Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonOctober 9, 2018

State Rep. Shawn Harrison’s re-election campaign has been sending out a direct mail piece showing him alongside members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, and the group said Tuesday it wants to make it clear that it has not endorsed the Tampa Republican. Topping the bullet points on the mailer is that the HD 63 […]

Drew WilsonAugust 28, 2018

Hillsborough School Board member Susan Valdes appears to have overcome months of sloppy campaigning to eek out a win in the Democratic primary for Hillsborough County’s House District 62. With 34 of 37 precincts reporting some outstanding mail votes, Valdes is leading Mike Alvarez, U.S. Marine Corps veteran by a few hundred votes with medical marijuana […]

Drew WilsonAugust 22, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez said Wednesday that if he’s elected to House District 62, he has a plan to bring much-needed construction and maintenance funding to public schools. The proposed plan, titled the “Make Schools Student Ready Act,” would boost the funding schools receive from the Public Education Capital Outlay Trust Fund, or PECO, which […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

House Minority Leader Janet Cruz announced Monday that she was yanking her endorsement of School Board member Susan Valdes. Valdes is running in the Democratic primary to decide who will succeed Cruz, the outgoing House Democratic Leader, in House District 62. “At a time when we’re learning Hillsborough schools have (broken) ACs, leaky roofs and […]

Drew WilsonAugust 20, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez scored a last-minute endorsement from Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn in the race to succeed House Minority Leader Janet Cruz in Hillsborough County’s House District 62. “There is only one candidate in this race that speaks to the heart and soul of this district and that is Mike Alvarez,” Buckhorn said. “He […]

Drew WilsonAugust 15, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez has launched a new digital ad campaign that contrasts his record against that of his chief rival in the Democratic primary for House District 62, School Board member Susan Valdes. Sample ads provided by the campaign say that “District 62 has a choice,” with the one half of the ad featuring a full-color […]

Drew WilsonAugust 6, 2018

Steve Cona’s campaign for a seat on the Hillsborough County School board got a boost Monday by way of an endorsement from Lt. Gov. Carlos López-Cantera. “Steve’s passion for education and the students of Hillsborough County is known statewide, and I’m proud to endorse him for the school board, District 1 seat,” López-Cantera said. “I’ve […]

Drew WilsonAugust 3, 2018

Florida Realtors PAC, the political arm of the state’s largest professional trade association, gave its blessing to another five candidates running for state legislative seats in the fall. Making the cut in the new round of endorsements were five state House candidates, three of them Republicans and two of them Democrats. In southeastern Hillsborough County’s […]

Drew WilsonAugust 2, 2018

Tampa Democrat Mike Alvarez landed a major backer Thursday as his chief rival in the three-way Democratic primary for House District 62, School Board member Susan Valdes, notched another campaign gaffe. The new endorsement came in from U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, who represents Florida’s 14th Congressional District, a territory that includes the Tampa-based state House […]

Drew WilsonJuly 12, 2018

Tampa businessman Steve Cona picked up an endorsement from Tampa Bay Builders Association in his campaign for the Hillsborough School Board. “The Tampa Bay Builders Association is happy to endorse Steve Cona for the Hillsborough County School Board, District 1,” said Jennifer Motsinger, executive vice president at TBBA. “Our organization understands that high-quality education is […]

Tag: Susan Valdes

Legislative Black Caucus clarifies it has not endorsed Shawn Harrison

Susan Valdes leading in HD 62 Democratic primary

Mike Alvarez pitches school funding bill in closing days of HD 62 primary

Janet Cruz rescinds endorsement of Susan Valdes in HD 62 primary

Bob Buckhorn endorses Mike Alvarez in HD 62 Democratic primary

Mike Alvarez rolls out new digital ads in HD 62 primary

Carlos López-Cantera backs Steve Cona for Hillsborough School Board

Florida Realtors release third wave of legislative endorsements

Kathy Castor backs Mike Alvarez, admonishes Susan Valdes in HD 62

Tampa Bay builders back Steve Cona for Hillsborough School Board