While it was far from spooky, the Florida Democrats' annual fete at the Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resort was less than magical for many of the delegates in attendance.
Party faithful from across the state snapped selfies beside Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, but standing next to life-sized cardboard figures of the candidates, who didn't show up at this weekend's party convention, left some feeling flat.
"Ain't nothing but a family thing," the fictional White House chief of staff Leo McGarry once said in an episode of "The West Wing." And while he was talking about his battle with alcoholism, he might as well have been discussing the past week in Tallahassee.
The state Senate redistricting battle descended into a personal and political quagmire that involved no fewer than three of the Legislature's almost dynastic families. The fight has also ripped apart the Republican caucus in the upper chamber, which has started to resemble a dysfunctional family.
The Florida House of Representatives will begin its work on a new set of Senate maps next week, and it already appears as if state lawmakers will be looking at changing a proposal passed by the Senate this week.
Black voters overwhelmingly support parental choice and a mix of education options that include traditional public, public charter and opportunity scholarships to attend private schools.
Candidates running in South Florida continue to try to link each other to U.S. House leaders as one of the most competitive congressional races in the Sunshine State continues to take shape.
The Florida Sheriffs Association may have come out against allowing open carry in the Sunshine State, but a Bay County Sheriff is up in arms over what he’s calling a “secret vote” taken by the FSA to oppose a new bill scheduled to hit the Florida Legislature in January.
Name-calling that erupted on the Senate floor Wednesday has deepened the divide within a Republican caucus embroiled in an acrimonious feud over who will lead the chamber after next year's elections.
A 17-minute diatribe by Sen. Don Gaetz against Sen. Jack Latvala has prompted some disgruntled Republicans to call on Senate President Andy Gardiner to postpone a Dec. 2 caucus vote to designate the next president.
Latvala, R-Clearwater, has been pitted against Sen. Joe Negron in a years-long battle over who will lead the chamber starting in November 2016.
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., was elected speaker of the House on Thursday even as four congressional representatives from Florida broke from their parties to support dark horse candidates.
Former U.S. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton is out front with Florida Democrats while businessman Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., are ahead on the Republican side, a new poll shows.
St. Leo University released a poll on Wednesday showing Clinton with a commanding lead in the Sunshine State. A majority of Florida Democrats--51 percent--support Clinton. The poll was started before Vice President Joe Biden closed the door on running for the Democratic nomination and he places a distant second with 15 percent. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., garners 13 percent.
On Wednesday, Florida Republicans divided as the U.S. House voted to approve the budget deal crafted by the White House and outgoing U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, which raises the debt ceiling through March 2017.
