Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonAugust 15, 2017

Three Republican lawmakers and the leading GOP candidate in HD 58 will hold a joint fundraiser Sept. 20 in San Antonio, Fla. Sen. Wilton Simpson, set to be Senate President for the 2020-22 term, will be joined by Tampa Bay-area Reps. Danny Burgess and Shawn Harrison, as well as HD 58 candidate Lawrence McClure for […]

Mitch PerryJuly 11, 2017

Shawn Harrison narrowly avoided losing his House District 63 seat last year. Heading into the 2018 election cycle, Democrats are fired up about a “wave” election they say will help them win the seat. Harrison is fully aware of that, which is why he’s stepping up fundraising efforts early in the election cycle, raking in […]

Mitch PerryJune 16, 2017

The attempted assassination Wednesday morning of Louisiana Republican Congressman Steve Scalise in suburban Washington D.C. has shaken the nation. Certainly, lawmakers now realize how vulnerable they are to mentally unstable people with access to firearms who disagree with them politically. At Friday’s Tampa Tiger Bay Club, five members of the Hillsborough County Legislative Delegation were asked their […]

Phil AmmannJune 16, 2017

Republican state Rep. Shawn Harrison is holding a campaign kickoff party later this month to launch his re-election bid in House District 63. The event, hosted by House Majority 2016 and featuring special guest Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, is Thursday, June 29, beginning 5 p.m. at the historic Tampa Theater, 711 N. Franklin St. Included […]

Mitch PerryJune 5, 2017

In 2016, Democrats targeted a handful of Florida House districts they believed they could flip from red to blue. One of them was Hillsborough County’s House District 63, where the Florida Democratic Party put some money behind Lisa Montelione in her bid to oust Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison. After a close race, Harrison ultimately prevailed, 51 to 49 […]

Jim RosicaMay 8, 2017

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz blasted legislative leadership’s treatment of the University of South Florida, saying the school’s achievement of state “pre-eminent” status was snatched away from it at the last moment. Language in an education conforming bill late last Friday was changed, preventing USF from pre-eminence, a status that would have qualified it for millions of […]

Mitch PerryMay 3, 2017

By a vote of 117-0, the Florida House passed a bill to revamp the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). With the Senate approving the bill last week, it now goes to Gov. Rick Scott‘s desk. Although Plant City Republican Dan Raulerson sponsored it in the House, that chamber actually substituted his bill with the Senate version, sponsored by Clearwater […]

Mitch PerryApril 13, 2017

Among the claim bills advanced Thursday is one approving $3.75 million payment in the death of Nubia Barahona. The payment from the Department of Children and Families would also compensate for injuries to Nubia’s twin brother Victor Barahona. The legislation, passed by the House Judiciary Committee, was filed by Miami Republican Jose Felix Diaz and Plantation Democrat Katie […]

Mitch PerryMarch 23, 2017

A bill in the Florida legislature that could arm teachers with guns in private religious schools passed the House Judiciary Committee Thursday. The legislation, sponsored by Polk City Republican Neil Combee (HB 849), would carve out certain religious private schools from Florida law that prohibits anyone except law enforcement officers from carrying guns in K-12 schools […]

Les NeuhausMarch 21, 2017

A litany of bills Tuesday show legislators intend to crack the whip on several social, criminal and commercial problems affecting the state. Each bill passed the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee, covering issues as wide ranging as child predators, domestic violence, addiction recovery homes, skimming devices, the department of corrections, probation, terrorism — and protection of […]

Tag: Shawn Harrison
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Tampa Bay-area lawmakers, Lawrence McClure buddy up for joint fundraiser Sept. 20

Shawn Harrison brings in more than $36,000 in June for re-election bid

House Republican Dan Raulerson wants everyone to own a gun

Shawn Harrison kicks off HD 63 re-election bid at Tampa Theater June 29

Bob Buckhorn crosses party lines to help Shawn Harrison’s bid for re-election

Janet Cruz blasts USF’s treatment in proposed budget

TBARTA bill passes unanimously — now goes to Rick Scott for signature

House advances claim bill for abuse survivor Victor Barahona

House advances bill allowing guns in private religious schools

House advances bills ‘cracking the whip’ on domestic abuse, child offenders, recovery centers, terrorism