Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 19, 2017

This summer, the Tampa Tiger Bay Club has bypassed its normal practice of asking politicians to come into its den. Instead, the civic-minded organization has invited speakers to discuss some of the pressing issues facing Florida. This has often led to advocates and critics of an issue dueling it out during Tiger Bay forums. Not […]

Mitch PerryMay 11, 2017

On Election Night 2016, at approximately 7:45 p.m., Steve Schale was at an Orlando brewpub. The Democratic strategist opened his laptop to review his state’s election returns. “It’s in real bad shape,” Schale told Hillary Clinton pollster John Anzalone and campaign consultant Jim Margolis in a phone call. “What the f**k are you talking about,” Anzalone asked disbelieving, according to “Shattered,” a riveting look behind the scenes […]

Mitch PerryApril 28, 2017

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says he had broken the record for restoring voting rights to convicted felons, calling it his “proudest achievement” as governor. And Charlie Crist is leading the cheers applauding the move. McAuliffe boasted Thursday he had individually restored rights to 156,221 Virginians, surpassing the previous record-holder — Crist — by a nose. As […]

Scott PowersOctober 28, 2016

U.S. Rep. John Mica‘s re-election campaign is charging his congressional Democratic opponent Stephanie Murphy with playing a role in trying to hide the origins of a $100,000 2012 campaign contribution in the Virginia governor’s race. The donation in question was made to the campaign of Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who […]

Mitch PerryAugust 23, 2016

Donald Trump calls himself “the law and order candidate,” so one shouldn’t be surprised about his reaction to Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe‘s announcement yesterday that he had signed papers restoring the voting rights of nearly 13,000 ex-felons. Tump accused McAuliffe of “getting thousands of violent felons to the voting booth in an effort to cancel out the votes of both law […]

Mitch PerryAugust 1, 2016

Florida is one of only three states in the nation where felons and ex-felons permanently lose their right to vote, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures. So on the last day to register to vote in the Aug. 30 primary election, advocates throughout the Sunshine State called for a repeal of that law Monday. “The voting […]

Mitch PerryJuly 29, 2016

Good morning, Well, I’m glad it just started raining in Philadelphia, because I didn’t set an alarm, and a plane awaits to go to whisk me to Tampa in a few hours, so not much time for any insights from this week. Let’s just say this: When Khizr Khan, the father of a Muslim-American soldier slain in […]

Mitch PerryJuly 28, 2016

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe recently did something many Florida Democrats can only dream of. In April, he issued a sweeping order restoring rights to all ex-offenders who are no longer incarcerated or on probation or parole. That move was nixed by the Virginia Supreme Court however, which ruled last week that he had overstepped his clemency powers, agreeing with state […]

Associated PressJuly 27, 2016

After terrorism fears permeated Republican speeches a week ago, Democrats have barely mentioned the Islamic State group through two days of their convention. That is perhaps a result of the militant group’s emergence from a localized, Middle East insurgency to a self-proclaimed caliphate and worldwide terrorism threat during President Barack Obama‘s time in office. It […]

Associated PressJuly 22, 2016

Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine has emerged as the leading contender to join the Democratic ticket as Hillary Clinton‘s running mate, according to two Democrats, who both cautioned that Clinton has not made a final decision and could yet change directions. The announcement of Clinton’s pick could come as early as Friday afternoon in Florida, a […]

Tag: Terry McAuliffe

Advocates push for restoration of voting rights for ex-felons at Tampa Tiger Bay Forum

Steve Schale on the night the lights went out on Hillary Clinton in Florida

Charlie Crist applauds Terry McAuliffe for beating his record on restoring voting rights

John Mica campaign ties Stephanie Murphy to ‘shady’ Virginia donation

Mitch Perry Report for 8.23.16 — Terry McAuliffe fulfills his promise

Advocates call for repeal of Florida’s ban on automatic restoration of voting rights for ex-felons

Mitch Perry Report for 7.29.16 — Goodbye from Philadelphia

Terry McAuliffe tells Florida Dems he’ll sign over 200,000 forms individually to restore ex-felons right to vote

Terror fears permeated GOP week — Dems barely mention them

Tom Kaine emerges as favorite in Hillary Clinton’s VP search