying the Tampa Republican has already served eight years in office and any more would be in violation of the […]

Peter SchorschJune 18, 2017

Rep. Randy Fine has officially dropped out of the Speaker’s race, telling his colleagues he would rather be a “member of a unified team than the leader of a fractured one.” In a lengthy email to his classmates Friday night, the Brevard County Republican explained why initially got into the Speaker’s race and why — […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 16, 2017

Byron Donalds started thinking about running for Speaker early on in his legislative career. He knew he could be a voice for change and offer a different perspective than some of his classmates, but also knew the traditional method for electing a leader meant the Speakership was unlikely for a lesser known freshman. Then the […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 15, 2017

Erin Grall first thought about making a run for legislative leadership during the 2016 election cycle. At the time, she said it didn’t seem like there would be a chance for her to run for Speaker. But then Republican members voted to change the rules governing the election of their leader. Now every freshman had […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 8, 2017

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Florida is taking extra steps to boost security at Jewish day schools across the state. Lawmakers tucked $654,000 into the fiscal 2017-18 budget, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott law week, for security funding for Jewish day schools throughout Florida. The request for funding came after a string of bomb threats against Jewish institutions […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2017

After Florida Politics’ most recent report about the mostly behind-the-scenes scrum within the Florida House GOP freshman class to determine which of its members will one day be Speaker, the conclusion was that for either Jamie Grant or Frank White to win, one of them would have to drop out of the race quickly. Not much sooner after this was […]

Peter SchorschMay 25, 2017

Rep. Joe Gruters is backing Rep. Paul Renner to be House Speaker in 2022-24. The Sarasota Republican said while he thinks everyone in the running for the position would do a great job, he felt Renner is the best person at this time. Gruters said he’s decided to make his position known because he didn’t want […]

Tag: Randy Fine
We can feel it in the air: College football is back! Image via Katalina Enriquez/FreshTake Florida.

Jeff Brandes, Randy Fine file bills to slash state contracts with anti-Israel companies

Richard Corcoran: Why community redevelopment agencies have to go

After winning Speaker’s race, a quiet month of fundraising for Paul Renner

Is U.S. Term Limits coordinating a grassroots campaign against Jamie Grant?

Epilogue: Randy Fine explains to colleagues why he dropped out of Speaker’s race

Rules changes sparked Byron Donalds to seek Speakership

Could Erin Grall become ‘Madam Speaker?’

State budget includes $654K to enhance security at Jewish day schools

With Frank White out of Speaker’s race is Northeast Florida ready to rally to one of its own?

Joe Gruters makes his pick for House Speaker