Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Joe HendersonNovember 8, 2016

Incumbent Ross Spano was returned to the Florida House, defeating Democratic newcomer Rena Frazier. With all 41 precincts reporting in the HD 59 contest, Spano led by about 10 points out of 73,095 votes cast. This race to represent a district that covers much of eastern Hillsborough turned ugly in the closing days, with charges […]

Mitch PerryNovember 7, 2016

BRANDON — Although Marco Rubio is a clear favorite to win re-election to his U.S. Senate seat tomorrow night, he wasn’t doing a victory lap when he made a visit to the Hillsborough County Republican Party headquarters in Brandon Monday morning. “Two-hundred and seventy-five thousand Republicans who requested a mail ballot have not returned it […]

Peter SchorschNovember 6, 2016

On Friday, candidates released their final campaign finance reports before Election Day, and reports out of Senate District 18 show Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young pressing her fundraising advantage in the race with $1.2 million in spending. Young spent more than $500,000 of campaign’s war chest in between Oct. 22 and Nov. 3, most of […]

Mitch PerryNovember 1, 2016

The Tampa Bay area gets one last, large dose of Bill and Hillary Clinton today. Hillary makes her first campaign appearance in what used to be considered a crucial bellwether — Pasco County, for an appearance this afternoon at Pasco-Hernando State College. Bill Clinton, meanwhile, makes his second appearance in the past 14 days in Pinellas County, […]

Joe HendersonOctober 31, 2016

Thanks to the always-working, never-sleeping Mitch Perry, readers of this site are aware of the controversy about a mailer from the Republican Party of Florida supporting Ross Spano in the House District 59 campaign. After the mailer labeled Democratic opponent Rena Frazier’s experience as “INSUFFICIENT” — in all caps, big red letters — the House […]

Mitch PerryOctober 31, 2016

The Florida Democratic Party is accusing Ross Spano of sexism after the Dover Republican sent out a mailer questioning the experience of Rena Frazier, his Democratic opponent in the House District 59 race. The front of the mailer in question reads, “Important Message: Turn This Card over to learn more about Rena Frazier’s experience.” The flip side shows a mock […]

Mitch PerryOctober 26, 2016

Hillary Clinton celebrated her 69th birthday by giving a speech in downtown Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, just as the polls are getting tighter between herself and Donald Trump. Trump must win Florida to have any shot at getting the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the presidency, but Clinton is also pushing hard to win in Florida, with three official campaign […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 21, 2016

President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind more than a dozen Democratic legislative hopefuls. The Florida Democratic Party announced Friday the president endorsed 13 Democrats running for state House and Senate. The endorsements come just 18 days before the Nov. 8 general election, and are likely meant to boost Democratic turnout. “No state is […]

Peter SchorschOctober 14, 2016

Let’s put aside for a moment the argument about whether newspaper endorsements matter much in modern campaigns. Even if not a single likely voter was swayed by the opinions of editorial boards, the endorsements still matter because they matter to the candidates themselves. That’s why you see even the most Republican of candidates — with their […]

Staff ReportsOctober 14, 2016

With just a few weeks until the election, organizations across the state are rolling out endorsements for state and federal candidates. Several organizations — the Florida Retail Federation, Florida Conservation Voters, and the NRA Political Victory Fund — issued endorsements. — Neal Dunn has received the backing of the NRA Political Victory Fund. “As a staunch […]

Tag: Rena Frazier

Ross Spano victorious over Rena Frazier in HD 59

Marco Rubio is confident heavy Latino turnout will help him win Senate race

Final round-up of the money chase in Tampa Bay’s legislative races

Mitch Perry Report for 11.1.16 — Russian ‘involvement’ in presidential election still a mystery

Joe Henderson: Ross Spano mailer in HD 59: Tacky? Yes. Sexist? No.

Florida Democrats accuse Ross Spano of ‘sexism’ for questioning Rena Frazier’s experience

Hillary Clinton warns a Tampa crowd that Donald Trump “can still win”

Barack Obama endorses 13 Democrats running for state House and Senate

11 things I think I think about the Tampa Bay Times’ endorsements in state House races

Endorsement Watch: Florida Retail Federation, Florida Conservation Voters, NRA issue endorsements