Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersFebruary 6, 2018

Based on the results of a records request state Sen. Debbie Mayfield and state Rep. Erin Grall conducted, Indian River County Attorney Dylan Reingold declared Tuesday morning that Florida can legally regulate Brightline trains, and that the Department of Transportation knows that. Reingold cited correspondence Mayfield and Grall dug up that shows the Federal Railroad […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 5, 2018

Does Ron DeSantis have a problem with honesty? One could argue that (at a minimum) the North Florida congressman and newly minted gubernatorial candidate is struggling with the truth on the campaign trail. Among those who might agree is Fred Costello, the former Ormond Beach mayor and Republican state Representative. Costello — who is again seeking […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 5, 2018

New candidates have filed to run against incumbent HD 52 Republican Rep. Thad Altman and HD 108 Democratic Rep. Roy Hardemon, while a second candidate has emerged in the race to take over for the late Rep. Don Hahnfeldt in House District 33. Ann Fuller, a Melbourne Democrat, filed paperwork to run against Altman on […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 5, 2018

Reflecting on his 2010-2011 bid for Tampa mayor, Ed Turanchik said that in that campaign Bob Buckhorn schooled him on messaging — and he learned his lesson. Perhaps that explains Turanchik’s emphasis on branding his candidacy as a “vision” to lead Tampa in 2019 and beyond — reflected both on his campaign website and in encounters Friday with […]

Guest AuthorFebruary 3, 2018

If you are reading this and driving, stop. It can wait. More than 5 crashes occur every hour because of someone texting behind the wheel. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were more than 500,000 distracted driving crashes in Florida, resulting in more than 200 fatalities in 2016. As […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 2, 2018

On Thursday, Gov. Rick Scott announced a dozen appointments to several state boards and panels. Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County Thomas Bean, 40, of Palm Beach Gardens, is the director of public and community engagement at Florida Power and Light. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and his master’s […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 2, 2018

Republican state Rep. Joe Gruters landed an appointment from the Trump Administration Thursday to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors through October 2022. The Sarasota accountant served as co-chair of President Donald Trump’s campaign in Florida, and the move appears to have paid dividends. Gruters took to Twitter shortly after the announcement, saying he […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

Westchase-based Democrat Heather Stahl says she entered the House District 64 race earlier this month because she’s grown weary of the dysfunction present every day in Tallahassee and Washington D.C. “I think a lot of people are feeling that the country and the state is not going in the direction that it needs to be,” […]

Ana CeballosFebruary 1, 2018

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A federal judge on Thursday said the system used by the state to vet which ex-felons get to have their voting rights restored is unconstitutional. “Florida’s vote-restoration scheme is crushingly restrictive,” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker wrote in a 43-page ruling. “The scheme crumbles under strict scrutiny because it risks — if not covertly authorizes […]

Mitch PerryFebruary 1, 2018

An environmental law professor said Thursday that Ryan Zinke saying last month that drilling off Florida’s coasts was “off the table” in reality gives the state no legal protections at all. Alyson Flournoy believes the Interior Secretary’s comments may make it more difficult for the Office of Interior Department’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to defend a final decision […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Florida can regulate Brightline, Indian River attorney says

Ron DeSantis’ less-than-spectacular first week on the trail

Thad Altman, Roy Hardemon pick up re-election challengers

Ed Turanchik tees up next Tampa mayoral bid

Jackie Toledo: Texting-while-driving bill will make Florida streets safer

Rick Scott announces 12 state appointments

Donald Trump names Joe Gruters to Amtrak board

Democrat Heather Stahl wants to replace Jamie Grant in Florida’s HD 64 seat

Judge rules Florida’s voter-restoration process is unconstitutional

Environmental attorney says Florida more vulnerable to offshore drilling after Ryan Zinke’s remarks