Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

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 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 26, 2015

More than three years out, the race to take over for Venice Republican Sen. Nancy Detert is heating up. Republican Nora Patterson jumped into the Senate District 28 race Monday, making her the second candidate in the race after former District 74 Rep. Doug Holder filed in January 2013. Patterson is a former member of […]

Ryan RayAugust 11, 2015

Democrat Edward James says he not only out-raised his opponent incumbent Rep. Ray Pilon last month – he also raised more than all other candidates for the House. According to an analysis conducted by James’ finance chairman and campaign treasurer, James’ July campaign finance haul – $26,388, on top of $10,100 that came into a political committee, New Direction […]

Mitch PerryJuly 14, 2015

Associated Industries of Florida, considered a powerhouse lobbyist group for the business establishment in Tallahassee, has produced their annual scorecard on how often state lawmakers have maintained the AFI line, and the discrepancy isn’t that large between Democrats and Republicans in the state Senate, at least. AIF’s 2015 Voting Records contains each of the state’s 120 legislators voting […]

Ryan RayJuly 10, 2015

Rep. Ray Pilon raised just $1,985 this past month while his opponent in Sarasota’s HD 72, Democrat Edward James, brought in more than $30,000 between his campaign account and an affiliated PAC. That blowout margin bears an asterisk — Pilon was prohibited from taking contributions for most of June because of the Special Session — but it […]

Ryan RayJuly 9, 2015

Democrat Edward James III won’t hold yet his first official fundraiser until next week, but that hasn’t stopped him from raising about a thousand dollars a day since he entered the race last month. James has raised a total of $30,175 according to just-released campaign finance reports, an unusually high figure for a Democratic newcomer. A majority […]

Phil AmmannJune 26, 2015

State Rep. Ray Pilon, claiming “unfinished business,” will not run for the state Senate, instead choosing to seek a final term in the Florida House for 2016. The Sarasota Republican faces Democrat Edward James III in the House District 72 race, making it possibly one of the most competitive races in the state. Pilon told […]

Drew WilsonJune 21, 2015

As of June, none of the 12 Florida Senators running for reelection is facing much of a challenge — Democratic Sen. Jeff Clemens is the only incumbent to draw an opponent so far, but it won’t derail him from another term. District 29 looks set as well, with Democratic Rep. Jim Waldman having a clear path to take over for outgoing Sen. Jeremy […]

Drew WilsonJune 18, 2015

The crash landing that ended the 2015 Regular Legislative Session in the Republican-led Florida House would be a gift to Democrats in any other state, but few seats are in any real danger of flipping come Election Day 2016. With 25 term-limited seats, District 114 is one of the few with a real chance to flip though Democrats […]

Ryan RayJune 17, 2015

After several weeks of deliberation, Edward James III has made it official — the Sarasota-born Democrat told FloridaPolitics.com he filed 2016 campaign paperwork on Tuesday to run in House District 72. James said he was spurred to run by what he called the “cold-heartedness” of the GOP-led House, which abruptly adjourned and left town early last month in […]

Tag: Ray Pilon

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

Race to replace Nancy Detert heats up, 3 years out

Edward James says his HD 72 July fundraising is No. 1 among all House candidates

Florida Democratic state Senators score high in AIF’s 2015 voting scorecard

Ray Pilon, out-raised in June, unfazed by Democratic challenge

First-time candidate Edward James tops $30k in HD 72 fundraising

Ray Pilon skips Senate run, opts for final term in HD 72

Keep your eyes on these 8 state Senate campaigns

Florida House races continue to take shape in central, south Florida

Democrat Edward James files for 2016 House run in Sarasota’s HD 72