Rubio's next flip-flop
"The Florida senator leaves the door a crack to reversing his planned retirement from the Senate after one term." "Rubio: 'Unlikely' I'll run for reelection."
Adam C Smith: "A second Senate term for Marco Rubio?" "Marco Rubio: I'd 'maybe' run for re-election if my friend wasn't." See also "GOP Leadership Urges Rubio Run Again for Senate" and "".
Meanwhile, "Trump Wants Rubio to Stay in the Senate."
No Fun
"The contentious campaigning in the 2016 election has laid waste to durable traditions as Florida and the nation show that allegiance to political parties may be over." "There’s no fun these days in Florida’s political parties."
"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"
"Canova: close to $2m raised against Wasserman Schultz – State police raid DeBary City Hall – Libertarian conference kicks off in Orlando."
However, "Crossroads' President and CEO Steven Law had this to say about the organization's rare decision to endorse in a contested primary: 'Congresswoman and DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has played a critical role over the past several years in the massive Republican gains we have achieved at the state level, in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the U.S. Senate.'" "American Crossroads Endorses Debbie Wasserman Schultz."
"A little more real"
"Raquel Regalado on Friday submitted her resignation from the Miami-Dade school board, paving the way for her run for county mayor." "Race for Miami-Dade mayor gets a little more real: Regalado resigns school board seat."
"Democrats eyeing big gains in the Florida House"
"Democrats have been an afterthought in the Florida House in the recent past as Republicans' numbers have grown to supermajority status in the 120-member chamber."
But along with presidential election cycles comes hope for Democrats looking to boost their numbers at all levels of government."Democrats eye House pickups across the state."The party’s voters historically have not turned out in large numbers in non-presidential years.
In 2014, for instance, Democratic strongholds of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties had voter turnout of just 44.8 percent, which helped sink Democrat Charlie Crist's gubernatorial campaign. In 2012, those counties had a collective average turnout of 68 percent.
Those higher numbers, and the fact that Republicans are raising money at a slower clip than past years, have Democrats eyeing big gains in the Florida House, while the GOP will play defense in many hotly contested races
Judge orders partisan races for constitutional officers
"Orange County candidates for sheriff, tax collector and the four other constitutional offices would be identified on this year's ballot as Democrat, Republican or another party affiliation if a judge's ruling holds." "Judge's ruling nixes nonpartisan elections."
Lopez-Cantera on the dole
"The lieutenant governor, who has a nearly $125,000 annual salary, is given no formal responsibilities in the state constitution — which has always left the post as one of the more obscure in state government once campaign season is over." "Lopez-Cantera's official state calendar shrinks as campaign's grows."