Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschJanuary 3, 2016

In a decision that could signal the end of Republican domination of the Florida Legislature, a circuit judge last week approved a new map for 40 state Senate districts. Judge George Reynolds‘ ruling rejected boundaries for Senate districts drawn up by a top Republican. Reynolds instead signed off on a map drawn by a coalition of […]

Associated PressDecember 27, 2015

gay-marriage-Shutterstock-Large-e1451242581438-1024x1024.jpg

Florida’s biggest news story for 2015 happened in the year’s first days, when the state became the 36th with legalized gay marriage, according to an Associated Press poll of the state’s newspaper and broadcast editors. Gay marriage easily beat out the No. 2 story, the long-running saga over the districts the Florida Legislature drew for […]

Bill RuftyDecember 3, 2015

Republican U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland said he can live with the new shape of his 15th Congressional District approved by the Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday even though it cuts more of his home county out of his district. Like many Florida members of Congress, Ross’ district boundaries changed when the court certified […]

Gary FineoutDecember 3, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court approved a sweeping overhaul of the state’s congressional districts on Wednesday, a move that will upend the political landscape ahead of the pivotal 2016 elections. The justices ruled 5-2 in favor of the new boundaries for many of Florida’s 27 districts. The ruling signs off on the map that Circuit Judge […]

Melissa RossDecember 2, 2015

Vowing to fight on via a federal lawsuit, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown has released an incendiary reaction to the state Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling that reconfigures her North Florida district from one that snakes from Jacksonville south to Orlando, into an east-west Jax-to-Tallahassee district with fewer African-American voters. Here is the statement in its entirety, […]

Jim RosicaDecember 2, 2015

Democratic U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham of Tallahassee on Wednesday said she was “disappointed” by the state Supreme Court’s decision in a redistricting case that could spell the end of her nascent congressional career. But Graham, elected in 2014, said she hadn’t decided which direction her public service will next take. The court approved a map that redraws […]

Mitch PerryDecember 2, 2015

The Florida Supreme Court gave its blessing gave its blessing Wednesday to a congressional districts map that was picked by Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis back in October. The high court had ruled in July that the Legislature gerrymandered eight of the state’s 27 congressional districts in violation of the 2012 Fair District amendments. […]

Jim RosicaNovember 30, 2015

There isn’t a name for the period of time before the calm before a storm. For now, let’s call it “last committee week of the year.” It, of course, includes a surplus of fundraising, which lawmakers can do during committee weeks but not during legislative sessions. Departing lawmakers also continue to raise cash for their post-Legislature plans. […]

Ryan RayNovember 13, 2015

A Tallahassee trial court judge Friday afternoon denied a motion filed by the Legislature’s attorneys that sought to appoint a special consultant. Second Judicial Circuit Judge George Reynolds sided with a coalition group of plaintiffs who brought the Senate redistricting challenge that ultimately invalidated the chamber’s enacted maps. Lewis said the time frame for the court’s work was […]

Gary FineoutNovember 11, 2015

A long-running legal battle over Florida’s political landscape wound up back before the state Supreme Court on Tuesday where several justices sounded skeptical about the changes proposed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The hope is that the court will soon end three years of lawsuits, court hearings and special sessions by finally endorsing a new map […]

Tag: redistricting

5 Florida pols screwed by the redistricting ruling

Gay marriage is biggest Florida story of 2015, poll says

Dennis Ross glad he’s “still living in his district” after redistricting

Florida Supreme Court approves new congressional map

Corrine Brown: Court ruling “direct attack on minority voters”

Gwen Graham staying course despite redistricting decision

Charlie Crist hails Florida Supreme Court’s approval of new congressional map

Tallahassee gears up for final committee week before Session

Judge denies Senate motion to appoint new consultant in redistricting case

Supreme Court considers changes to Florida’s political map