Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 13, 2018

Agriculture Commissioner candidate Denise Grimsley got the nod from a large contingency of her colleagues in the Florida Legislature Monday, adding another 32 backers just days after she announced three dozen endorsements from local elected officials from all corners of the Sunshine State. Grimsley, a Sebring Republican, has been a member of the state Legislature […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2018

A noon Friday deadline to make the ballot for a state legislative seat has come and gone, and 25 incumbent lawmakers (and two fresh faces) have already punched their tickets to Tallahassee. Of the 27 races that are now officially over, Republicans won a half-dozen. Most notable among that crowd is incoming House Speaker Jose […]

Drew WilsonJune 11, 2018

The five lawmakers representing a piece of Polk County in the Florida House continued cruising toward Election Day with more than $90,000 in combined campaign fundraising. Winter Haven Republican Rep. Sam Killebrew had the strongest May fundraising report of the five members of the Polk delegation, all of whom are Republicans. The House District 41 […]

Drew WilsonMay 1, 2018

The Associated Industries of Florida on Tuesday released a report measuring how closely Florida lawmakers’ votes aligned with its interests. The conservative business group’s 2018 Voting Records report found a slight uptick in lawmaker support for AIF-backed legislation, with 78 percent of the Senate and 91 percent of the House voting in favor of its […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 14, 2018

Democrat Alex Perkins filed paperwork Monday to run for House District 41, the Polk County-based seat currently held by Winter Haven Republican Rep. Sam Killebrew. Perkins, who lives in Davenport, joins Winter Haven Democrat Carmelo Garcia in the primary race for the seat. The pair are on a level playing field as far as fundraising […]

Phil AmmannJuly 25, 2017

With a tip of the hat to LobbyTools, here are the latest movements – both on and off – of the legislative merry-go-round. On: Amber Moody is a new support analyst for the House Office of Information Technology. Off: Michael Ellis is no longer a journal writer/editor for the Legislative Process Division. Off and on: Natasha Sutherland has […]

Florence SnyderNovember 17, 2016

Cellphones are here to stay, and so, it seems, are the staggeringly stupid things we do with them. Facebook fiascos are infinite in variety now that people of limited impulse control have a high-powered computer at their 24/7 command. It’s a problem for people of all ages, and from all walks of life. Not for the […]

Bill RuftyNovember 8, 2016

Tuesday will reveal whether the I-4 corridor is still an important swing corridor or whether it has become an important Democratic Party corridor. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump hit the counties along that stretch of interstate many times as well — and not just the big cities of St. Petersburg, Tampa and Orlando. Smaller cities […]

Staff ReportsOctober 18, 2016

Following a comprehensive and deliberate selection process, BusinessForce endorsed a former member of MyRegion.org and current small business owner, Republican Sam Killebrew for Florida House District 41. BusinessForce is the political action arm of the Central Florida Partnership. Its goal is to affect positive change in Central Florida through regional public policy advocacy and by encouraging […]

Bill RuftySeptember 26, 2016

Sam Killebrew, Republican candidate for Florida House District 41, has raised a campaign war chest double that of Democratic candidate Bob Doyel, who nevertheless raised more than any Democrat running for the district in 16 years. The battle for the open seat is the only competitive race among the seven legislative seats in Polk County […]

Tag: Sam Killebrew
A sign that reads, Gaza Solidarity Encampment, is seen during the Pro-Palestinians protest at the Columbia University campus in New York, Monday April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Denise Grimsley scores 32 endorsements from current and former lawmakers

25 state lawmakers re-elected without opposition

Polk County delegation piles on the campaign cash in May

Republican lawmakers earn high grades on Associated Industries’ report card

Second Democrat challenges Sam Killebrew in HD 41

Latest on the legislative staffing merry-go-round

In St. Johns County, an uphill fight to put the genie back in the bottle

Bill Rufty: Will I-4, Polk County go blue?

BusinessForce endorses Republican Sam Killebrew in HD 41

Bill Rufty: House District 41 candidates going for the money