Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Keith MorelliJune 29, 2016

The collecting began last year, and the contributions flowed into Tampa Bay incumbent constitutional officers focused winning this fall’s elections and keeping their jobs for four more years. By last week, when qualifying ended, nearly a dozen had raked in close to $900,000, ready to wage war with challengers to their positions as sheriffs, tax […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 17, 2016

The state’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in May, according to new employment figures released by state’s jobs agency Friday. Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in May, down from 4.8 percent in April. The rate is down from 5.4 percent a year ago, according to monthly employment numbers released by the Florida Department […]

Peter SchorschJune 16, 2016

Five months from Election Day, Republican Sens. Jeff Brandes, Jack Latvala, Tom Lee and Bill Galvano are still running unopposed. The only two bay area Senate seats in contention so far are the Senate District 18 contest between Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young and Democrat Bob Buesing and the three-way Democratic primary going down in SD 19. Young had built up quite the lead in her jump to the […]

Associated PressJune 13, 2016

In an encouraging sign for the general economy, the number of Tampa Bay borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth continues to plunge. The Tampa Bay Times reported that although still double the national average, just 16 percent of bay area homeowners with mortgages were underwater in the first three months of this […]

Associated PressJune 6, 2016

Heavy rains from Tropical Storm Colin hit north Florida and southern Georgia on Monday, knocking out power in some areas and flooding roads on the Gulf coast. Residents filled sandbags, schools closed early and graduation ceremonies were postponed as Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency. The National Hurricane Center said Colin marked the […]

Staff ReportsJune 5, 2016

A tropical storm warning has been issued Florida’s west coast, including the Tampa Bay area, through Monday. Jon Wilson, of the Tampa Bay Reporter, writes that National Hurricane Center has released the storm warning for Florida’s western coast north from Englewood to Indian Pass. Classified as Tropical Depression No. 3, the low-pressure area near the […]

Phil AmmannJune 2, 2016

A group of Tampa Bay-area Republican incumbents invite supporters to a joint golf-themed fundraiser later this month at TopGolf, an interactive sports and entertainment venue in east Tampa. Scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at 1 p.m., the event will support the re-election efforts of Reps. Larry Ahern of House District 66; Kathleen Peters of HD 69, […]

Peter SchorschMay 17, 2016

Six months out from Election Day, the Senate seats races in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are in much the same condition they were in March. Republican Sens. Jeff Brandes, Jack Latvala, Tom Lee and Bill Galvano are still running unopposed in their newly redrawn districts, and in SD 19 first-term Rep. Ed Narain continues to build on his fundraising […]

Peter SchorschMay 4, 2016

The shock from the news that the Tampa Bay Times has purchased and folded the Tampa Tribune has yet to wear off. In fact, there are probably a few hundred (maybe thousands) subscribers to the Trib who don’t pay attention to social media (think of all those seniors at Sun City Center) and were likely […]

Guest AuthorMay 1, 2016

One of the things I like best about Bernie Sanders is how he won’t trade on what he believes in to become president. He’s not desperate. Sanders holds fast to ideals he’s championed since the 1960s and is unapologetic about it. That’s his charm. And challenge. Unfortunately, that’s also one reason he won’t become our […]

Tag: Tampa Bay
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Image via Florida State Parks.

Unopposed local constitutional officers to return nearly $900,000 in contributions

Florida unemployment rate at 4.7 percent in May

Where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay legislative races

Number of Tampa Bay homeowners underwater plunges

Power outages, flooding in Florida due to Tropical Storm Colin

Tampa Bay region under Tropical Storm Warning through Monday

GOP House incumbents to hold golf fundraiser in Tampa June 23

Update on the money race in Tampa Bay legislative races

Patrick Manteiga was right about demise of Tampa Trib; so was Noah Pransky

Catherine Durkin Robinson: Bernie Sanders and the Irish Easter Uprising