Election Campaigns

Rick Scott's Best Political Miscalculations

Staring down the barrel of what's sure to be a brutal campaign to stay in the governor's mansion beyond 2014, Rick Scott is pushing out a variety of campaigns that seem aimed at scoring points with weary voters. On Wednesday Scott announced he's planning to give every public school teacher in Flor ... More >>

Buying the Vote: Don't Fool Yourself: South Florida's Richest Are Calling the Shots in This Election

Connie Mack Is Just Openly Insulting, Grabbing Reporters Now (Video)

Another chapter has been written in Rep. Connie Mack's devolution from a lackluster congressman into a sneering, whining toadstool of a Senate candidate, and it's a stupid one. It started, more or less, back in April, when Mack's father, former Sen. Connie Mack III, wrote a letter to the Tampa Bay T ... More >>

Allen West Not Paying Payroll Taxes on Campaign Workers

Congressman Allen West's campaign isn't paying its taxes.The question, however, is if it owes any. A review of campaign finance disclosure documents shows West has spent well over $300,000 since the beginning of 2012 on consulting, staffers, and costs directly associated with his staff. But, while D ... More >>

BREAKING: Broward Teachers Union Funds Used in Illegal Contributions to Hillary Clinton, Alex Sink, Investigators Say

See also: Former Broward Teachers Union President Patrick Santeramo Arrested, Faces 200 Years in Prison.Former Broward Teachers Union President Patrick Santeramo turned himself in today after being charged with 20 counts of various racketeering, theft, and money-laundering charges. There are dozens ... More >>

Earl Rynerson Gets a Supporter to Run for Fort Lauderdale Mayor to Force a Primary

​Earl Rynerson, who's running for Fort Lauderdale mayor (again) against current Mayor Jack Seiler, deployed an interesting campaign strategy in his effort to get elected -- admittedly convincing someone else to run for mayor to force a primary election.Rynerson doesn't specifically use the word, b ... More >>

Patrick Murphy Also Contributed to Charlie Crist's U.S. Senate Campaign

Murphy for CongressPatrick Murphy​After yesterday's story that 2012 congressional candidate Patrick Murphy was the only recipient of campaign contributions from former Gov. Charlie Crist for this election cycle, we've discovered that Murphy also donated to Crist's failed U.S. Senate bid.According ... More >>

Patrick Murphy: The Only 2012 Candidate With Campaign Contributions From Charlie Crist

Murphy for CongressPatrick Murphy​Former Gov. Charlie Crist certainly has plenty of friends and enemies across Florida, but we now know who he's a fan of in the 2012 elections: congressional candidate Patrick Murphy.Murphy -- a Democrat who's touted having the highest fundraising totals of any con ... More >>

Where's Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti's Campaign Contribution Information?

Update 10:20 a.m.: Dolly Gibson from the Supervisor of Elections called to tell us the information has now appeared online. Enjoy! ​Nearly every candidate* who was elected to Broward County government office in the November 2008 election has an itemized list of campaign contributors available onli ... More >>

Former Overpriced-Steak Salesman Craig Miller Enters Senate Race

Craig Miller​Craig Miller, the former Ruth's Chris Steak House CEO, announced he's running for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Bill Nelson.Miller, running as a Republican, has decided to enter quite a busy field of candidates wishing to overtake Nelson, including Adam Hasner, Georg ... More >>

Patrick Murphy Raising Tons of Cash in Bid to Unseat Allen West

Murphy for CongressPatrick Murphy​We're still a pair of Novembers away from seeing the fate of Rep. Allen West's congressional seat, but 28-year-old Patrick Murphy looks like he's already giving the congressman a run for his money -- lots and lots of money.Murphy announced that he raised $450,000 ... More >>

Florida Judge Kills Matching Funds; Money is Considered Free Speech in Political Campaigns

illinoisstate.edu​Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court found Arizona's matching-funds campaign law unconstitutional, a Florida federal court judge halted a similar provision in this state.The issue, unsurprisingly, was brought up in a lawsuit by then-candidate Rick Scott, who said his right ... More >>

Gov. Rick Scott: Hanging Out With Me Is Political Suicide

Florida Department of TransportationDon't talk to this guy if you want to be president.​If you plan on running for president, don't go anywhere near Florida Gov. Rick Scott.In an interview on Pensacola-based NewsRadio 1620-AM this morning, host Rob Williams mentioned that the last time Scott came ... More >>

Ilene Lieberman: From Political Godmother To Star Witness

Historical artifact: An invitation for a fundraiser Ilene Lieberman held for Talabisco to kick off her 2006 election.   I think it's safe to say we now know the primary reason Broward County Commissioner Ilene Lieberman was, quite literally, out of commission ​recently for se ... More >>

Election Day Notes

Let's start this thing off with a couple of blog votes. On Amendments 5 and 6, it's pretty easy: If you like gerrymandering, vote against them. As for me, it's a yes vote on these two. On the judicial race between John Fry and John Howes for County Court Judge in District 1, I've made a decision. T ... More >>

Anatomy of the Gelber Attack: From Amway To Huizenga

Sometimes  negative campaigning lives up to its bad name. The weekend attack on Florida Attorney General candidate Dan Gelber is a perfect example of the kind of sleazy negative campaigning that should make your skin crawl. In the ads sent out this week ... More >>

Republican Congressional Candidate Calls Allen West "Irresponsible and Irrational"

David Brady​David Brady won a modest 23.3 percent of the vote in last week's primary against Allen West in the race for the Republican nomination for the 22nd Congressional District. But considering that West has raised about $4 million and that Brady spent about $1,000 on his campaign, it wa ... More >>

[UPDATEDx2] Lien on Me: Allen West Calls for "Personal Responsibility" Undermined by Personal Financial Record; Will Tea Party Protest Him?

FlickrAllen West addresses tea partiers at their July 2009 rally.​Ha ha, just kidding about the tea party protest. Not likely these folks turn on one of their own "patriots," even if the recent revelations suggest that West has done exactly what he and his tea party allies have pilloried the gover ... More >>

Donate to Rudy Moise's Campaign so he Can Get Some Loving Tonight

Photo from e-mail, courtesy campaignRudy and Mirjam Moise on the day that started it all.​Hey there blogosphere, do me a favor. I need you to send seven bucks and a couple unshucked peanuts (my approximate daily wage) to the New Times newsroom, because if you fine supporters do so, I can have the ... More >>

Donate to Rudy Moise's Campaign so he Can Get Some Loving Tonight

Photo from e-mail, courtesy campaignRudy and Mirjam Moise on the day that started it all.​Hey there blogosphere, do me a favor. I need you to send seven bucks and a couple unshucked peanuts (my approximate daily wage) to the New Times newsroom, because if you fine supporters do so, I can have the ... More >>

Allen West Trained Muslim Fighters -- Before Declaring U.S. Must Fight Muslims

Flickr: South Florida Tea PartyWest (left) posing with tea party protesters, who admire his blunt style.​During his 2010 congressional campaign, Allen West has talked tough not just about terrorism but about the Muslim world. In a speech that gained national attention last month he charged that Is ... More >>

Dishy Campaign Book Describes How Crist Overplayed Hand With McCain

Flickr: lowraineMcCain and Crist on the campaign trail in West Palm Beach.​It's hard to fathom, but some dishy new campaign tell-all book casts Florida Gov. Charlie Crist as a treacherous, ruthlessly self-interested politician looking to sell his endorsement in the 2008 presidential campaign to wh ... More >>

If Money-Bundlers Are Going to Jail, We're Gonna Need More Jails

Flickr: Jeremy JohnstoneFor campaigning politicians, cash is better by the bundle.​As word spread that Scott Rothstein's associates might be charged in the federal investigation for circumventing campaign finance laws, it must have made a whole lot of Broward folks anxious. If you work for a devel ... More >>

Lawyer Scott Rothstein Goes on the Attack Over Media Coverage of His Friends

Florida Green Party Candidates Were GOP Moles, Suit Claims

Lady of the House

She's got three kids, 650,000 constituents, and millions of watching eyes. Debbie Wasserman Schultz can't keep them all happy.

The Holocaust Card

Mara Giulianti's allies don't know when to stop

Crist Denies Trysts II

Sworn testimony backs up claims that Bruce Jordan boasted of his affair with Charlie Crist.

Crist Denies Trysts II

Sworn testimony backs up claims that Bruce Jordan boasted of his affair with Charlie Crist.

Charlie Crist Is NOT Gay

And other things the Republican Party wants you to believe on Election Day.

Charlie Crist Is NOT Gay

And other things the Republican Party wants you to believe on Election Day.

Campaign Noir

A guy named Macilwain pounds Palm Beach's mean streets, in search of lost Beers.

Reinhard's Bad Hair Day

Tailpipe

It's All About Sex!

Third Man

Fort Lauderdale's John B. Anderson ran for president in 1980 and paved the way for spoiler candidates

Pretty Boy

Jim Stork has become the face of Broward's gay community. But is he ready for Capitol Hill?

Head Master

Chris Rock takes control and finally delivers a truly funny movie

Grumbling from the Grassroots

The political demise of mayoral candidate Tim Smith heralds a new age in Fort Lauderdale politics

Liberté. Fraternité. No Way.

The Libertarians' slate is full this fall. So how come they're not out stumping for votes?

Queen of the Recount

Carol Roberts may not beat Clay Shaw, but don't count her out

The Double Cross

Two years ago, Ken Eggleston was Palm Beach County Sheriff Ed Bieluch's heir apparent. Now, they are implacable foes. What happened?

Reach Out and Put the Touch on Someone

Broward County commissioner Lori Parrish claims she pays her cell phone bills herself. What she means is that her campaign contributors foot the bill.

Hollywood's True Colors

Districting in Hollywood was supposed to ensure at least one minority candidate on the commission. Think again.

Politics as Blood Sport

Need to oust a school superintendent or get your favorite Democratic candidate elected? Just call Andre Fladell. But don't ever cross him.

The Real McCain

The candidate poses as a campaign-finance reformer as he accepts cash from special interests

To the Victor Go the Spoiled Children

County Commissioner Scott Cowan paid his daughters $10,000 in campaign funds for not working on his campaign. Hey -- it's legal.

Her High Hopes

Councilwoman Judy Paul wants Davie to look like the Old West. Lobbyist Judy Stern is prodevelopment. Is the town big enough for the both of them?

He Got Lame

Face Off

John Coleman and his fellow reform candidates in Hollywood face an uphill battle against mayor Mara and Co.