Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiOctober 14, 2016

Both Republicans and Democrats have prioritized the race in the Gainesville-centric Senate District 8 race, and Democrat Rod Smith‘s latest campaign finance report provides yet more evidence that, for Democrats, this one is a must-win. All told, Smith has raised $539,570, received $227,939 in in-kind contributions (largely staff and polling from the Florida Democratic Party), and […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterOctober 13, 2016

Republicans in two state Senate districts have big leads over their Democratic opponents, while a third faces a tough race to the finish line. St. Pete Polls gauged voter support in Senate Districts 8, 18, and 23. The surveys — commissioned by FloridaPolitics.com — showed Majority Leader Dana Young has a six-point lead over Democrat […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 20, 2016

A new St. Pete Polls survey conducted Monday shows a close race in Senate District 8 between Democrat Rod Smith and Republican Keith Perry. While Smith’s lead of 43 percent to 38 percent is outside the 3.3 percent margin of error, the undecided column contains 19 percent of the 891 people surveyed by phone, suggesting that there […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 16, 2016

State Rep. Keith Perry found himself in the middle of a maelström this week after a video emerged showing the Gainesville Republican striking a man during a dispute over campaign yard signs. But the circumstances around the video suggest deeper motives might be at play. If you’ve seen the 30-minute clip, released by the Gainesville […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 14, 2016

A disagreement over a yard sign turned into a physical altercation between Rep. Keith Perry and a Gainesville resident over the weekend, according to records released by Gainesville police Wednesday. The Gainesville Police Department released the incident report, surveillance video and a sworn complaint affidavit related to a Saturday incident involving Perry. In an email […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 13, 2016

A Gainesville state lawmaker said a complaint against him alleging battery has been withdrawn. In a statement Monday evening, Rep. Keith Perry said an incident over the weekend involving an alleged battery “has been resolved.” According to police reports, Perry was involved in an incident Saturday that included battery and trespassing. The weapons used in […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 12, 2016

A Gainesville state lawmaker was involved in an alleged battery over the weekend. Rep. Keith Perry was involved in an incident Saturday that included battery and trespassing. According to a one-page Gainesville Police report, the weapons used in the incident were “hands, feet, fists, spitting.” The incident occurred in the 2200 block of West University […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 28, 2016

A political committee tied to Democrat Rod Smith has given more than $393,000 to the Florida Democratic Party since May, around the same time party began airing TV ads supporting him. The state party can purchase ad time at a more affordable rate than candidates’ committees, but state law prohibits political parties and affiliated committees […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterAugust 9, 2016

A North Florida state Senate race is pulling in big money. Keith Perry and Rod Smith have raised a combined $712,000 in Senate District 8. The race pits two well-known commodities against one another in the November general election. State records show Perry, a state representative since 2010, raised $16,760 between July 23 and July […]

Drew WilsonJuly 14, 2016

The Rod Smith campaign released its third ad in the Senate District 8 campaign Thursday, and this one takes direct aim at his opponent, Republican Rep. Keith Perry. “In North Central Florida, our economy and way of life depend on safe water,” Smith says in the ad. “My opponent Keith Perry voted to ignore local […]

Tag: Senate District 8

Big spending for and by Rod Smith in competitive state Senate race

Polls galore: Republicans lead in state Senate Districts 18 & 23; race still close in SD 8

Rod Smith holds five-point lead over Keith Perry in high-profile state Senate race

Calling BS on the way Gainesville Police handled Keith Perry video

Keith Perry apologizes for striking a man after a dispute over campaign sign

Keith Perry says alleged battery incident resolved, calls it a ‘misunderstanding’

Report: Keith Perry involved in alleged battery incident

Donations from committee backing Rod Smith came within weeks of FDP ad buys in SD 8

Keith Perry, Rod Smith bring in big money in SD 8 race

Rod Smith drops 3rd ad in SD 8, taking direct aim at Keith Perry