Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryFebruary 7, 2018

Florida’s next governor will be someone who knows the state the best, Adam Putnam said during a campaign appearance Wednesday in Southwest St. Petersburg. As the presumptive favorite for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year, Putnam met with veterans and other supporters at the Veterans Art Center Tampa Bay, a nonprofit that provides economic and therapeutic support […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 7, 2018

As the Senate motored through a long list of budget amendments on Wednesday, a proposal to boost funding to deal with the mounting clemency case backlog was tossed. Sen. Darryl Rouson, a Pinellas County Democrat, withdrew his own amendment, which would have given the Florida Commission on Offender Review $500,000 in ongoing state funds to […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 7, 2018

Senate Minority Leader-Designate Audrey Gibson, a Jacksonville Democrat, extensively questioned Gov. Rick Scott‘s job growth fund Wednesday on the Senate floor. The Governor and Republican lawmakers want to see another $85 million appropriated to the fund in the next budget. Gibson’s hard stand against the spend is notable, as Scott chose Jacksonville on Wednesday to message on the […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 7, 2018

Going on a few months, Florida Politics has been tracking Republican Mike McCalister and the possibility he may enter the wide-open race for Agriculture Commissioner. Chatter surrounding the much-discussed retired Army Colonel and former U.S. Senate candidate was loudest at the Republican Party of Florida annual meeting in January. Bringing some solid retail politicking, McCalister worked the […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 7, 2018

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill by Sarasota Sen. Greg Steube, SB 1168, that the Consumer Protection Coalition said would “do little to protect consumers” from Assignment of Benefits abuse. The group said it prefers HB 7015 by Rep. Jay Trumbull, which includes modifications to one-way attorney fees which proponents say […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 7, 2018

If the election for Senate between Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott were to happen today, Nelson would win re-election. That’s from a new poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab. Of likely voters in 2018, 48 percent plan to vote for Nelson, an Orlando Democrat, while 42 percent plan to vote […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 6, 2018

A Senate committee Tuesday advanced legislation to repurpose $60 million annually for alternative transportation projects in both Miami-Dade County and the Tampa Bay area. Sponsored by Tampa Republican Dana Young, SB 1200 would use money from an existing $240 million rail fund. Speaking to members of the Senate Transportation Committee, Young explained that the money comes from Florida Rail […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2018

CFO Jimmy Patronis was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott last year to his Florida Cabinet post, giving him many of the advantages of a true incumbent An internal memo to Patronis supporters makes the point clear. More than $2 million has been raised just a few days into February, and $1.98 million of that will be on the […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2018

The Florida Senate proposes cutting the Visit Florida budget to $50 million, which is $26 million below the current level. Gov. Rick Scott wants $100 million. He addressed this discrepancy in a gaggle Tuesday in Jacksonville. “Visit Florida’s very important to the state,” Scott said in a gaggle that covered similar lines. “1.4 million jobs are tied […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 6, 2018

As the Legislative Session in Tallahassee gets closer to Sine Die, questions still remain about Gov. Rick Scott‘s plans to run for Senate. Last week, a POLITICO Florida dispatch heated up the narrative, depicting Scott as crowing over positive polling numbers, showing “body language” consistent with running, and spending big from his “Let’s Get to Work” political […]

Tag: Rick Scott

Adam Putnam blasts Ron DeSantis campaign as ‘Washington-centric’

Senator’s proposal to boost funding for clemency case backlog withdrawn

Audrey Gibson questions job growth fund after big Jacksonville spend

Chatter grows on Mike McCalister entering Ag Commissioner race

Capitol reax: AOB, Publix PrEP, campus ‘free speech,’ criminal justice, Rick Scott

Bill Nelson leads Rick Scott in new Senate race survey

Senate advances funding for alternative transit in Tampa, Miami

Jimmy Patronis has raised $2 mil for CFO bid, per internal memo

Rick Scott hammers proposed Visit Florida budget cuts

Rick Scott dodges questions on polling, fundraising for Senate run