Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 28, 2018

Thursday night was big for St. Pete politics. That evening, several local candidates mingled at the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s Popcorn and Politics hobnob. Later, local Democratic candidates spoke at a Sierra Club-sponsored gathering at Cage Brewery, featuring a surprise appearance from Lt. Gov. nominee Chris King. King spoke at the Chamber event asking […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 28, 2018

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Five decades ago, Jacksonville consolidated city and county services. For 50 years since people have been arguing about whether it was a good idea. We saw it last week: a mayoral forum involving Mayor Lenny Curry and his five living predecessors (look for the replay Sunday on This Week in Jacksonville). Curry, seeking re-election, sounded […]

Janelle Irwin TaylorSeptember 27, 2018

A group of local environmentalists and community activists are asking Gov. Rick Scott to accept responsibility for what they describe as his poor environmental record they say worsened the ongoing red tide crisis plaguing Florida’s Gulf coast. “Our elected leaders have not only done nothing to help us, but they are making the problem worse,” […]

Ryan NicolSeptember 27, 2018

Republican Gov. Rick Scott‘s latest ad reflects on his response to Hurricane Irma as it struck Florida last year. Scott is currently challenging Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson for his U.S. Senate seat. The 30-second spot, “Leadership,” is replete with clips of new anchors highlighting the danger of the storm, along with Scott’s warnings issued to residents as the storm […]

Scott PowersSeptember 27, 2018

A statewide-televised U.S. Senate debate proposed for U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican Gov. Rick Scott is being scrapped because neither would commit, two statewide groups announced Thursday. Leadership Florida and the Florida Press Association, who have traditionally teamed up to sponsor major statewide election debates, and who also announced details for the gubernatorial debate […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 27, 2018

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, the only Cabinet member able to run for re-election in the fall, recapped his first year on the job in a Thursday talk at the 2018 Future of Florida Forum. “Just over a year ago Gov. [Rick] Scott called me in June and asked me if I would consider being the […]

Scott PowersSeptember 26, 2018

The U.S. Senate campaign for Republican Gov. Rick Scott is firing back at opposition with a new television commercial rebutting a Democratic group’s ad about Scott’s role in the 1990s Medicare fraud scandal involving the company he led, Columbia/HCA. “Bill Nelson is confused again,” the new Scott commercial begins, continuing the Scott campaign’s theme of seeking […]

Drew WilsonSeptember 26, 2018

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday recognized Gov. Rick Scott with its “Spirit of Free Enterprise” award for his “laser-focused” effort to bring jobs to Florida and boost the state’s economy. “I said earlier today that if Florida was a stock, I would buy it,” Florida Chamber CEO Mark Wilson said, adding that he […]

Ryan NicolSeptember 26, 2018

Republican Gov. Rick Scott, running for the U.S. Senate against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson, is out with a new ad replete with news coverage clips critical of Nelson’s efforts during the campaign. The ad’s title, “Asleep at the Wheel,” comes from a clip of Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson using that term to describe Nelson’s re-election campaign. […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 26, 2018

In Florida’s U.S. Senate race, it’s open season on almost any topic. The latest political football: beach access. Democrat Bill Nelson touches upon the issue in “Salty,” a new animated digital ad criticizing Republican opponent Rick Scott for signing a controversial beach access bill. In the ad, which debuts this week, Nelson mentions HB 631: “Rick Scott wants […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Five takeaways from a night of politics in St. Pete

Jacksonville Bold for 9.28.18 — A good idea?

Activists brave red tide to send Rick Scott a message

New Rick Scott ad touts ‘leadership’ during Hurricane Irma

U.S. Senate debate off, say Leadership Florida, Florida Press Association

Jimmy Patronis: Florida is nimble, ready to respond to future challenges

Rick Scott’s campaign ad rebuts Democrats on Medicare fraud scandal

Rick Scott recognized with ‘Spirit of Free Enterprise’ award

Bill Nelson ‘asleep at the wheel,’ says new Rick Scott ad

Deflating the political football on beach access