Category 2018 Governor
Moderation when liberty is on the defense is a vice – now more than ever
The last two weeks have reminded all Americans who believe in some sort of social justice and egalitarianism how far of the path the United States has gone. From an inhumane immigration and migrant policy reminiscent of far-right authoritarian states of yesteryear, to SCOTUS decisions that limit the actual ability of the courts to reign […]
The Democratic governor’s race is wide open – while November remains daunting
With just over two months remaining until Florida Democrats will choose a nominee, the race remains fluid with a field of largely flawed candidates. All five of the major candidates have compelling stories but also significant drawbacks that could jeopardize the ability of the party to win the office in November. The GOP will nominate […]
Choice of Yamiche Alcindor as Gubernatorial forum moderator causing some angst among progressives
Last Tuesday, a coalition of progressive groups announced the moderators for the first south Florida Democratic Gubernatorial Debate, which is oddly dubbed the “Florida Freedom Forum.” (It has become consultant-driven a fad on the left to try and imitate and mimic the rhetoric and code from the right, but the term “freedom” particularly in the […]
Jeff Greene’s return to a statewide primary might be suspicious
The sudden return of Billionaire developer Jeff Greene- yeah that Jeff Greene to a statewide Democratic primary sent shock waves through political circles in Florida on Monday. Greene’s decision to run for Governor, much like his ill-fated decision to run for US Senate in 2018 cannot be viewed in a vacuum. It is potentially part […]
The importance of North Florida in the Democratic primary for governor
By Dave Trotter Nowadays, North Florida is just an afterthought when it comes to statewide Democratic primaries. In the 2014 primary for governor, North Florida only consisted 18.94% of the overall primary vote total. Compare that to 29.38% it represented in 2002, and it is easy to see the influence of North Florida has lessened […]
The Democrats dodged a bullet with Richard Corcoran skipping the Governor’s race
Speaker Richard Corcoran isn’t running for Governor and is endorsing fellow Republican Adam Putnam. For many the question was whether Corcoran would emulate the statewide success of ex-Speaker Marco Rubio, whom he once worked for or the laughable end for dangerously extreme former Speaker Johnny Byrd whose 2004 campaign for US Senate was seen as […]
Will the March For Our Lives Become a March to the Polls in November?
By Dr Rachel Pienta Eight years ago, I had the opportunity to interview Mary Leigh Watters Blek for a scholarly anthology on women and activism. That name may not be familiar to many people, but the woman who partnered with her to give birth to an event that would be known as the Million Mom […]
Tallahassee beware: One month on from Parkland, southeast Florida has awakened politically
Southeast Florida is more distant from the seat of power in this state than any other part of Florida. That distance has through the years created an indifference, an ignorance and perhaps a total disinterest in what happens in state government. The metropolitan area stretching from Jupiter to Florida City is the most unique part […]
Putnam’s rightward lurch is smart politics and natural to him
Florida political insiders seem to be aghast at Adam Putnam’s shift to the right. Whether it’s touting gun rights or attacking CNN as “fake news,” Putnam has more certainly attempted to re-position himself in the last few weeks. Given the rightward lurch of the GOP first in 2008 when Mike Pence replaced Putnam in the […]
2018 Governor: Is it time for Florida’s aristocracy to reassert control of the state?
The two major political parties leading candidates for Governor are both from traditional Florida families – scion’s from historically important landowning and agricultural families. These families have long ruled Florida politics, though the emergence of Jeb Bush, an import from Texas and Rick Scott, as pure a carpetbagger as you’d find running for office changed […]
The Florida Squeeze 