Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersJuly 24, 2018

Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan has launched an attack ad against his Democratic election opponent David Shapiro with blistering references to the Sarasota lawyer’s investments in gun companies, opioid drug companies, and companies tied to the Deepwater Horizon off-shore oil disaster. The new 30-second TV commercial, “Two-Faced,” outlines Shapiro’s investments while calling him two-faced and […]

Steve SchaleJune 11, 2018

In the never-ending quest to simplify Florida, one of the ongoing debates about winning the state is whether Florida is a state won by winning persuadable voters, or whether it is all about turning out one’s base. I remember when I started with Barack Obama, I got a ton of advice — most of it […]

Scott PowersMarch 19, 2018

Republican congressional candidate Mike Miller announced an endorsement from fellow state Rep. Joe Gruters today — as a link to the Oval Office. Gruters is President Donald Trump‘s Florida campaign chairman, a point stressed in a news release issued by Miller’s campaign Monday morning in his quest to be elected in Florida’s 7th Congressional District. Miller, a two-term […]

Steve SchaleFebruary 14, 2018

2010 was like a living a broken record. No matter what candidates said or did, or whether they ran embracing themselves with the president, or running as their own style of Democrat, it just didn’t matter. Voters were looking to send a message, and people who had Democrat on their name tag were the only […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 13, 2018

All eyes are on Tuesday’s special election in Sarasota County’s House District 72 where Republican James Buchanan, Democrat Margaret Good and Libertarian Alison Foxall are running to replace former Rep. Alex Miller. The latest poll indicates that an upset is in the making — if Good beating Buchanan can be viewed as an upset. However, the race […]

Danny McAuliffeDecember 6, 2017

Two Sarasota Republicans are attempting to pass legislation that would prevent political committees and electioneering communications organizations from donating to each other, touting it as a proposal that would end dark money in state politics. While state Rep. Joe Gruters’ HB 43 and Sen. Greg Steube’s SB 122 do not address dark money in issue advocacy spending, […]

Scott PowersOctober 18, 2017

Sarasota attorney David Shapiro has filed to run for Congress against Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan in Florida’s 16th Congressional District. Shapiro, a Democrat, is a longtime Tampa Bay-area resident who has practiced law in Sarasota for 32 years He previously ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 2006, losing a tight election, […]

Guest AuthorOctober 12, 2017

The opioid epidemic in Florida is wreaking havoc on individuals, families and communities. The negative consequences of this crisis can be seen across our state — in the health of our people, our schools, our businesses, our hospitals, our streets, our jails. Our state legislature has an opportunity right now to enhance its response to […]

Phil AmmannJuly 7, 2017

Virginia Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine visits Florida this month for a fundraiser in support his 2018 re-election bid. Kaine will hold a cocktail reception beginning 5 p.m. Sunday, July 23, at The Francis, a special event venue in downtown Sarasota. Tickets for the cocktail reception start at a suggested contribution of $250, going up to […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2017

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Jobs and the economy drove the discussion Wednesday when Vern Buchanan met with a group of nearly a dozen restaurant owners from Sarasota and Manatee counties. The Sarasota Republican congressman listened as the entrepreneurs discussed some of the financial challenges facing their businesses during the meeting at the Holiday Inn Sarasota-Airport. Buchanan’s meeting comes on […]

Tag: Sarasota

Vern Buchanan ad blasts David Shapiro’s investments in guns, pharma, oil

Steve Schale: Florida, persuasion or turnout, or both?

Mike Miller announces Joe Gruters’ endorsement, citing Donald Trump connection

Steve Schale: The message of Sarasota

Final poll of HD 72 special election shows an upset in the making — or not

Republican lawmakers tackle ‘dark money’

Sarasota attorney David Shapiro files to run against Vern Buchanan in CD 16

Melissa Larkin-Skinner: State resources are needed to address the opioid epidemic

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine to hold re-election fundraiser in Sarasota July 23

Vern Buchanan talks jobs with restaurant owners