Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersAugust 30, 2016

Coach P is heading for another victory lap. Republican state Rep. Rene “Coach P” Plasencia narrowly defeated a surprisingly strong challenger in Florida’s House District 50 Republican primary Tuesday, gathering 52 percent of the vote to George Collins’ 48 percent. Plasencia, who won election in 2014 to represent neighboring House District 49, switched districts last fall, […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford started the Congressional District 4 GOP primary as the establishment favorite, and on Tuesday night, with almost 39 percent of the vote, he defeated Hans Tanzler at 20 percent, Jacksonville State Rep. Lake Ray at 19 percent, and St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure with 10 percent. Rutherford, though outspent by […]

Scott PowersAugust 30, 2016

U.S. Rep. John Mica generally takes primary challenges like Sunday morning walks in the park, and on Tuesday the 12-term Republican congressman from Winter Park once again never broke much of a sweat on his way to the finish line. Mica swept away challenger Mark Busch, a Casselberry businessman and former Soil and Water Conservation […]

Peter SchorschAugust 26, 2016

It is arguably the nastiest — and perhaps the weirdest — legislative race of the primary election cycle. Not a day goes by without a negative flier landing in voters’ mailboxes. On most days, there are several. A slew of Twitter accounts and websites authored by anonymous bomb-throwers have sprung up. The race has even featured a […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 16, 2016

Hans Tanzler and John Rutherford are slated to go mano a mano on WJXT-TV Wednesday as part of the 4th Congressional District debate, but their attitude is the more the merrier on the stage. The debate is currently restricted to the top four in polls, now Tanzler, Rutherford, Lake Ray and Bill McClure. But Tanzler and Rutherford want all seven candidates […]

Anne LindbergAugust 12, 2016

Former Gov. Charlie Crist sat down with a small group of veterans Friday to listen firsthand to their experiences and thoughts on how best to serve those who fought for the U.S. “Some of the things we’ve touched on today are new to me,” Crist said. Among those new issues are a lack of services […]

Jim RosicaJuly 28, 2016

Mary Thomas, Republican candidate for Congress, put a new ad out Thursday called “Families.” Not surprisingly, the half-minute ad speaks to the red meat issues that will catch the ears of Northwest Florida’s 2nd Congressional District, now a GOP-leaning seat. “As a wife, mother and devout Christian, I know why American families are hurting,” she says […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 29, 2016

Four of the five Republicans in the primary race in House District 12 — Terrance Freeman, Mark MacLean, Stan Jordan, and Clay Yarborough — were on hand at a forum at the University of North Florida Tuesday evening. The fifth, Don Redman, broke his arm in an accident recently, and under medication, was not to attend. The debate began as a […]

Drew WilsonJune 28, 2016

House District 21 candidate Chuck Clemons announced Tuesday he has picked up endorsements from the past three speakers of the Florida House. Former Republican House Speakers Larry Cretul, Dean Cannon and Will Weatherford backed Clemons’ campaign in the Gainesville-based seat currently held by Republican Rep. Keith Perry, who is running for Senate in the newly […]

Scott PowersJune 24, 2016

Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica has gotten a primary opponent in his bid for a 13th term representing Orange and Seminole Counties in Congress. Mica, of Winter Park, will face Mark Busch, a Casselberry businessman who was once served as vice chairman of the Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District, for Florida’s 7th Congressional […]

Tag: Republican primary

Rene ‘Coach P’ Plasencia pulls out GOP primary win in HD 50

John Rutherford wins CD 4 primary

John Mica gets tune-up election out of the way, set for Democratic challenge in CD 7

Final poll of SD 17 GOP primary shows Ritch Workman closing gap vs. Debbie Mayfield

John Rutherford, Hans Tanzler call for all seven CD 4 candidates to debate

Charlie Crist says veterans’ services need more funding

Ad Watch: Deconstructing Mary Thomas’ new spot for CD 2

At forum, Jacksonville Republicans running for HD 12 agree on virtually everything

Chuck Clemons picks up endorsements from past Florida House Speakers

John Mica faces GOP primary in CD 7, while Dem Stephanie Murphy awaits qualifying