Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJanuary 4, 2018

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Debra Bellanti recognizes that there are those in the Democratic Party who think the odds are against her beating Republican incumbent Jackie Toledo in House District 60 in 2018. But the South Tampa-based marketing strategist and creative director in the health care industry begs to differ. “I’m in it to win it,” she said Thursday morning. “I’m not […]

Peter SchorschOctober 4, 2016

Jackie Toledo, the oft-controversial Republican running for Florida House District 60, has a major fundraiser planned for Tuesday. And while the invitation for the event is studded with dozens of local Republican heavyweights, I’m still not sure what to make of Toledo. Is she, as I want to believe, the latest in a line of […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 16, 2016

The House District 63 race between Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison and Democratic challenger Lisa Montelione is expected to be one of the most competitive in Florida this fall. The North Hillsborough County swing district — which includes much of New Tampa, Forest Hills, North Tampa and the USF community — has flipped back and forth over the past three election cycles, with […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 7, 2016

David Singer, the South Tampa-based land use attorney now running as a Democrat in the Florida House District 60 race, has received a nice boost to his campaign by getting the endorsement of all seven members of the Tampa City Council. Singer is running against Republican Jackie Toledo in the race on Nov. 8. Toledo, a professional […]

Mitch PerryAugust 31, 2016

The Republican race for House District 60 was a nail-biter Tuesday night, with civil engineer Jackie Toledo getting just 246 more votes (out of 12,528 cast) than businesswoman Rebecca Smith, giving her a less than two-percentage-point victory. Smith was the clear GOP establishment favorite in the race, but obviously, not among the electorate. Toledo raised […]

Joe HendersonAugust 30, 2016

Jackie Toledo narrowly held off establishment favorite Rebecca Smith Tuesday in the Republican House District 60. Toledo will oppose Democrat David Singer in the November general election. Singer was unopposed in the primary. With all precincts reporting, Toledo held a 222-vote margin out of more than 12,000 votes cast. The district includes all of Davis […]

Peter SchorschAugust 28, 2016

There are less than 48 hours before Election Day and in both local politics and the weather forecast, it’s the calm before the storm. One of the most difficult aspects of being in this game is the waiting. All of the television ads and direct mail and brochures and yard signs have been produced and sent […]

Mitch PerryAugust 26, 2016

Incoming Florida Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Jack Latvala said Friday a lack of mass transit in the Tampa Bay area has become a bigger problem than ever, and he blasted his fellow Republicans in Tallahassee for failing to lead on the issue. “We’ve got a lot of folks in my party that just bury their head in the sand when […]

Staff ReportsAugust 25, 2016

There are just a few weeks until the election, and organizations across the state are rolling out endorsements for state and federal candidates. Several organizations — the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Retail Federation, and the Service Employees International Union Florida — issued endorsements. — Rebecca Negron has received the backing of James Dobson, the […]

Joe HendersonAugust 24, 2016

Jackie Toledo has made the repeal of some immigration reforms a centerpiece of her campaign against Rebecca Smith for the House District 60 seat in next week’s Republican primary. In a recent mailer to voters, she vowed to seek the repeal of a Republican-passed law that grant in-state college tuition to what she called “illegal […]

Tag: Rebecca Smith

Democrat Debra Bellanti ‘in it to win it’ for HD 60

What to make of House candidate Jackie Toledo?

Shawn Harrison and Lisa Montelione clash on education issues at Tampa Tiger Bay Forum

Entire Tampa City Council comes out in support of David Singer in House District 60 race

David Singer compares Jackie Toledo to Donald Trump as the HD 60 general election race begins

Jackie Toledo narrowly defeats ‘establishment favorite’ Rebecca Smith in HD 60 primary

Here’s where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay politics — the ‘counting down the hours ‘ edition

Jack Latvala says his GOP colleagues have their ‘heads in the sand when it comes to transportation’

Endorsement Watch: Florida Medical Association, Florida Retail Federation, SEIU Florida and others issue endorsements

Joe Henderson: Jackie Toledo would be better off talking kitchen counter issues than immigration