Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jim RosicaOctober 27, 2015

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The Florida Senate on Tuesday agreed to amend its proposed redrawn district map with a “sandbox” that again moves the lines in South Florida. The plan by GOP state Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla also happens to ensure he wouldn’t have to run against fellow Republican Miami-Dade incumbent Anitere Flores. The Senate, however, put off a vote […]

Jim RosicaOctober 26, 2015

The Florida Senate’s second-ranking Democrat has filed five more plans for consideration in the ongoing Special Session to redraw the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The chamber’s redistricting web page shows that state Sen. Oscar Braynon II of Miami Gardens filed the maps Sunday. Braynon, the Democratic leader pro tempore, also is vice chair of the Reapportionment Committee. Its […]

Jim RosicaOctober 23, 2015

The Florida Senate’s panel on redistricting on Friday narrowly cleared a new map resetting the boundaries of the state’s 40 senatorial districts. The committee’s recommended map (S9090) next will be heard on the Senate floor Tuesday. It was approved on a 4-3 party-line vote. Committee chair Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, said all senators will almost certainly be […]

Staff ReportsOctober 21, 2015

The state House and Senate have issued legislative calendar changes for the final week of 2015 Special Session C, which is set to end Nov. 6. The session was convened to amend Senate maps, ordered by a Florida Supreme Court judgment that found the upper chamber violated anti-gerrymandering laws. A number of scheduled hearing times […]

Jim RosicaOctober 20, 2015

Two Democratic lawmakers have filed identical bills that would punish state lawmakers for gerrymandering political districts, up to removal from office. State Sen. Darren Soto of Orlando and state Rep. Dwight Dudley of St. Petersburg filed the legislation (SB 6-C/HB 3-C) on Tuesday. But it’s almost certain the bills won’t be taken up by the Legislature; they would first need […]

Gary FineoutOctober 19, 2015

Florida’s Republican-led Legislature, which has split this year over everything from health care spending to new congressional districts, could be engulfed in a new political firestorm. Legislators opened up a 19-day Special Session on Monday with the goal of redrawing state Senate districts. Legislative leaders called the Special Session after the Senate acknowledged in court […]

Jim RosicaOctober 9, 2015

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A Florida judge on Friday endorsed a map drawn by the League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause as the new boundary lines for the state’s 27 congressional districts. What it portends is a topsy-turvy time for Florida’s politics, with some members of Congress virtually ensured an exit from office next election. By late afternoon, […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 25, 2015

The chairmen of the Florida Legislature’s redistricting panels agreed to draw multiple “base maps” and record all meetings of map-drawers as they prepare for next month’s Special Session to redraw Florida’s state Senate districts. The agreement was spelled out in letters between state Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, and state Rep. Jose Oliva, a Miami Lakes Republican, that […]

Associated PressSeptember 24, 2015

Beginning on Thursday morning, a Florida judge will try to sort out the political mess left because of squabbling over the state’s 27 congressional districts. The Florida Supreme Court in July ordered the Republican-controlled Legislature to redraw the state’s congressional districts after finding the current map violated standards adopted by voters. But the House and Senate […]

Peter SchorschSeptember 8, 2015

If you’re keeping track of time, there is B.T. and A.T.: Before Trump and After Trump. At the beginning of summer, there were (at least) 10 big questions facing Florida politics. But those questions, particularly the ones involving the myriad of presidential candidates hailing from the Sunshine State, are so B.T. On June 16, Donald Trump entered the […]

Tag: special session

Senate takes Miguel Diaz de la Portilla map with South Florida changes

Oscar Braynon files five more Senate maps

Senate panel barely clears new redistricting map

Legislative chambers revise schedule for final week of Special Session

Democratic legislation would create penalties for gerrymandering

Florida legislators already at odds over new Senate maps

Judge rules for plaintiffs in congressional redistricting challenge

House, Senate agree on next redistricting procedures

Redistricting trial set to begin today

Peter Schorsch: Answers to top 10 big questions in Florida politics lurch into view