Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonMay 9, 2018

The Florida Chamber of Commerce announced Wednesday that it’s backing sitting CFO Jimmy Patronis’ bid for a full term in the Cabinet post. Florida Chamber CEO Mark Wilson, Mike Sheely of Allstate Insurance, and Tampa Republican Rep. Jackie Toledo made the announcement La Segunda Bakery in Ybor City. “From ensuring that Floridians have the tools […]

Ryan NicolMay 8, 2018

A new poll from Florida Atlantic University shows Gov. Rick Scott with a four-point lead over incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Scott, a Naples Republican, earns 44 percent of support from registered voters, with Nelson sitting at 40 percent. Another 16 percent say they’re undecided. The poll was conducted by Florida Atlantic University’s Business […]

Phil AmmannMay 8, 2018

A Sarasota Democratic leader is targeting Gov. Rick Scott, accusing his month-old U.S. Senate campaign of violating federal election law. Sarasota County Democratic Executive Committee chair JoAnne DeVries filed the Federal Election Commission complaint Tuesday, claiming Scott hid campaign donors and therefore leading to conflicts of interest. According to the complaint, Scott’s campaign emailed donors as […]

Peter SchorschMay 8, 2018

Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser announced her bid for Senate District 25 Tuesday, but her past political contributions to Democrats should raise some questions about her attractiveness to Republican primary voters. SD 25, held by exiting Senate President Joe Negron, covers St. Lucie and Martin counties as well as a piece of northern inland […]

Peter SchorschMay 7, 2018

It’s time once again to rank Tampa Bay’s most powerful politicians. I am asking several of the leading political consultants, activists, bloggers, operatives and local lobbyists to provide a list of who they consider the 25 most powerful pols in the region. For the purposes of this experiment, the Tampa Bay region is defined as […]

Lloyd DunkelbergerMay 6, 2018

In their first joint appearance of the campaign, the two leading Republican candidates for governor Saturday night outlined a series of conservative stances on abortion, gun rights and education There were few differences between Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, who each took questions in separate half-hour sessions before the Florida Family […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2018

Ahead of a trip to Israel later this month, Gov. Rick Scott has a message for President Donald Trump: the United States needs to junk the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The accord saw sanctions lifted on Iran, with the country committing (at least in theory) to stop pursuing nuclear weapons. Scott, a candidate for Senate this year, […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2018

The race for Senate continues to heat up between Gov. Rick Scott and Sen. Bill Nelson, with the Democratic incumbent being dinged with an Ethics Complaint this week that Nelson’s team is calling a “political stunt.” Former Republican Party of Florida Chair Leslie Dougher, a Scott ally, charged that during an Apr. 3 event, Nelson used governmental funds […]

Staff ReportsMay 4, 2018

Congressional candidates finish qualifying this week, setting the stage for a 3+ month sprint to nominations. Virtually every Congressional incumbent, save John Rutherford, will face a primary. Ted Yoho faces nominal competition for what could be his final term; Al Lawson faces more than a symbolic challenge in the form of Alvin Brown in Congressional District 5. We are a few weeks […]

Danny McAuliffeMay 4, 2018

For some, Friday is a special day. The date marks the 150-year anniversary of Florida’s constitutionalized disenfranchisement of voters, a Jim Crow-era policy that’s still relevant in 2018, as the state revokes voting rights for convicted felons — even after they’ve completed their sentences. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, Florida is one […]

Tag: Rick Scott
Wall Street speculates that Berkshire Hathaway could make a defensive takeover bid for railroad giant CSX.

Florida Chamber endorses Jimmy Patronis for CFO

New poll shows Rick Scott with four-point lead over Bill Nelson

Sarasota Democrat files election law complaint against Rick Scott

Belinda Keiser’s Democratic donations may trouble SD 25 Republican voters

Not Just A Body Of Water — A briefing on Tampa Bay politics – 5.7.18

Adam Putnam, Ron DeSantis tout conservative positions

Rick Scott to Donald Trump: Junk the Iran deal

Senate Ethics complaint filed against Bill Nelson

Jacksonville Bold for 5.4.18 — Qualifying Week

On disenfranchisement anniversary, voting rights activists push for Amendment 4