Peter Schorsch - page 443

The race to be Speaker of the Florida House in 2020-21 is essentially over. Central Florida state Representative Eric Eisnaugle has won enough pledges from incoming and/or likely members of the House Republican caucus that he has locked up the race, says several knowledgeable sources familiar with the leadership race, including Republican legislators. Eisnaugle’s position was already in a strong position after Tuesday’s primary elections, when his allies in House District 40 and 74 won their elections, although those pick-ups weren’t…

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George Sheldon’s overwhelming win Tuesday night gave the former Obama official a chance to take on Pam Bondi for Attorney General in November. “Help me give Pam Bondi the job she really wants, as an anchor on Fox News,” the Democrat said in his victory speech. Almost immediately, Bondi challenged Sheldon, a past Secretary of the Florida Department of Children and Families, to a debate. On Friday, Sheldon sent Bondi a response in a letter agreeing to a series of debates over…

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For the Florida Legislature, time is a valuable – and scarce – resource. Early organization of a lawmaking schedule leads to efficient use of workdays, especially in the hectic start of the state’s annual 60-day session. Republican House Speaker-designate Steve Crisafulli, in an effort to maximize time management, has released a tentative interim committee schedule for the 2015 legislative session. The House Organization Session – the preliminary administrative event — will convene on Tuesday, November 18, with training for new…

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With only sixty days left until the general election, Adam Hollingsworth is the lamest of lame ducks in Tallahassee. Virtually all of the power associated with the Governor currently flows through Melissa Sellers and her role with the reelection campaign. When he isn’t taking orders from her, he’s busy working on an exit strategy from his role as the Governor’s Chief of Staff. Tallahassee insiders have been abuzz for weeks with rumors of his imminent departure, with the latest tidbit…

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This morning’s recount of the HD 15 primary will result in more than one winner. Yes — you read that correctly. In addition to determining whether Jay Fant or Paul Renner moves on to the general election, the outcome of this closely-watched race will determine which political pundit wins the primary round of “Man v. Machine” — the voting contest designed to test a new forecasting model developed by political data guru Brecht Heuchan. Indeed, of the 16 politicos playing in…

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Once again, Gov. Rick Scott is making it easy for newly minted Democratic candidate Charlie Crist. In one of his first post-primary campaign emails, Crist takes advantage of yet another scandal from the incumbent Republican, namely the troubles of former Orlando Expressway Authority board member Scott Batterson, a 2011 Scott appointee who just the day before was convicted on two counts of bribery. An Orange County jury found Batterson guilty of charges stemming from an offer of a $5-million-a-year contract…

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A morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. Today’s Rise and Shine Fact-iversary is brought to you by Sachs Media Group, the firm best known for smart, strong and strategic counsel across the diverse and ever-changing media landscape: As college football advertisers hit “play” on a season of TV ads and Floridians brace for the air war that will be the general election battle for governor, we can all take a moment to remember (rue?) the day that started it…

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