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The most contested U.S. House races in Florida: Will the Republicans keep their seats – or not?
Furious and fired up for nearly two years, national Democrats have vowed to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives and end Congress’ one-party hold on Washington, D.C. They’d need to flip 23 Republican House from red to blue across the country, and have circled a handful in Florida. But as the Nov. 6 […]
U.S. Senate race: Bill Nelson now leading Rick Scott by 6 points
Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott got hours of press coverage in the past two weeks while handling recovery efforts from Hurricane Michael — but it’s not improving his poll numbers in the U.S. Senate race against incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. A new Quinnipiac poll released Monday shows Nelson leading Scott by 52 percent to 46 […]
FL minimum wage to go up in January, but some workers will still be below federal poverty line
The minimum wage in Florida will grow to $8.46, effective January 1, 2019. That’s an increase of 21 cents from the current rate of $8.25 an hour. The state’s minimum wage for tipped employees will also increase by 21 cents next year, growing from $5.23 to $5.44 per hour. Florida law requires a new minimum […]
Joe Biden to campaign with Gillum, Nelson & other Democrats in Florida next week
With early voting beginning in several Florida counties on Monday, former Vice-President Joe Biden will make three campaign appearances in Florida early next week with Democrats up and down the ballot – with two of those appearance on college campuses. Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum, U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, attorney general Sean Shaw and Pinellas-area U.S. […]
New study says Florida has the 3rd most unfair state and local tax system in US
Florida is the third largest state in the country, and according to a new report, has the third-most unfair state and local tax system in the U.S. That data comes from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), a nonpartisan, nonprofit tax policy organization. Florida is one of nine states in the country without […]
Mayors score a victory in court battle over the NRA-backed state law which blocks local firearm regulations
A Leon County judge ruled Thursday that a lawsuit over whether local officials have the right to pass gun laws in their towns and cities can go forward. The state of Florida and top state officials are trying to keep local gun regulation from happening, amid the Florida Legislature having passed one of the nation’s […]
Another out-of-state billionaire donates big in Florida governor’s race
California philanthropist Tom Steyer has sent another $2 million to Democrat Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign. Earlier this month, the political committee for Gillum’s Republican opponent, Ron DeSantis, received a $5 million contribution from Kenneth C. Griffin, a wealthy Chicago hedge fund manager. Steyer, an environmental activist and billionaire whose main vehicle for social action, NextGen […]
Florida Attorney General Bondi calls on Gillum to disavow supporter who made offensive video
A controversial new satire video from rapper T.I. depicts a look-alike of First Lady Melania Trump stripping in the Oval Office. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi says it is offensive, and she is publicly calling on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum to denounce the video and the rapper himself, who is backing the Tallahassee mayor’s […]
Dems say if Scott gets elected to US Senate, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security in danger
A day after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said America’s massive debt problem is driven by obligations to fund Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, Florida Democrats and activists blasted the comments and asked if Governor Rick Scott feels the same way. “Social Security and Medicare did not cause the deficit in this country, and […]
Central Florida college adjunct professors latest to unionize in Sunshine State
The statewide movement that has adjunct college and university professors forming new unions to fight for better pay and benefits grew a little Tuesday. Adjunct faculty at Seminole State College of Florida in Sanford voted to form a union with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Faculty Forward. They join adjunct colleagues who have formed […]
Joe Biden endorses Sean Shaw for Attorney General in Florida
Former Vice-President Joe Biden is backing Tampa state Rep. Sean Shaw in the race for Florida Attorney General. Biden called Shaw “a fighter, with a proven track record of standing up for the little guy and taking on corporate interests.” Shaw is running in an extremely competitive contest against Republican Ashley Moody, a former Hillsborough […]
The governor candidates aren’t mentioning it much, but a woman’s right to choose is now a major campaign issue
The race to succeed Rick Scott as governor in Florida has at times veered into issues that are more likely to be addressed in Washington D.C. than in Tallahassee. Republican candidate Ron DeSantis talks about immigration and Democrat Andrew Gillum touts Medicare-for-all. It’s unlikely that either man would have much influence carrying out those policies […]