Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan RayNovember 18, 2015

A House budget panel on agriculture and the environment passed an expansive water policy bill by Rep. Matt Caldwell Wednesday afternoon. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Committee approved HB 7005 by a vote of 11 to 1, with Democratic Rep. José Javier Rodríguez opposing. The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has signaled its approval for the bill, as did a number […]

Ryan RayNovember 11, 2015

Republican Rep. Ray Pilon narrowly topped his Democratic challenger Edward James in October fundraising, amid what has become a hotly contested race for a moderate-leaning swing seat in Sarasota ahead of 2016 statehouse elections. Pilon, elected to the House in 2010 when he ousted then-incumbent Keith Fitzgerald, raised $8,000 during last month’s fundraising reporting period in HD 72. The former […]

Drew WilsonNovember 9, 2015

House District 73 Republican Rep. Greg Steube has jumped out to a sizable fundraising lead in the race to take over for Venice Republican Sen. Nancy Detert in Senate District 28. Contributions to the Steube campaign came in at about $46,000 last month, putting the candidate at $171,778 cash on-hand through the end of October. […]

Ryan RayNovember 2, 2015

A gaggle of Republican House members gathered outside the Capitol Monday morning to register their opposition to a bill they call the “home tax” – and to smash it in effigy. “Any time you are taking money from homeowners, it’s a tax hike,” Rep. Dennis Baxley said. “We always have to be vigilant because increased costs […]

Drew WilsonOctober 12, 2015

Campaign donations are filling campaign accounts in Southwest Florida, with Republican Reps. Jim Boyd, Ray Pilon and Greg Steube each posting their best fundraising reports since the start of the 2015 session. Boyd, running unopposed in House District 71, added $39,000 in contributions this past month, raising his on-hand cash to $56,246 for his fourth […]

Ryan RayOctober 6, 2015

A House panel Tuesday morning advanced a bill to grant concealed weapons licensees to carry their guns openly in Florida. Or as sponsor Rep. Matt Gaetz put it, restore a right “granted not by government, but by God.” Despite an admonishment from chairman Carlos Trujillo to keep questions to the text of the bill itself and avoid “philosophical” […]

Ryan RaySeptember 24, 2015

Just hours after Sen. Nancy Detert announced she will forgo the remainder of her state Senate term to pursue a seat on the Sarasota County Commissioner, former Sarasota Rep. Doug Holder announced he will run to succeed her in 2016. Holder was originally slated to pursue the seat in 2018, when Detert was slated to term out, but her […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 24, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida, the state’s premier business lobby, will hold its sixth annual Florida Water Forum today. The forum begins 9 a.m. at the Renaissance Orlando at Sea World. “This meeting will provide participants with the most current information from Florida’s policy leaders in the Legislature and state government on issues relating to water […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 10, 2015

Newly filed campaign finance reports show Democratic House District 72 challenger Edward James III added another fundraising win over incumbent Republican Rep. Ray Pilon, though neither camp brought in much for the month. James’ campaign account took in $4,540 in August, with nearly all of the money coming in the way of small checks from […]

Drew WilsonAugust 31, 2015

Florida Division of Elections records show Republican Robert Wyatt has bowed out of the District 72 race, officially clearing the way for Sarasota Republican Rep. Ray Pilon to run for his final term without in-party competition. Wyatt, the treasurer for the Republican Party of Sarasota, filed for the seat in March and loaned his campaign $150,000 within […]

Tag: Ray Pilon
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Long-awaited water policy bill passes House committee

Ray Pilon raises $8k in October; challenger Edward James takes in $7k

October gives Greg Steube sizable fundraising lead in SD 28 race

Lawmakers vow to “smash the home tax”

Money flows in Southwest Florida House races

House panel pulls trigger on open carry

Doug Holder makes it official, jumps into 2016 race for SD 28

Associated Industries of Florida to hold water forum Friday

HD 72 Democratic hopeful Edward James edges Ray Pilon in August fundraising

Sarasota Republican drops out of HD 72 race, makes way for Ray Pilon re-election bid