Nobody expected 2014 to be dull in Florida politics -- and it wasnt. From redistricting fights to tax cuts to a close gubernatorial contest to presidential candidates headed for the gate in 2016, Florida was, as always, one of the most dynamic and important states in shaping the nations politics. Here is a look at some of the Sunshine States champs and chumps from 2014.
WINNERS
Katie Edwards. The Plantation Democrat lit up the House in only her second session, proving it's more important on big bills to reach across the aisle and get results than it is to play partisan games and sulk on the back bench. Though Edwards got more press for her role with Matt Gaetz in bringing the Charlotte's Web medical marijuana bill home (HB 843/SB 1030), her passionate leadership on SB 89 (Threat of Force, or "Warning Shot" bill) and particularly on HB 99 (Substance Abuse) should cement her as one of the star performers in the lower chamber. Edwards and her practical centrism -- social liberalism and working with the business community to grow jobs -- also looks like a winning bet for Florida Democrats after Allison Tant led the party off a cliff this year.
John Thrasher. The St. Augustine Republican, who chaired Gov. Rick Scott's successful re-election campaign, was selected over three finalists with academic backgrounds to replace Eric Barron as president of Florida State University in an 11-2 vote by the school's board of trustees. The board made no bones about their decision, saying he got the offer largely because of his fundraising skills. Dozens of faculty members and students in Tallahassee protested, pleading with the trustees to appoint a president with Barron's academic credentials.
Bill Galvano. In the often minefield-laden Senate, Galvano has emerged as one of the best Republican leaders. Even as Joe Negron and Jack Latvala continue their seemingly endless pursuit of the Senate presidency for 2016, Galvano is setting up shop for 2018. Galvanos handling of redistricting during the special session won him a great deal of applause and increasingly he looks like a unifying force for an often raucous caucus.
David Jolly. Few had heard of the Tampa Bay Republican before the year started. Now Jolly is a fast rising congressman on the leadership track. As big-name Republicans stayed on the sidelines, Jolly walked over a watered-down primary field before stunning Alex Sink in the special election. Democrats blew their chances with an amateurish recruitment process after Sink opted out of the rematch, eventually ending up without a candidate to run in what is a competitive district. That only gave Jolly more time to build relations in Washington and the district for 2016.
Patrick Murphy. It was a bad year for Democrats but a good year for this congressman. Sure, Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district. Murphy ran over Carl Domino in the general election by staying positive and working hard. When he felt it was necessary, Murphy went after Beltway Democrats, even taking to the floor to chastise Barack Obama on occasion and voting against Nancy Pelosi and the caucus. Murphy has the look of a rising star for Democrats, a figure who might just do well at the state level, something the party needs badly.
Rick Scott. Written off as politically dead two years ago, Scott kept his job by a narrow margin over Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist. There were certainly a few missteps from Scott and his team but their trump card was Floridas continued economic turnaround. Scotts strong legislative session agenda with $500 million in tax cuts bore fruit as well. Now, with solid Republican majorities in both chambers, Scott should be headed into a good 2015.
LOSERS
Tom Lee. The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee found it more important to push ahead with SB 846, an incomplete ethics law, a "Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees," yet he did not call an investigation of growing accusations of public corruption -- that candidate for governor Charlie Crist traded judgeships for donations, a flagrant quid pro quo -- while he was governor prior to Rick Scott. Oh, yes, and he was the main sponsor of a constitutional amendment that would make it clear whoever wins the election this fall will get to pick the next three Florida Supreme Court justices. Floridians need to know their courts don't belong to governor's appointees and Lee had the perfect opportunity to get answers. He just never made the effort. Lees Amendment 3 didnt even come close to passing in November, capping off a bad year for the veteran Florida senator.
John Morgan. What a disaster. Morgan was the force behind Amendment 2 and was counting on his old employee Charlie Crist to beat Scott. Instead, Morgans two causes went down to defeat and the trial attorney has to shoulder some of the blame, especially after a video of him rallying supporters of Amendment 2 with a profane-laden rant went viral. Supporters of medical marijuana are calling for the fight to go on, but they are already demanding Morgan play a smaller role. Thats not a natural play for Morgan, who stars in many of his firms commercials and whose face is plastered on billboards across the state.
Steve Southerland. The North Florida Republican could not stop shooting himself in the foot during his time in Congress and in his fight with Gwen Graham. Southerland did everything from complain about his congressional salary to sending out a bizarre invite for a men-only fundraiser invoking King Arthur. Graham beat him in November in a bad year for Democrats around the nation, closing the door for the moment on any Southerland comeback.
Tom Steyer. The California billionaire vowed to make Scott pay for not believing in global warming. Steyer spent more than $15 million against Scott with his Next Gen Climate super-PAC and it didnt pay off. Even worse for Steyer, he spent big against Republican Senate candidates in key races and the GOP won control from the Democrats. A bad election cycle all around for Steyer.
Allison Tant. The Florida Democratic Party chairwoman had a disastrous 2014. Tant put all her chips on Crist and downplayed Nan Richs primary challenge to the former Republican. That only angered liberals, many of whom stayed away from the polls in November. Tant also couldnt find enough candidates to flip the Florida Senate or field credible challengers to Adam Putnam and Jeff Atwater. Add in Democrats losing six Florida House seats and the election was a rout. Tant even threw herself into leadership contests, going after Darryl Rouson and installing Mark Pafford as the next Democratic House leader. But strong-arm tactics are only accepted if they lead to good results. So far, Tant has failed miserably in leading Florida Democrats.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Never mind that she slaughtered Joe Kaufman in her congressional district, DWS may be 2014's biggest loser, ultimately tendering her resignation as Democratic National Committee chair and seeing her ambitions of replacing Nancy Pelosi dashed -- all for the shellacking Democrats took nationally on her watch. DWS was largely behind the Dems' failed strategy in Florida, too. Nevertheless, she has proven she's a survivor. It will be interesting to see what 2015 brings for the Weston Dem.
Tallahassee political writer Jeff Henderson wrote this analysis exclusively for Sunshine State News.
