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Jeb Bush Backs Janet Adkins' Bid for a Third Term

Submitted by Kevin Derby on July 16, 2012 - 1:02pm

On Monday, former Gov. Jeb Bush announced that he was backing Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, in her bid for a third term in the Florida House of Representatives.

Adkins, who currently represents all of Baker, Nassau and Union counties and parts of Bradford, Clay and Duval counties, has focused on education issues during her time in the House, rising to serve as vice chairwoman of the Education Committee and the Pre-K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. Bush noted Adkins work on education in his endorsement on Monday.

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SD 35: Gwen Margolis Faces A Well-Funded GOP Opponent in John Couriel

Kevin Derby

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

As she looks to extend her lengthy political career, state Sen. Gwen Margolis, D-Miami, is feeling the heat as her Republican opponent in SD 35 posted an impressive fundraising haul in his first month on the campaign trail in Miami-Dade County.

A veteran politician who was first elected to the House in 1974, Margolis is currently in her third stint in the Florida Senate. She served as Senate president in the early 1990s and spent almost a decade on the Miami-Dade County Commission, including six years as chairperson.

SD 34: Money Flowing into South Florida as Ellyn Bogdanoff, Maria Sachs Look to Stay Seated

Kevin Derby

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

The money is flowing into SD 34, a South Florida state Senate race in which two of the chamber's heavyweights, incumbents Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Maria Sachs, D-Delray, are engaged in what likely will be a tooth-and-nail November struggle to return to Tallahassee.

Bogdanoff has filled her coffers for what should be a tough contest. In the second quarter of 2012, she pulled in more than $106,000 in cash, almost $49,000 through in-kind donations and spent more than $23,000.

SD 15: Kelli Stargel Leading GOP Primary Field in Money Chase

Kevin Derby

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

As the campaign enters the final month before the Republican primary on Aug. 14, in SD 15 Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, is leading her two GOP opponents in the money chase as they battle it out for the Senate seat centered around Polk County.

First elected to the Florida House in 2008, Stargel --whose husband served two terms in the Florida House before heading to the bench to serve as a judge -- raised more than $60,000 in the second quarter of 2012.

State Senators in North Florida Appear Headed for Easy Re-election Bids

Kevin Derby

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

Four incumbents in the Florida Senate representing the northern part of the state -- including the next Senate president -- are cruising to being re-elected in November, all with impressive war chests and little in the way of opposition.

In SD 1, Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is slated to become president of the Florida Senate after November, provided he wins another term and the Republicans keep control. The GOP is in solid shape to keep the Senate and Gaetz appears to be on track for staying in Tallahassee.

SD 24: Tom Lee Has Fundraising Edge on Rachel Burgin

Kevin Derby

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

With a month to go until the primary, in SD 24 -- one of the most closely watched legislative primaries in Florida -- former Florida Senate President Tom Lee has the financial edge over Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa.

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Brandon, announced in late May that she would not seek another term in the Senate and would instead offer a primary challenge to Hillsborough County Property Appraiser Rob Turner. With Storms sudden announcement, Lee and Burgin scrambled into the race for the Senate seat which represents the eastern parts of Hillsborough County.

Funds to Retain Florida Supreme Court Justices Near an 'Unprecedented' $1 Million

Jim Turner

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

Three state Supreme Court justices whom critics have deemed judicial activists have amassed nearly $1 million to assure their retention in November.

With unprecedented contributions rolling in for a judicial contest of any kind in Florida, the three justices up for retention collectively picked up $455,310 -- the bulk from attorneys and law firms -- during the second quarter of the year. The combined number for Supreme Court justices R. Fred Lewis, Barbara Pariente and Peggy Quince almost equaled their first-quarter totals.

Connie Mack Unveils Team for Southwest Florida

Submitted by Kevin Derby on July 16, 2012 - 8:11am

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the favorite to win the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, announced his leadership teams for Lee and Collier counties on Monday morning.

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Don Gaetz Raising and Spending Serious Cash Despite Little Opposition

Submitted by Kevin Derby on July 16, 2012 - 8:05am

Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, is slated to become president of the Florida Senate after November provided he wins another term and the Republicans keep control. The GOP is in solid shape to keep the Senate and Gaetz appears to be on track for staying in Tallahassee.

Gaetz raised more than $160,000 in the second quarter of 2012 and spent almost $272,000. Despite that heavy spending, Gaetz continues to have a healthy war chest. So far this campaign cycle, Gaetz has raised more than $632,000 and spent almost $354,000.

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SD 17: John Legg Has Solid Financial Advantage in GOP Primary

Kevin Derby

July 15, 2012 - 6:00pm

With a month to go until the primary, House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-New Port Richey, has a healthy financial advantage over two Republican primary opponents in the Senate District 17 battle to replace Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, in representing parts ofPasco and Hillsborough counties.

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