Florida’s expensive race for governor highlights lax laws

In this April 6, 2018, file photo, Adam Putnam, Republican gubernatorial candidate makes a campaign stop at Kimmins Contracting in Tampa, Fla. Florida's wide-open race for governor won't be decided for another six months, but it's already triggered a wave of expensive television ad buys from groups taking advantage of gray areas in the state's campaign finance laws.

Florida congressional delegation gives thumbs-down to offshore drilling

Faced with cyber-security threats to their voting systems, Florida election supervisors say they want access to some of the federal election security money Congress approved for all 50 states nearly two months ago. But the state, which is supposed to receive $19 million, doesn't yet have the money, and election officials say they're growing impatient.

Must-do for Florida’s midterm candidates: A stop in Puerto Rico. Or three.

Holding political office in Florida increasingly requires trekking to Puerto Rico, the former home of a growing number of Florida residents. More than a million Puerto Ricans already lived in the state before the hurricane, and another 56,000 joined them in the first six months after Maria.

Prosecutor Will No Longer Request Bail for Small Crimes

A Florida prosecutor who got into a legal fight with the governor for her blanket refusal to seek the death penalty now says her office will no longer request monetary bail bonds for defendants accused of low-level crimes. Instead, prosecutors in the Orlando-area jurisdiction of State Attorney Aramis Ayala will recommend releasing defendants on their own recognizance for crimes involving possession of small amounts of cannabis, driving without a license, panhandling, disorderly conduct or loitering.

Place Your Bets: Donations give insights into Volusia, Flagler campaigns

What follows are observations on those three levels of 2018 campaigns after scrutinizing many of the key offices on the 2018 ballots in Volusia and Flagler counties. OVERVIEW: Three Republicans and three Democrats are running for in Florida's 6th congressional district to replace Ron DeSantis, who's running for governor.

Sen. Marco Rubio’s cozy relationship with Democratic Sen. Bill…

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio's cozy relationship with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson may be issue in Nelson re-election campaign. Sen. Marco Rubio's cozy relationship with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson could sway Nelson's re-election bid GOP Sen. Marco Rubio's cozy relationship with Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson may be issue in Nelson re-election campaign.

Florida Republicans may be forced to act on voting rights

Confronted with a federal judge's looming deadline, Florida Gov. Rick Scott called an extraordinary late-night meeting of top state officials Wednesday to decide what to do about the state's process for restoring voting rights to former prisoners. U.S. District Judge Mark Walker gave Florida until Thursday to create a new process after ruling in February that the state's system is unconstitutional and arbitrary, with decisions possibly swayed by politics and racial factors.

Embrace the democratization of Florida – no matter your party

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has made it clear: She and Gov. Rick Scott are willing to fight against the ruling that Florida's felon voting restoration system, which more or less amounts to a permanent revocation of voting for current and ex-felons, is unconstitutional as it violates the equal protection clause. Earlier this April, Bondi filed a motion requesting a stay against the order that the state of Florida has until April 26 to revamp its current ex-felon voting restoration system.

Beyonce captivates the crowd in PVC bodysuit for her second electric Coachella performance

Florida judge, 59, resigns after she was recorded furiously berating asthmatic, wheelchair-bound defendant in court who DIED three days later after struggling to get her medication while in custody 'You are delicious': The Sixth Sense actress reveals how Smallville star Allison Mack 'tried to recruit her into cult which forced women to have sex with its leader and branded them with his initials' Embarrassment for Mitt Romney as he fails to secure Utah GOP nomination and will now head to a primary in June The diet that helped millions lose weight easily AND quickly: Dr Michael Mosley makes his 5:2 plan even better so you shape up for summer Florida county commissioner 'kept a stripper as a sex slave and paid her and her husband $300-a-week to sleep with him whenever he demanded' 'He broke the law!' Trump insists that James Comey leaked classified information in memos about their meetings ... (more)

Barbara Bush remembered as family’s ‘enforcer’

Barbara Bush has been remembered as the "first lady of the greatest generation" at her funeral, which was attended by four former US presidents and hundreds of other people who filled the church with laughter as much as tears, with many recalling her quick wit and devotion to family. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush joked his mother - wife of the 41st US president and mother of the 43rd - called her style of mothering him and his siblings "a benevolent dictatorship - but honestly, it wasn't always benevolent".

Barbara Bush was ‘first lady of the greatest generation’ Updated at

Barbara Bush was remembered as the "first lady of the greatest generation" during a funeral Saturday attended by four former U.S. presidents and hundreds of other people who filled a Houston church with laughter as much as tears, with many recalling her quick wit and devotion to family. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush joked that his mother called her style of raising him and his siblings "'a benevolent dictatorship' - but honestly, it wasn't always benevolent."

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Running for Senate

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson says he is prepared to run against Florida Gov. Rick Scott in a highly anticipated clash between the two politicians. Nelson on Monday issued a brief statement where he said that while Scott "will say or do anything to get elected" that if he does the "right thing" then the "politics will take care of itself."

Florida Gov. Rick Scott to launch Senate bid vs. Bill Nelson Source: Cox Media Group

The two-term Republican governor, barred by law from seeking a third term, has scheduled a morning event at a construction company headquarters in Orlando and a 2 p.m. event at a citrus packing house in Fort Myers. Scott's entrance sets up a nationally watched race that could be the most expensive Senate battle of 2018.

What government interest is served by disenfranchising felons?

The bumpy path of Desmond Meade's life meandered to its current interesting point. He is a graduate of Florida International University law school but cannot vote in his home state because his path went through prison: He committed non-violent felonies concerning drugs and other matters during the 10 years when he was essentially homeless.

Ziffer endorses Graham for 2018 gubernatorial election

Outgoing Tallahassee city commissioner Gil Ziffer has endorsed Gwen Graham for Florida governor, despite working alongside Andrew Gillum for years on the commission. I'm proud to stand with Commissioner @GilZiffer in this fight, and, as governor, I'll stand up for local governments across the state to restore our promise to public education, protect our environment, invest in our economy - and protect every community from gun violence.