Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 31, 2016

Good morning, everyone. Florida’s primary election is history. So, where to begin? Patrick Murphy will face Marco Rubio in November. Murphy crushed Alan Grayson, 59 to 18 percent, with Pam Keith a close third at 15 percent. Rubio gets credit for honesty, saying that he can’t say for sure that he’ll fulfill all six years of his term if elected, […]

Mitch PerryAugust 30, 2016

Sean Shaw will be returning to Tallahassee next year, representing Hillsborough County’s House District 61, which encompasses Ybor City, Tampa Heights, Seminole Heights, and East Tampa. In an incredibly tight race, the Tampa attorney defeated East Tampa activist and businesswoman Dianne Hart, getting 42.71 percent of the vote to Hart’s 41.92 percent. Shaw received 6,696 votes to Hart’s […]

Mitch PerryAugust 30, 2016

Primary Election Day is here, finally, for those of us who care. Because that isn’t close to the majority of registered voters in Florida. Going into today, the turnout by percentage via early and absentee voting here in Hillsborough County where I’m located was lower than it turned out to be in 2012, which Congresswoman Kathy Castor […]

Staff ReportsAugust 25, 2016

There are just a few weeks until the election, and organizations across the state are rolling out endorsements for state and federal candidates. Several organizations — the Florida Medical Association, the Florida Retail Federation, and the Service Employees International Union Florida — issued endorsements. — Rebecca Negron has received the backing of James Dobson, the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 9, 2016

Last week (perhaps coincidentally as his poll numbers began dropping precipitously), Donald Trump suggested the general presidential election this fall could be “rigged.” In Ohio last week, Trump said he has heard “more and more” that the November election will be rigged — suggesting to his supporters the outcome of the election is out of the hands of voters. That […]

Mitch PerryAugust 8, 2016

The Democratic Progressive Caucus released a slate of endorsements Monday, including Tampa attorney Sean Shaw in the race to represent District 61 in the state House. “We’ve been working for months to spread my progressive message and share my plan to make sure Tallahassee is working for everyone,” Shaw said. “That means raising the minimum wage, expanding […]

Mitch PerryAugust 5, 2016

The three candidates running to succeed Ed Narain in the Tampa-based Florida House District 61 seat debated at the Tampa Tiger Bay Club on Friday. While the discourse was amiable, the emphasis on what is needed to improve the economic conditions in East Tampa were expressed with urgency. Small businesswoman and East Tampa activist Dianne Hart has been on a […]

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2016

Ever since Augie Ribeiro entered the state Senate District 19 race in late June, Ed Narain has seemed to be personally offended by his campaign theme that he’s a Democrat “for all of us.” “Is he implying that the people that have held the seat before didn’t represent everybody in the district?” Narain asked on Monday night while attending the Greater […]

Peter SchorschAugust 1, 2016

The Florida Chamber of Commerce last week rolled out a second round of endorsements in legislative races across the state. There are more than 400 candidates who have qualified to run for the 160 seats in the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate. With this latest round of endorsements, the Chamber is now backing 110 candidates […]

Mitch PerryJuly 22, 2016

East Tampa activist Michelle Patty is upset about a campaign mailer she says infers she’s supporting a candidate that she’s not in the House District 61 race. On the backside of a just-issued mailer paid for by the Florida Retail Federation PAC, Patty is seen standing next to East Tampa businesswoman and activist Dianne Hart, who is running […]

Tag: Sean Shaw

Mitch Perry Report for 8.31.16 — Moving on to November

Sean Shaw narrowly defeats Dianne Hart in House District 61 race

Mitch Perry Report for 8.30.16 — Election Day questions

Endorsement Watch: Florida Medical Association, Florida Retail Federation, SEIU Florida and others issue endorsements

Mitch Perry Report for 8.9.16 — On a ‘rigged’ election

Democratic Progressive Caucus backs Sean Shaw in HD 61 race

House District 61 candidates discuss their plans if elected in Tampa Tiger Bay forum

War of words heats up between Ed Narain and Augie Ribeiro in SD 19 race

10 picks that stand out among the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 legislative endorsements

East Tampa activist says mailer in HD 61 indicates she’s supporting a candidate that she isn’t