Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2015

Although Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has yet to announce any appearances in Florida, his fans in the Tampa Bay area are looking forward to seeing him next week — on video. At 7 p.m. Wednesday the U.S. senator from Vermont will speak via video hookup to his supporters at more that 1,500 separate house parties […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2015

As Barack Obama proved in 2008, it clearly pays to campaign in as many states as possible in a contested primary. So while the political campaigns are centered on early voting states like Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the Providence Journal reported Wednesday that a Rhode Islanders’ for Marco Rubio for President group has […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2015

United for Care, the group that in 2014 fell just short of succeeding with a medical marijuana constitutional amendment in Florida, said Wednesday it’s well on the way to getting a similar measure on the 2016 ballot. Officials with the group said they will send 100,000 petitions to county supervisor of elections offices next week, […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2015

Ohio Gov. John Kasich announced his presidential candidacy at Ohio State University on Tuesday. When you look at his résumé and his center-right political persona, he could/should be a top-tier contender. But nobody seems to be talking about that today. Instead, the focus is on the fact that he’s entering the race some seven months […]

Mitch PerryJuly 21, 2015

In advance of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) national meeting which begins Wednesday in San Diego, the good government group Common Cause Florida is calling on two state lawmakers to disclose any corporate or special interest funding that is paying for state lawmakers to travel to the west coast for the meeting. ALEC meetings place business executives with […]

Mitch PerryJuly 21, 2015

Florida Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy seems determined to get virtually every Democratic mayor in the state to back his candidacy for 2016. Those on a new list of endorsements are Palm Bay Mayor William Capote, Tamarac Mayor Harry Dressler, Bonita Springs Mayor Ben Nelson Jr., Palm Beach County Mayor Shelley Vana, and Lauderhill Mayor Richard Kaplan. “I […]

Mitch PerryJuly 21, 2015

Although east Hillsborough County has been the graveyard for Democrats in legislative races for awhile, the party came awfully close in 2012 to winning the House District 59 seat. That’s when Gail Gottlieb fell just short of beating Republican Ross Spano for the open seat, ultimately losing 51-49 percent. The district covers Brandon, Riverview and Valrico. […]

Mitch PerryJuly 21, 2015

Monday’s official resumption of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba was met with full-throated denunciations from Republican elected officials up and down the Sunshine State, and David Jolly, the latest entrant into the GOP 2016 Senate race, was no exception. “Look, I oppose the president’s decision,” Jolly told Florida Politics Monday regarding President Barack Obama‘s […]

Mitch PerryJuly 21, 2015

I was going to opine on John Kasich entering the GOP presidential contest this morning, but let’s get to that Wednesday. Instead, let’s talk about Florida’s U.S. Senate race, now that David Jolly is officially is in the race, along with Congressman Ron DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and retired CIA contractor Todd Wilcox. Lately […]

Mitch PerryJuly 20, 2015

For the first time since severing ties in 1961, the U.S. and Cuba reopened embassies in each other’s capitals Monday. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla traveled to the Cuban Embassy in Washington to raise his country’s flag, an event that was broadcast live on the island’s state-run TV. Tampa Bay area Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor has […]

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wooden gavel with usa dollar on desk. close up.

More than 2 dozen Bernie Sanders viewing parties in Tampa Bay area scheduled for next week

Rhode Islanders’ for Marco Rubio for President group forms

Medical marijuana backers say they have enough signed petitions for Florida Supreme Court review

Mitch Perry Report for 7.22.15 — Stop saying John Kasich needs to be in first debate

Seven Florida House Republicans attending ALEC conference this week

Patrick Murphy snares more mayoral endorsements in Democratic Senate race

Hillsborough Democrat Naze Sahebzamani to take on Ross Spano in HD 59 race

David Jolly supports expanded American travel to Cuba

Mitch Perry Report for 7.21.15 — Bill McCollum isn’t seriously thinking of running for Senate. Is he?

Kathy Castor says economic sanctions on Cuba must go