Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 10, 2016

In the northeastern part of Florida, one high-profile state Senate race was in doubt almost to the end. The Senate District 8 slugfest between Democrat Rod Smith and the Election Night winner, Republican Keith Perry, was the marquee matchup and a boon, via advertising, for mass media companies. Perry narrowly won, 119,284 to 107,394 — a margin of 52 […]

Michael MolineNovember 9, 2016

When the campaigning finally ended, the Florida Chamber had invested $7.2 million in 113 television, radio, and digital ads in state races. It had mailed 600,000 campaign fliers to voters; interviewed more than 200 candidates and endorsed 116. The result was that 76 of 89 Florida Chamber-backed candidates won during the primary elections, and 74 […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2016

A contentious — and expensive — general election in Senate District 8 went the way of Republican Keith Perry over Democrat Rod Smith. With 226,438 votes counted throughout the three-county North Central Florida district, Perry was ahead 119,968 to 107,270 — a margin of 52 to 48 percent. This was a priority race for the Democratic Party, yet Perry got […]

Peter SchorschNovember 3, 2016

Clearwater Republican Sen. Jack Latvala and incoming Senate President Joe Negron buried the hatchet long ago and, according to the most recent numbers from Latvala’s political committee, the two are very much playing on the same team. On Nov. 2, the Florida Leadership Committee, which served as Latvala’s war chest during the race for the Senate presidency, put $300,000 into the Florida […]

Drew WilsonNovember 3, 2016

Bradenton Sen. Bill Galvano’s political committee pulled in more than $360,000 between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2, giving the future Senate president plenty of ammo to help his fellow Republican senators win re-election. “Innovate Florida” kicked off the three-day fundraising spree with a $100,000 check from Cuban-American billionaire Miguel Fernandez Oct. 31, followed by a […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 1, 2016

State Senate candidate Rod Smith got a key endorsement from former Florida governor and U.S. senator Bob Graham Tuesday in the competitive race in Senate District 8. Graham, motivated by environmental concerns, cited those as a key reason for backing Smith. “I’m proud to support Rod Smith in his race for state Senate. He is the only […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 31, 2016

The latest finance reports in the high-profile race in Senate District 8 show that as of Oct. 21, Republican Keith Perry leads Democrat Rod Smith in cash-on-hand. Perry has $82,865 on hand of the $645,152 he had raised in the campaign through Oct. 21. The Republican raised $33,095 of that in the most recent week, a number bolstered […]

Guest AuthorOctober 26, 2016

Candidates for Florida’s newly drawn Senate District 8 outlined their disparate visions for the future to more than 300 students at a debate held at the University of Florida Tuesday evening. But one thing both men had in common was their choice to lead lives that differ dramatically from the lives their fathers led. “Happiness […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 25, 2016

With two weeks until the election and polls swinging his way, Rep. Keith Perry has opened up a serious cash-on-hand advantage over Rod Smith in the Senate District 8 race. As of Oct. 14, Perry had $107,000 on hand, an almost four-to-one edge over Smith, who has just over $27,000 on hand. In the most recent reporting period […]

Peter SchorschOctober 24, 2016

President Barack Obama, capitalizing on high approval numbers, is endorsing dozens of state legislative candidates throughout the country, part of a significant push in the effort to flip swing districts in down-ballot races throughout Florida and across the country. The roll call now includes support for Charlie Crist in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, Rod Smith in state Senate District 8, Bob Buesing in […]

Tag: Rod Smith

Rob Bradley committee’s late-October $100K contribution to FRSCC paid off

Florida Chamber feels its campaign investments paid off

Keith Perry downs Rod Smith in SD 8 donnybrook

Money flow shows teamwork between former rivals Jack Latvala, Joe Negron

Bill Galvano committee brings in over $360K in five days

Bob Graham backs Rod Smith in SD 8 race

Keith Perry leads Rod Smith in cash on hand in SD 8 race

Keith Perry and Rod Smith offer different visions for Florida, while touching on the personal at SD 8 debate

Keith Perry widens money and momentum lead in SD 8 race

I’m just gonna leave this right here: Why didn’t President Obama endorse Dwight Bullard?