Democrat Gwen Graham is adding eight new endorsements Friday in her quest to become the state’s next governor. The endorsements announced by her campaign include a host of young and engaged grassroots leaders from across the state.
For Democrats, Donald Trump might be making life a hell on earth. But the president is successful in one thing — uniting them in a way missing throughout the 2016 campaign. Take the Hillsborough County Democratic Executive Committee, for instance. On Monday night, the local party added 44 new members to its organization at its monthly meeting at the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County in Ybor City. It was the third consecutive standing room only meeting for the local party,…
Everyone in America knows the name of President Donald Trump. On the other hand, few are familiar with Stephen Bittel, even in his home state of Florida. As of noon on Friday, Donald Trump officially became the President of the United States. As of January 14, Bittel became the latest Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. For all of the obvious differences of party affiliation, the two men have some things in common. Both are wealthy developers. Both are known…
Despite challenges from leading, longtime Democrat activists from Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville and Kissimmee, wealthy South Florida developer and party fundraiser Stephen Bittel was elected chairman Saturday of the Florida Democratic Party. Bittel won on the first ballot, winning 55 percent of the weighted votes against Alan Clendenin, Dwight Bullard, Lisa King and Leah Carius, quickly ending weeks of wheelings and dealings, charges and counter charges. There remains a lawsuit in Miami-Dade challenging Bittel’s candidacy qualification. Bittel, who runs several companies in…
With just hours to go before the Florida Democratic Party Executive Committee votes for a new party chair, front-runner Stephen Bittel announced that he has the backing of John Ramos and Deidre Newton, the Palm Beach County State Committeeman and Committeewomen, respectively. “The Palm Beach County Democratic Party Executive Committee Board of Directors, members, zone leaders and elected officials participated in the decision to endorse Stephen Bittel,” Ramos and Newton said in a statement released by the Bittel campaign Saturday morning. Bittel…
Blame it on the fog of internal byzantine party rules, but Alan Clendenin remains eligible for Florida Democratic Party chair. Late Friday afternoon, this website reported that Clendenin was ineligible to compete in Saturday’s vote, after an FDP subcommittee voted to accept a complaint filed against him regarding his move last month from Hillsborough County to Bradford County to make himself eligible for the election. However, the entire state committee will be asked to accept or reject the subcommittee’s vote on Saturday morning before they vote for…
The Hillsborough County Democratic Hispanic Caucus is endorsing Alan Clendenin in the race for Florida Democratic Party chair. “The Hispanic population has grown exponentially to become the largest minority in Hillsborough County and the State. Hispanics now account in Hillsborough alone for over twenty-five percent of the population or one in every four persons. Alan understands our issues and has always stood by us whenever we needed help.” according to Hispanic Caucus President, William “Bill” Guerra. It was a rare show of support for Clendenin…