Florida Democratic Party

Davis Speaks

Hallelujah and Praise E & P

Ain't Nothing Happy About these Holidays for Rep. Franklin Sands

The Weston Democrat and minority leader of the Florida House has had a hellish holiday season. A week ago, Sands opened Monday's edition of the Palm Beach Post to a story about how he allegedly used Democrats' willingness to give to the Florida Democratic Party as a basis for deciding who deserved ... More >>

Lapsed Ethics

The governor's new man on the state ethics board done us wrong

Show Us Some Green

America's most colorful third party could use some attention — and some cash.

It's the Humidity

America's most colorful third party could use some attention — and some cash.

A Bad Time to Be a Butler

Photo: MaskworldDemocrats desperate to put some dents in Gov. Charlie Crist's high approval ratings are chastising him for keeping a butler and a personal chef on the state payroll at a time when cops and teachers are being laid off. In a statement released today, Florida Democratic Party Chair Kare ... More >>

Karen Thurman Talks About Gubernatorial Race

The St. Pete Times political blog, The Buzz, just posted this interview with Florida Democratic Party Chair Karen Thurman: At about the 90-second mark, Thurman responds to criticism that the party lacks a "bench" by touting Jack Seiler's victory in the Fort Lauderdale mayoral race. If a Democrat win ... More >>

Gov's Race Preview? Sink Hits McCollum

fldfs.govAlex SinkWith Charlie Crist looking more and more like the 2010 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, there's been an uptick in intensity between the pair who might be the finalists in a race to replace him.The Florida Democrats think they've gotten some traction by tweaking Republicans for w ... More >>

Privacy Schmivacy

Tell the world how you vote!

Broward County Absentee Ballots Carry Party Affiliation

Critics fear labeling on return envelopes could lead to ballots getting intentionally lost

Nail Ceasar!

Does the local Democratic Party really need a dictator for life?

Bitter Sugar

Forget the awful past, Palm Beach's sugar barons say. It's time to make nicey-nicey and go into real estate.

Firing Line

Sure, the economy's great, but these jobs are disappearing

Relax -- We've Got Ideas

The Graham campaign tries to show its mettle in Hollywood -- Grahamlessly

Waiting For Otto

Why would a man sullied by Iran-contra and illegal propaganda campaigns be a Bush nominee? Good question.

High Voter Turnout a Crisis That Calls for Quick Republican Action

The media klieg lights are always on, but they dim just a tad around the close of the business day Friday. Everybody's off to happy hour, or making the week's last commute home. Media consumers take a break to spend time with friends and family, and it may be late in the weekend before they bother t ... More >>

'Til Death

Why did this gay-rights activist stab her wife with a screwdriver 222 times?

Shameless: Crist Taps LeMieux for Senate

It seemed too nakedly cynical to be possible -- and yet it just happened. Pass the smelling salts.We warned Charlie Crist this could be his Harriet Miers moment. He didn't listen -- to us or to the people in his campaign who must have had the same anxieties. If Crist gets just half the public backla ... More >>

Kendrick Meek Campaign Suddenly Saddled With Electability Questions

Meek​The St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald teamed up for an article in yesterday's editions that voiced concerns among Democrats that their leading senatorial candidate, Congressman Kendrick Meek, isn't "high-profile" enough to beat Charlie Crist. It's a strange moment to raise that question - ... More >>

Morning Juice: Rothstein Links Threatening Sink Campaign; McCollum the Anti-Crist?

​Let's skim through the headlines for this Tuesday morning in Broward and Palm Beach:Shortly after Scott Rothstein's law firm made a $200,000 donation to the Florida Democratic Party, gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink's chief of staff helped the firm to be placed it in consideration for lucrative ... More >>

Attorney Teams Up With Banker to Tell Teachers How to Teach

Photo:flsenate.govJeff Atwater, education visionary​John Thrasher and Jeff Atwater worked as an attorney and a banker, respectively, before they became state senators and declared themselves experts on how to educate your Florida child. You see, it's quite simple: Good teachers inspire students wh ... More >>

Allen West Stokes the Hate in Jupiter

A video being circulated by the Florida Democrats, apparently from a speech that Congressional candidate Allen West gave last night to supporters in Jupiter. Making a congressman -- West's opponent Ron Klein -- "scared to come out of his house"? OK, so West hasn't explicitly asked his supporters to ... More >>

Does Crist Indy Run Help or Hurt Meek's Chances?

Meek​Now that Crist has declared an independent candidacy for U.S. Senate, the likely Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek will have a general election challenge that's different than what he might have been anticipating a month ago. This week I quizzed some Florida Democratic Party insiders about whe ... More >>

Poll Confirms the Obvious: Kendrick Meek's Campaign a Disaster for Florida Democrats

Flickr: maximas.prime​There's nothing particularly dynamic about the U.S. Senate campaign being run by Palm Beach billionaire Jeff Greene -- except when you compare it to the one by Miami Congressman Kendrick Meek. Greene doesn't really have a message, unless you count his constant bellyaching abo ... More >>

Do Florida Democrats Have Nefarious Plans to Win Elections by Running Phony Tea Party Candidates?

Flickr: pereiravilleTea party activists line up outside an town hall in Orlando to jeer Alan Grayson.​It sounds like the sort of diabolically genius plot that usually comes from Republicans, but there's reason to wonder whether Florida Democrats have conspired to put tea party candidates on ballo ... More >>

Florida Democrats Want Apology From Allen West for Taking Money From Texas Congressman Who Apologized for Apologizing to BP

Flickr: tdmyersSay Sorry! (Or you lose.)​It's like a circular firing squad, but with apologies. Let's break this down in chronological order.1. During a congressional hearing, Texas Rep. Joe Barton apologized to BP executives for what he said was a "shakedown" by the Obama administration to force ... More >>

Allen West Offers Glimpse of His Netflix Queue

Allen West definitely approves this message.​Congressional candidate Allen West has entered the home stretch of his campaign against incumbent Democrat Ron Klein, but it appears he's still finding time to unwind with the occasional Netflix DVD. Based on the speech he gave this week at the ope ... More >>

Allen West Campaign Speech: Noun, Verb, Nazi Germany

FlickrAllen West has a habit of comparing Obama policies with those from Nazi Germany. ​A polarizing Republican candidate, annoyed by the presence at a campaign rally of a videographer hired by his opposition, uses a metaphor that suggests a profound cultural insensitivity. Sound familiar?In 2006, ... More >>

Allen West's Tough Campaign Talk Makes It Hard to Claim Victimhood

FlickrDid a Democratic blunder put Allen West at the mercy of identity thieves?​A Florida Democratic Party hit mailer about Allen West's personal financial history failed to redact the congressional candidate's Social Security number. If it really is an "oversight," as the Democrats are claiming, ... More >>

Fighting Allen West With...Allen West?

​"Liberals want soldiers to die," blares the pop-up quote from Allen West. At first blush, the ad looks like it's touting West's congressional campaign. But read a little closer, and you'll see it's intended to attack him. Read the fine print, and you'll discover the ad is paid for by the Florida ... More >>

One Blog, One Vote

I'll be writing more about the infamous crusher handshake later, but a few people have asked me who I'm voting for (or would vote for if in a certain district). I got it a lot in the primary too. So I thought I'd go ahead and spit it out. Don't call these endorsements. I wo ... More >>

Head of Florida Dems Thanks Supporters for "Brighter Future"?

Where were the Dems while this guy won?​Yes, a wave of anti-Obama, pro-Tea Party sentiment swept the country Tuesday. But even considering the national trend, Florida Dems took a beating that can't simply be blamed on the miserable economy or a knee-jerk desire for change.Going into Election Day, ... More >>

Fail Ceasar!

Mitch Ceasar's political palace is falling apart. The Democratic Chairman lost big on Election Day. Broward laid down for the Republican push on Tuesday, with voter turnout in the supposed Democratic powerhouse county a meager 40 percent -- eight point under the state avera ... More >>

House Pro Tem Investigated for Homestead Fraud

Florida House Democratic Caucus Gibbons in Tallahassee ​State Rep. Joe Gibbons, who has been named the number-two Democrat in the Florida Legislature, was investigated for homestead fraud earlier this year -- and government records indicate he lied to officials during the probe.  ... More >>

State Finds Apparently Bogus Ritter Campaign Donations

​When disposing of all the campaign cash she and her husband didn't spend on dinners, family phone bills, and other luxuries, Broward County Commissioner Stacy Ritter decided to do the Florida Democratic Party a favor: As seen above, she contributed $5,000 to party coffers. â ... More >>

Ritter and Klenet Kept Eating Out After Campaign Was Over

Okay, so you're tired of hearing about the Stacy Ritter and Russ Klenet campaign fund, but I just can't quit it yet. Revelations keep coming to the surface. We already have the extravagant dinners, the family phone bills, the dinner in Manchester VT, the bedsheets and pillows from Target, the ... More >>

Sheriff Al Bans Tats and Gold Teeth

Dallas Morning News No more of this kind of thing.​New Florida Democratic Chairman Rod Smith wants to hear from people about what needs to be done to improve the party. "We need your help," Smith wrote on the party's website. "Please let us know your thoughts and ... More >>

Did a Florida Oil Man Bilk You?

​All of us belt-tightening, recession-hardened Americans love "fiscal responsibility" and "free markets." A politician merely says the words "free markets" or "fiscal responsibility" in a sufficiently grim tone and we go wild, like little Asian girls getting their first glimpse of a 22-year-old Pa ... More >>

Should Florida GOP Return Donations?

Stephen Prosper JusticeHarry Sargeant III​Yesterday, The Washington Post revealed that Delray Beach billionaire and oilman Harry Sargeant III may have bilked to the US government -- and, by extension, the US taxpayer -- to the tune of $200 million, while supplying jet fuel to American troops in we ... More >>

Rod Smith Chin-Checks Rick Scott

Scott tried to cover his ass. Smith said uncover your assets.​Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith didn't actually roll up on Gov. Rick Scott like some grimy guttersnipe and punch him in the face. He threw a literary left hook. A chin check in text, if you will. But in the same way that a p ... More >>

Rick Scott's Staff Running Thin -- Top Adviser Resigns, Chief of Staff Demoted

Wanna be my friend?​Only six months into office, Gov. Rick Scott is running a little low on friends for his executive team.Mary Ann Carter -- the governor's policy adviser -- handed in her resignation letter today, saying she needed to spend more time with her family.Carter's announcement comes on ... More >>

Where Was Rick Scott This Weekend? Possibly Trysting With the Koch Brothers

Have you seen this man?​Eric Jotkoff, the Florida Democratic Party Communications Director, has a question: Where was Gov. Rick Scott this weekend?"Anyone else concerned that Rick Scott left the state during hurricane season during wildfire emergency and not tell anyone?" Jotkoff posted on T ... More >>

Rick Scott Admits He Was in Colorado for Koch Brothers Retreat

I love Koch!​We finally have an answer as to where Gov. Rick Scott was this weekend, and it confirms our suspicion: at the billionaire Koch brothers' secret conference outside Vail, Colorado.St. Petersburg Times reporter Alex Leary got the information out of him, a day after the governor's spokesm ... More >>

Democrats Call on Allen West Censure and Apology, Neither of Which Are Likely

​Patrick Murphy, the Democrat who wants to take over Rep. Allen West's seat in 2012, says West's attack on Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz shows he's "incapable of controlling himself," and says he should face a censure.Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith today demanded an apology from West, ... More >>

Rick Scott Taking Suggestions for Jobs to Do; We Opine

​Gov. Rick Scott's office announced yesterday that he's ripping off former Gov. and Sen. Bob Graham's idea of working with Florida's commoners in their workplace.In what Scott is calling "Let's Get to Work" days, he started his first job today at a doughnut joint in Tampa, selling rings of fried d ... More >>

Democratic National Committee: Florida Would Lose 473,000 Jobs Under Tea Party Economics

​In advance of tonight's GOP presidential debate, the Democratic National Committee has released a report claiming that 9.5 million American jobs would be lost if a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution were implemented by next year -- including the loss of 473,000 jobs in Florida.The reas ... More >>

Florida Democratic Party's New Fundraising Technique: Identifying the "Rickpublicans"

​Forget Kevin Bacon, the Florida Democratic Party is playing the "Six Degrees of Rick Scott."How do you play? Well, apparently by launching a website identifying the state's "Rickpublicans."Sure enough, hometown favorite Rep. Allen West landed a Bacon Rick number of one, with a direct connection t ... More >>

Disappointment: The Rick Scott Story

​Gov. Rick Scott's reaction on Wednesday to a former staffer for Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll being charged with illegally recording a conversation: "It is a disappointment." (He said that twice.)His reaction to the part of that audio recording in which Carroll's chief of staff said the governor isn' ... More >>

Frederica Wilson Had Worst Attendance Out of Florida's Congressional Delegation

Rep. Frederica Wilson​No member of Florida's congressional delegation missed more votes this year than South Florida Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson.In fact, South Florida Democrats -- excluding Rep. Alcee Hastings -- had some of the worst attendance records in the state, as Wilson, Rep. Debbie W ... More >>