Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Ryan NicolNovember 26, 2018

With the 2018 midterms in the rearview, along with a contentious series of recounts, it’s worth reflecting on the historic nature of the U.S. Senate race here in Florida which turned out to be the closest ever in the state’s history. Outgoing GOP Gov. Rick Scott managed to defeat incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson […]

Phil AmmannMay 3, 2017

As Ileana Ros-Lehtinen retires from the U.S. House when her term ends after next year, she is leaving behind an impressive tenure. To put context on Ros-Lehtinen’s lengthy time in office, Eric Ostermeier of Smart Politics examined how the Miami Republican compared to female colleagues and predecessors over the decades in Congress. When Ros-Lehtinen exits […]

Peter SchorschJuly 27, 2016

Outgoing DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz is facing the strongest challenge of her congressional career back home in South Florida from Democrat Tim Canova. And if Wasserman Schultz is unsuccessful in the Aug. 30 primary, a new Smart Politics report finds she will be only the second party leader — either Democratic or Republican — to lose […]

Peter SchorschJune 23, 2016

Voters may not have been on Marco Rubio’s side earlier this year, but history is on his side in his re-election campaign according to a new report from Smart Politics. Since 1972, seven senators have run for president, failed, and sought re-election to the U.S. Senate in the same election cycle. The report shows not only all […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterApril 22, 2016

Gwen Graham’s decision to leave Congress after one term could land her in the history books. According to a Smart Politics analysis, Graham is the second member of the U.S. House Representatives from Florida to retire after one term. The report, released Thursday night, said Graham’s decision to “step away from Congress after one term […]

Peter SchorschMarch 15, 2016

For Jeb Bush, his presidential aspirations may be over, but not in the hearts of many of his more strident supporters. For the primaries and caucuses in 2016, nearly a quarter-million votes have been cast so far for 11 of the 13 Republicans who have already exited the race, including Bush, Ben Carson, Rand Paul […]

Peter SchorschFebruary 23, 2016

As the Republican establishment frets over a potential Trump-led (or, to a lesser degree, Cruz-led) presidential ticket, other GOP leaders and officeholders are starting to worry about down-ticket effects. If Trump becomes the nominee, states holding U.S. Senate races – Florida is among them – could see trouble for Republicans and the future of the GOP-controlled […]

Mitch PerryOctober 20, 2015

When Charlie Crist declares his candidacy for Florida’s 13th Congressional District Tuesday morning in St. Petersburg, he’ll be in the unusual position of having been a governor now running as a representative. But how unusual is it? According to a Smart Politics analysis, since 1900 more than two-dozen ex-or sitting governors to have won elections […]

Phil AmmannJuly 22, 2015

Charlie Crist, the embodiment of “if at first you don’t succeed …,” could ride that adage into the record books. The former, and possible future, candidate – if he should seek Florida’s redrawn 13th Congressional District – could be the first Floridian in 95 years to achieve a political “hat-trick,” losing gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and U.S. […]

Phil AmmannMay 11, 2015

Any idea that politics is an old man’s game will fly out the window, now that Republican Ron DeSantis could face Democrat Patrick Murphy in the race for Marco Rubio’s open Senate seat. According to the people at Smart Politics, the potential matchup between two 30-something Florida congressmen will be a contest with one of the […]

Tag: Smart Politics
Image via Florida A&M University.

What you should know about the closest U.S. Senate race in Florida history

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to exit Congress as sixth all-time tenure for female House members

Debbie Wasserman Schultz would make history were she to lose party chair and re-election in same year

Smart Politics analysis: History suggests Marco Rubio should win re-election despite failed presidential campaign

Gwen Graham becomes second freshman Florida U.S. representative to retire after one term

Candidates no longer in prez race take 229K votes in primaries; Jeb Bush leads with 88K

Smart Politics report shows Donald Trump, Ted Cruz-led ticket could spell down-ballot GOP trouble in Florida

Charlie Crist would be only 5th governor to be elected to Congress in past 50 years

If Charlie Crist runs and loses, it’ll be first Florida political hat trick in 95 years

Patrick Murphy vs. Ron DeSantis could be one of youngest match ups in Senate history