Category Florida Democrats
Bill Nelson for Governor? Impact on Charlie Crist, progressives and whether a run is wise.
Florida is alive with speculation that 71-year-old US Senator Bill Nelson who has been very critical of Rick Scott will jump into the Governor’s Race thus potentially saving the Democrats from a messy primary process and/or the possible nomination of former Governor Charlie Crist. Nelson’s unwillingness to definitively rule out a race for Governor has fueled […]
A Bill Nelson for Governor potpourri
According to national media reports, Senator Bill Nelson is considering a run for governor. Florida papers have been hounding him and editorializing about it since at least April. And of course the source above, MSNBC’s Hardball, has built its reputation such as it is by living every day like it’s silly season. But this newest round of speculation […]
Poll: Is Nan Rich a viable candidate?
Tampa Bay Times political editor Adam Smith wrote this afternoon that former Sen. Nan Rich “barely passes the threshold of viability,” citing her limited fundraising efforts. Smith notes that though the primary is still ten months out, she has raised less in her statewide race than St. Pete Mayor-elect Rick Kriseman raised for a municipal campaign. […]
Zest of the Day: Sen. Jeff Brandes draws a challenger
Per the Times’ Buzz blog, Jeff Brandes now has a Democratic opponent for re-election in the Pinellas-based 22nd Senate district in the person of Judithanne Scourfield McLauchlan, a professor of political science at USF-St Pete. Last week, we Squeezers discussed this seat as an ideal place from which to challenge the RPOF’s grip on the Senate. Brandes comes […]
Stand Your Ground – Charlie Crist vs Nan Rich; Any Difference?
We’ve discussed at length on this site Charlie Crist’s bad record on guns. However what we have neglected to mention though it is somewhat well known is that Nan Rich joined a unanimous vote in the Senate in favor of Stand Your Ground when it passed in 2005. Rich’s vote at the time went along […]
Could Charlie Crist’s Populism help revive an impotent Florida Democratic Party?
The subject of Charlie Crist looms like the elephant in the room on both the Republican and Democratic sides of the proverbial aisle. Crist irritates the Republicans because they fear his popularity and teflon image. Crist enrages progressive Democrats (like myself) because he’s not only a party-switcher but was once a partisan “Ronald Reagan” Conservative. […]
Poll: Charlie Crist or Nan Rich for the Democratic nomination
This is completely unscientific but we’re looking for a sense from readers whether they support Charlie Crist, Nan Rich or wish someone else was seeking the Democratic nomination.
Rick Kriseman Trounces Bill Foster in St. Pete Mayoral Race
Former City Councilman and Democratic Rep. Rick Kriseman scored the second big victory for Florida Dems in as many months, defeating de facto Republican Bill Foster 56 to 44. It marks the first time since St. Petersburg adopted a strong-mayor municipal structure in 1992 that an incumbent has been toppled and — perhaps — a […]
It’s Official: Charlie Announces in St. Pete
Accompanied by local Democratic leaders and an adult contemporary playlist, former Governor Charlie Crist announced this morning in St. Petersburg that he’s running for governor once again. Kathy Castor, Bob Butterworth, Dan Gelber and Rick Kriseman were among the dignitaries that flanked him as he gave a markedly left-leaning speech before a crowd of around […]
The Florida Squeeze 