Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryJune 1, 2016

My colleague Jim Rosica has a piece up this morning entitled, “Did Adam Putnam just launch the first ad of the 2018 gubernatorial campaign?” Check it out and decide for yourself whether indeed that’s the case. What’s truly not in dispute is that the 41-year-old Agriculture commissioner has been THE guy referred to by seemingly everyone […]

Peter SchorschMay 26, 2016

In a Republican primary in a state House race in Tampa Bay, a handful of endorsements matter more than others. Were incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran to offer an endorsement or one of the region’s Republican U.S. Representatives or state Senators, that would really count for something. The same can be said of an endorsement from former House […]

Peter SchorschApril 1, 2016

Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush will be in Tampa this month at a fundraising luncheon hosted by former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford. Bush, son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, will appear Tuesday, April 12, at the Oxford Exchange in Tampa. Co-hosting the event, which begins at noon, is A-list lobbyist Slater Bayliss […]

Mitch PerryMarch 16, 2016

We’ll save you our post-mortems about Marco Rubio‘s failed candidacy for the presidency, since you can find them all over the web this morning. We wrote last week how startled we were about the lack of support in his own state, and that was before Alex Leary‘s devastating portrayal in Sunday’s Tampa Bay Times. A notable […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2016

Joe Gruters‘ association with the Donald Trump campaign is controversial, because, well, Donald Trump is controversial. Gruters became campaign chairman for Trump in Florida last fall. His other public duties include being vice chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, chairman of the Sarasota County Republican Executive Committee, and a member of Florida State University’s board […]

Mitch PerryMarch 15, 2016

When both Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio opted last year to compete in the 2016 Republican presidential race, Florida Republicans had to decide which Miami-area candidate to support. In most cases, they supported Bush. But after the former Florida governor’s campaign flamed out in South Carolina last month, expectations were that many of those same […]

Mitch PerryMarch 10, 2016

In what is being dubbed by critics as the “low-energy” summit, Jeb Bush is scheduled to meet today in Miami separately with John Kasich and Ted Cruz, after reportedly already meeting with Marco Rubio on Wednesday. The idea being, I take it, is that Jeb might come out with an endorsement. If he’s going to do […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterFebruary 3, 2016

Eight former and current Republican House Speakers are urging New Hampshire residents to vote for Jeb Bush on Election Day. The open letter to New Hampshire voters ran in the New Hampshire Union Leader on Wednesday. Politico reported that the advertisement is meant to highlight the number of Florida leaders backing Bush over Marco Rubio. […]

Jim RosicaJanuary 19, 2016

Weatherford Partners, the venture capital group created by former Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford and his two brothers, on Tuesday announced their first public deal, contributing to a $4.5 million funding round for a Missouri company. Weatherford’s firm invested in the Kansas City-based PayIt, which produces mobile apps for governments so people can pay for […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 14, 2016

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is turning 100. The annual Florida Chamber Capitol Days kicked off the year-long celebration of the Chamber of Commerce’s 100th anniversary. Founded in 1916, the organization has grown over the years along with the state. “On hundred years ago, the biggest threat facing Florida’s economy was a parasite — the […]

Tag: Will Weatherford
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Mitch Perry Report for 6.1.16 — Let the 2018 GOP gubernatorial chatter begin

Big get: Will Weatherford backs Rebecca Smith in HD 60

George P. Bush to visit Tampa April 12 for fundraising luncheon

Mitch Perry Report for 3.16.16 – How does Bernie Sanders move on from here?

Joe Gruters confident GOP will come together to back Donald Trump

Will Weatherford denounces GOP leadership for not stopping Donald Trump

Mitch Perry Report for 3.10.16 – Why hasn’t the Florida GOP establishment rallied around Marco Rubio?

Jeb Bush supporters take aim at Marco Rubio in full page ad

Will Weatherford investment firm makes splash with first public deal

Florida Chamber of Commerce launches 100th anniversary celebration