Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Steve SchaleNovember 23, 2015

Late last week, my friend Steve Bousquet wrote a lengthy piece about the increase in the number of voters who are registering with no party affiliation. The issue deserves more time than I will give it on this short blog post, but I wanted to address one myth that is out there about the rise […]

Guest AuthorOctober 27, 2015

Steve Schale’s recent Context Florida piece on his whirlwind experience with the Draft Biden movement inspired me to write my own, similar piece. This is obviously satire, and I expect my colleague Steve to take it with his usual good sense of humor. – Ben For me, it started when I first saw the plumes […]

Steve SchaleOctober 25, 2015

For me, it started in September 2008. Barack Obama had just selected Joe Biden as his running mate, and I was to staff the new vice presidential candidate in Tampa, at a rally at the University of South Florida. Prior to that day, I had grown quite cynical about Washington, so I assumed the whole Biden thing was an […]

Steve SchaleOctober 25, 2015

For me, it started in September 2008. Barack Obama had just selected Joe Biden as his running mate, and I was to staff the new vice presidential candidate in Tampa, at a rally at the University of South Florida. Prior to that day, I had grown quite cynical about Washington, so I assumed the whole Biden thing was an […]

Ryan RayOctober 20, 2015

There’s no doubt Cesar Fernandez stays plenty busy, but he’s happy to have turned in the Red Bull and cold pizza of his campaign days for more comfortable digs now that he works for Uber. Managing up to a half dozen “conversations” about transportation network companies at any one time with myriad Florida cities and counties, things still […]

Ryan RaySeptember 24, 2015

Next month, Steve Schale is taking his talents to sub-Saharan Africa. The Democratic strategist will lead a bipartisan delegation of American political professionals to Namibia and Botswana as part of an exchange program sponsored by the American Council of Young Political Leaders. Schale will escort a cohort of Americans to meet and swap electoral insights with the National Youth […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 8, 2015

A Miami-Dade lawmaker introduced legislation on Tuesday to replace the statue of a Confederate Army general at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. If passed, the bill (HB 141) would ask Congress to remove the statue of Gen. Edmund Kirby Smith and replace it with another “prominent Florida citizen.” The new statue would be paid […]

Mitch PerryAugust 22, 2015

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Florida Democratic Party consultant and lobbyist Ben Pollara says he “loves Joe Biden,” but that ardor does not translate into him hoping the Vice President opts to take the leap into the 2016 presidential sweepstakes. Along with his pal Brian Franklin, Pollara created a Facebook page called, “Draft Joe Biden for VP for 8 more years” last month. “If […]

Peter SchorschAugust 21, 2015

Thursday was a another wild one in the Legislature, and particularly for the Senate, who seemed for a moment to have adopted a “not one damn” comma approach to their tweaks to the congressional “base map” drawn by staff earlier this month. Just hours before, a story by Mary Ellen Klas again stoked the fires of […]

Mitch PerryAugust 18, 2015

Four years ago, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty was considered a strong challenger to Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination. Then the Iowa Straw Poll happened. Pawlenty fared poorly, and on August 11, 2011, he was stunningly out of the race. Flash forward four years later: Is Scott Walker this year’s version of Tim Pawlenty? Walker has […]

Tag: Steve Schale
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Steve Schale: Quick note on NPA registration

Ben Pollara: Draft the Pope, my wild ride

Steve Schale: "Draft Biden," the 10-week journey of a lifetime

Steve Schale and “Draft Biden”: The 10-week journey of a lifetime

Meet Cesar Fernandez, one of the “30 Under 30” rising stars of Florida politics

Steve Schale’s big news

Bill filed to replace Confederate general statue at U.S. Capitol

Ben Pollara discusses his “Draft Joe Biden for VP for 8 more years” Facebook page

Don’t go roping Will Weatherford into the Florida Senate’s mess, Andy Gardiner

Mitch Perry Report for 8.18.15 – It’s not going as planned for Scott Walker