While in Tampa, Byron Donalds’ running mate dodges questions about Trump, deportations

Lieutenant governor nominee pressed at Tiger Bay Club over whether he or Byron Donalds disagree with the president on any of his policies.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 21, 2026September 21, 2026

News & Views

David Jolly says a complete ban on data centers in Florida should be ‘on the table’

Democratic gubernatorial candidate had said he’d issue a year-long moratorium if elected governor. Now he’s going beyond that.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 18, 2026September 18, 2026

News & Views

Florida Republican breaks with Trump on immigration enforcement in campaign ad

‘Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcements have gone too far,’ the South Florida Republican says.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

News & Views

Jolly and Donalds clash on how to fix Florida’s property insurance crisis

Donalds says Jolly wants a ‘hurricane tax’ for all property owners, citing a recent study. Jolly responds that the study never looked at his plan.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 17, 2026September 17, 2026

News & Views

Florida residents are raising the alarms over data centers and AI. Where do Byron Donalds and David Jolly stand?

Democrat wants a moratorium on any data centers for a year; Republican says he’ll leave it up to local governments to make that decision.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 16, 2026September 16, 2026

News & Views

Florida Republicans officially endorse property tax-cutting Amendment 3

Meanwhile, the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Florida) is opposing the measure.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 15, 2026September 15, 2026

News & Views

‘Republicans for Jolly’ effort launches in St. Petersburg

They include a Florida 2026 gubernatorial candidate, a former Reagan and Bush official, and a Manatee County commissioner.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 14, 2026September 14, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking behind a podium displaying a sign that reads "Terrorist Organization Designation."

News & Views

Florida Cabinet approves process to designate antifa, CAIR and others as domestic terrorist groups

The Muslim civil rights group has gone to court to block the designation.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 11, 2026September 11, 2026

Side view of a City of Largo police cruiser, a black and white Ford Police Interceptor Utility,. parked on wet asphalt

News & Views

‘These aren’t scare tactics — these are reality cuts’: Sparks fly during Tampa Bay town hall debate over property tax-cutting Amendment 3

What happened in Largo is being replicated in communities across Florida.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 11, 2026September 11, 2026

U.S. Representative Anna Paulina Luna standing alongside U.S. Representative Byron Donalds at an event in New Port Richey.

News & Views

Florida Republicans flock to Texas to celebrate Trump’s ‘historically unpopular agenda,’ says FDP chair

“Donalds and Luna might be able to pop some champagne and worship the president, causing prices to skyrocket, but Floridians? We’re fed up.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 10, 2026September 10, 2026

A wide interior photograph showing Florida State Representative Angie Nixon posing with supporters during a campaign event in St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 8, 2026. Positioned center-left, Nixon stands in a sleeveless red dress holding a bright pink campaign sign with white lettering reading "ANGIE NIXON FOR U.S. SENATE." She is flanked by three supporters smiling together, including a person in a white-and-grey striped shirt giving a peace sign on her right, and two supporters in black graphic shirts and blue jeans on her left. In the foreground, a person viewed from behind in an olive green t-shirt holds up a smartphone to photograph the group, set against a brightly lit indoor office space with a dropped ceiling and wood-plank flooring.

News & Views

There are ‘$10 million reasons’ not to vote for Ashley Moody, says Angie Nixon

Speaking at the Bethel Community Baptist Church in South St. Petersburg Tuesday night, Nixon said “two scammers” represent Florida in the U.S. Senate.

by Colin Wolf, Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 10, 2026September 10, 2026

News & Views

Florida wants to penalize corporations with AI chatbots that contribute to crimes

“What designs? What intentionality was there? How aware were they of the behaviors of the crimes that took place? How involved were they?”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 9, 2026September 9, 2026

Aerial view of extensive debris and destroyed buildings on Fort Myers Beach, Florida, one month after Hurricane Ian.

News & Views

Florida’s property tax amendment would cripple local governments’ abilities to prepare for hurricanes, says Sierra Club

Meantime, the Vote Yes on 3 political campaign has just been boosted by a $10 million contribution from the Florida Realtors.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 8, 2026September 8, 2026

News & Views

Tampa Tiger Bay says Byron Donalds dropped out of one-on-one event with David Jolly, his campaign says it was never confirmed

Both men said their campaigns are in the beginning stages of planning debates that definitely will happen sometime in the next eight weeks.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 8, 2026September 8, 2026

Industrial power plant stacks rising above a dense green forest canopy under a clear sky.

News & Views

St. Petersburg citizens launch campaign for city to run its own utilities

“Duke Energy’s rate increases are out of control. And our neighbors are hurting. If we don’t have this urgency, it’s only going to continue to get less affordable.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 2, 2026September 2, 2026

News & Views

Only two Florida Democrats joined Republicans in bill condemning Democratic Socialism, Tampa’s Kathy Castor was one of them

Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidates have seen success in high-profile primary races across the country this summer, including in Florida.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 2, 2026September 2, 2026

Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium sign reading "Law Enforcement Pay Raises" in front of state troopers and an American flag.

News & Views

Florida sheriffs begin dropping license plate readers as DeSantis warns against ‘surveillance state’

“You want to get in your car and you want to go to down to Buc-ees in St Augustine, it’s really none of the government’s damn business if you’re doing that, right?”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix September 1, 2026September 1, 2026