Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 18, 2016

In St. Augustine for his monthly jobs numbers presser, Florida Gov. Rick Scott took questions about his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and discussed the 2018 political landscape. Scott said he had a “great meeting yesterday with President-elect Trump” lasting roughly 45 minutes. When asked if he might be part of one of Trump’s “landing teams,” designed to help […]

Larry GriffinAugust 25, 2016

At the Senate District 11 Democratic debate Wednesday night, held by the League of Women Voters, only three candidates showed up, and an hour of questions from moderator Karen Castor Dentel had them mostly agreeing on liberal policies and ideals, only differing in exactly what areas they would focus on in applying them. For an […]

Jim RosicaAugust 8, 2016

The Florida Senate’s underground parking garage won’t reopen for another two years, a state spokeswoman said Monday. It’ll be June 2018 before senators and staffers will again be able to park under the Capitol complex, according to Maggie Mickler, spokeswoman for the Department of Management Services (DMS), which oversees the Capitol. Meantime, DMS has been working with the Senate […]

Associated PressJune 20, 2016

A divided Senate blocked rival election-year plans to curb guns on Monday, eight days after the horror of Orlando’s mass shooting intensified pressure on lawmakers to act but knotted them in gridlock anyway — even over restricting firearms for terrorists. In largely party-line votes, rejected were one proposal from each side to keep extremists from […]

Larry GriffinJune 15, 2016

After the Pulse nightclub shooting last weekend, Florida Democratic lawmakers made it public Wednesday morning: they’re calling on Gov. Rick Scott and Senate President Andy Gardiner for a special legislative session to try and pass laws to ban suspected terror suspects from buying guns. Sen. Darren Soto, Rep. John Cortes, Sen. Geraldine Thompson and others gathered in […]

Peter SchorschJune 7, 2016

I missed it. It wasn’t THAT big of a deal. But I missed it nonetheless. Hey, I was on a business trip and sometimes when I am not at the console, a few details escape me, and sometimes the big things float right by and I miss them. This was the latter. With only a […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 8, 2016

(Second of three parts) The drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution did not trust unfettered democracy. The Founders wanted self-government, but they wanted a government where minorities would be heard and protected from the excesses of the majority. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, described simple democracy as “one […]

Darryl PaulsonApril 26, 2016

In a typical election cycle, about 90 percent of House members and 70 percent of U.S. senators win re-election. As has often been noted, Americans hate Congress, but love their own representative. In the 2016 congressional election in Florida, close to half of the delegation will be replaced. As David Wasserman of the Cook Political […]

Darryl PaulsonApril 25, 2016

In a typical election cycle, about 90 percent of House members and 70 percent of U.S. senators win re-election. As has often been noted, Americans hate Congress, but love their own representative. In the 2016 congressional election in Florida, close to half of the delegation will be replaced. As David Wasserman of the Cook Political […]

Jac VerSteegApril 18, 2016

As a preacher’s kid who grew up in the South, I value politeness. Yes, sir. Yes, ma’am. Let me get that door for you. It is a given that, when you encounter a governor in a coffee shop, you do not yell, “You are an a**hole!” Nevertheless, Cara Jennings’ crude outburst in a Gainesville Starbucks […]

Tag: senate

Rick Scott on Donald Trump: ‘I’ll do everything I can to help him be successful’

At SD 11 debate, Democratic candidates outline plans to advance liberal policies

Florida Senate’s underground parking closed for two more years

A divided Senate answers Orlando with gridlock on gun curbs

Florida Democrats call for special legislation to ban terror suspects from buying guns

Why we should pay attention to the SD 30 primary

Darryl Paulson: Why do democracies create demagogues?

Darryl Paulson: Florida’s congressional elections: The changing of the guard

Darryl Paulson: Florida’s congressional elections: The changing of the guard

Jac VerSteeg: GOP devolving into the party of, um, jerks