Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 26, 2018

Joe Negron is making the rounds. The outgoing Senate President is doing post-Session interviews and sit-downs with the News Service of Florida, the Palm Beach Post, his hometown TC Palm, WPTV, and pretty much anyone else with a pen and notepad at the ready. For the most part, Negron is focusing on policy, including offering his personal […]

Jim RosicaMarch 19, 2018

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In a brief ‘exit interview’ last week with Florida Politics, outgoing Senate President Joe Negron said lawmakers over the last two Sessions “made tremendous progress” on goals he set out in his 2015 designation speech, “a blueprint of things I tried to accomplish.” Among those, beefing up higher education “with world class faculties,” addressing pollution […]

Staff ReportsMarch 14, 2018

Incoming Florida Senate President Bill Galvano announced Wednesday that longtime senior policy adviser Lisa Vickers will serve as his chief of staff. “She brings a wealth of management experience gained from service as executive director of the Department of Revenue under two Governors, combined with a strong and diverse background in public policy,” Galvano said in a statement […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 28, 2018

Dana Young, a Tampa Republican, says she won’t be pursuing the presidency of the Florida Senate. “As I’m completing my second session in the Senate, I’ve realized the commitment of pursuing and ultimately serving as presiding officer requires more time than I am willing to spend away from my family and my constituents,” she said […]

Peter SchorschJanuary 17, 2018

The frontrunners for the 2022 Florida Senate Presidency have spent the last few months adding funds to their political committees and, more importantly, using that money to help out a handful of potential backers when it comes time to vote in a couple years. Sens. Travis Hutson and Dana Young are still the top contenders […]

Peter SchorschDecember 19, 2017

So, let’s imagine an imaginary senator—we’ll call him Mack Trackvalla—who gets into a bit of a pickle for some allegedly inappropriate behavior. There’s an outcry, followed by calls for his resignation, which he laughs at. “I’ll see the place burn first!” this imaginary lawmaker tells news media. A complaint to the Rules Committee soon follows, […]

Jim RosicaNovember 20, 2017

The state’s Senate President and House Speaker could get an indirect say over judicial appointments—including state Supreme Court justices—under legislation filed Monday. The bill (HB 753), filed by Pensacola state Rep. Frank White—also a 2018 GOP candidate for attorney general—would allow the top Senate and House leaders to appoint people to judicial nominating commissions (JNCs), the […]

Ana CeballosNovember 2, 2017

In the wake of a sex scandal that rattled the state Capitol last week involving Senator Jeff Clemens and his extramarital affair with a lobbyist, Senate President Joe Negron on Thursday defended the process in which sexual harassment complaints are reported in the Senate. “I don’t think it would be fair to say that in […]

Jim RosicaOctober 24, 2017

In a vote made for a ceremony, Florida’s Senate Republicans formally made fellow Sen. Bill Galvano the next Senate President for 2018-20. Since the GOP still controls 24 seats in the 40-member chamber, the move ensures the Bradenton lawyer’s future leadership position. Sen. Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange gave the invocation and Sens. Tom Lee […]

Staff ReportsSeptember 18, 2017

Bill Galvano, the Bradenton Republican set to be the next Senate President, is expected to be officially designated on Oct. 24. Senate Republican Leader Wilton Simpson, who’s in line to be President after Galvano, made the announcement Monday. Galvano will succeed Joe Negron, a Stuart Republican, as head of the chamber for 2018-20. The designation will […]

Tag: Senate President

If Joe Negron plans to resign, he should…

Joe Negron reflects on past, looks to future

Bill Galvano names Lisa Vickers chief of staff

Dana Young withdraws from race for Senate President

Senate President aspirants Travis Hutson, Dana Young continue to raise money at rapid clip

A not-so-fun hypothetical for Joe Negron

Legislative leaders could get influence over judicial appointments

Joe Negron defends Senate sexual harassment policy, again

It’s official: Bill Galvano is next Senate President

Bill Galvano’s designation ceremony set