Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Steve SchaleFebruary 14, 2018

2010 was like a living a broken record. No matter what candidates said or did, or whether they ran embracing themselves with the president, or running as their own style of Democrat, it just didn’t matter. Voters were looking to send a message, and people who had Democrat on their name tag were the only […]

Joe HendersonNovember 13, 2017

From the moment years ago when Republicans decided victory was worth whatever the cost to their party’s soul, Roy Moore has been lurking out there, waiting for his chance to scream “yeehaw” on the national stage. Well, he is here now, Republicans. He could still be elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama, even after […]

Associated PressOctober 12, 2017

A Republican Florida businessman isn’t waiting for Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis to make up his mind about his political future before running for his seat. John Ward announced Thursday he’s running for DeSantis’ seat as the incumbent decides whether to run for governor or seek a fourth term. Ward, a business investor and Navy […]

Martin DyckmanMay 22, 2017

The Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts wrote a powerful case for Donald Trump‘s impeachment, in the style of an open letter to the “Dear Republicans in Congress,” that I was reading to my wife as she prepared breakfast the other morning. At the part where Pitts asked, “Have you no loyalties deeper than party?” Ivy […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 4, 2017

Florida’s Republican Party has governed Florida for less than a third of the past 150 years. After the Civil War, a coalition of newly enfranchised blacks, a small number of native white Republicans and northern carpetbaggers dominated Florida politics from 1865 to around 1885. After the blacks were stripped of their voting rights at the […]

Guest AuthorMarch 31, 2017

The national Democrat Party stands at a defining crossroads. In the wake of an epic fail over health care on the part of Republicans in Congress and the dilettantes in the White House, Democrats have a choice to make: either become a reprehensible copycat “Party of No” or embark on a nobler path for the common […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 23, 2017

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As long expected, Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda is pulling a reverse Charlie Crist. The former state representative for Tallahassee, who quit the Democratic Party and became an independent shortly before being term limited out of office last year, now has officially become a Republican. Rehwinkel Vasilinda, 56, officially announced the switch at the 2017 Leon GOP Lincoln Day Dinner held in […]

Tom JacksonDecember 23, 2016

Like comedy, politics is most often all about timing. No one knows this better than Will Weatherford, who at the age of 26 rocketed from obscure legislative aide to Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives because of unanticipated, but perfectly placed, events (more about which in a moment). Now, arguably, this once-rising star of […]

Guest AuthorNovember 30, 2016

Steven Kurlander: Real grassroots transition required: Rebuilding the GOP So far, if you were to sum up the Donald Trump team transition, it’s pretty disappointing in terms of delivering important changes in how Washington works that the president-elect promised during the campaign. For the most part, the present transition period is dominated by insiders from […]

Associated PressNovember 3, 2016

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Donald Trump regularly warns his crowds to closely watch polling places to prevent Democrats from stealing the election. But his campaign has failed to enlist many to serve as official poll watchers in major population centers, according to spot checks by The Associated Press. In some key regions, Democratic monitors will far outnumber Republicans on […]

Tag: republican party

Steve Schale: The message of Sarasota

Joe Henderson: Roy Moore and the battle for GOP’s soul

John Ward announces run for Ron DeSantis’ seat

Martin Dyckman: It’s always about the money

Darryl Paulson: Should the Florida GOP feel blue?

Michael Richardson: Is there an adult in the room?

Surprise (or not): Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda joins the Republican Party

Will Weatherford’s timing off, but only for the moment

Steven Kurlander: Real grassroots transition required: Rebuilding the GOP

Donald Trump tells backers to ‘watch the polls’ — but signups slow