Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschAugust 28, 2016

The final campaign finance reports before Florida’s Aug. 30 Primary Election are in and Victor Torres, Randolph Bracy, and Mike Clelland have held on to their leads in Central Florida’s Senate seats. Clelland is facing fellow former Rep. Linda Stewart and Rick Roach in the Democratic Primary for Senate District 13, and he was able to raise another $83,775 across his campaign and […]

Scott PowersAugust 27, 2016

Republican state Rep. Rene Plasencia, who is finding a tougher challenge than he might have anticipated in House District 50, enjoyed his best fundraising period yet in early August, raising $16,825. The tally gives the first-term lawmaker, who is seeking a second term but in a different district, an overwhelming financial advantage over his Republican […]

Scott PowersAugust 18, 2016

Democrats Hillary Clinton, Darren Soto and Val Demings and Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio all won commanding straw poll victories at Tuesday night’s Political Salsa event in Orlando, organizers announced late Wednesday. Clinton got 49 to Republican Donald Trump‘s 39 percent in the presidential question, with Libertarian Gary Johnson grabbing 8 percent and Green Party […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 3, 2016

The endorsements keep coming. The Florida Retail Federation announced it was backing state Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto in her re-election bid. The endorsement was one of several the state’s retail trade association announced Wednesday. The association also endorsed Reps. Brad Drake, Tom Goodson and Rene Plasencia. “Retail is such an important industry in the success of […]

Scott PowersJuly 11, 2016

State Rep. Rene Plasencia got a warning sign Saturday night that his bid to return for another term in the Florida House from District 50 may be in jeopardy when he lost decidedly to challenger George Collins in a straw poll at the Brevard County Republican Executive Committee. “I’ve been working Brevard very hard. Most […]

Scott PowersJuly 7, 2016

The National Federation of Independent Business announced its endorsements in Central Florida’s Florida House and Senate races Thursday, backing all Republicans, and all incumbents. However, the group, which is Florida’s largest small-business association, did not offer endorsements in all races. The NFIB endorsed Dean Asher in Senate District 13. Asher has won the nomination and […]

Scott PowersJuly 5, 2016

State Rep. Rene Plasencia raised more than $14,000 in June, giving him a commanding money lead in his quest to win the Aug. 30 Republican primary to run in Florida’s House District 50. Plasencia, who represents House District 49, is running in HD 50 this year, faces a Republican opponent, George Collins, in the Aug. 30 […]

Scott PowersJune 24, 2016

In what has been a frantic last day of filing and qualifying for Florida House of Representatives, Republican state Rep. Eric Eisnaugle of Windermere appears to have won re-election in House District 44. More than five hours after the close of qualifying, Eisnaugle’s anticipated Democratic opponent, David Trotter of Orlando, has not qualified. If that holds […]

Peter SchorschJune 17, 2016

The frontrunners in many Central Florida legislative races piled on more money last month, with several candidates holding six-figure leads five months out from Election Day. In Senate District 13, the most competitive race among Orange County’s Senate seats, former Democratic Rep. Mike Clelland is trouncing the other two Democrats in the race with more […]

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2016

Democrat Carlos Guillermo Smith has crossed the six-figure fundraising mark in his campaign for the open House District 49 seat. Smith, the one-time Chief of Staff for former HD 49 Rep. Joe Saunders, raised $15,325 in May for a campaign total of $108,355. After expenditures, he entered June with just under $80,000 on hand. Most of the May […]

Tag: Rene Plasencia
Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Image via Visit Florida.

Central Florida legislative fundraising leaders stay ahead in days before primary

Rene Plasencia enjoys $16K fundraising week in HD 50 race

Political Salsa: Hillary Clinton, Marco Rubio, Darren Soto, Val Demings win straw poll

Florida Retail Federation endorses Lizbeth Benacquisto

George Collins tops Rene Plasencia in Brevard straw poll

Small business group makes endorsements in CF House, Senate races

Rene Plasencia raises $14K in House District 50 run

Eric Eisnaugle wins another term in busy Central Florida House race filings

Where s**t stands in Central Florida legislative races

Carlos Smith maintains fundraising lead in HD 49, adds $15K in May