After the election, who will our representatives actually represent--us or the lobbyists?
News and informed commentary from a Florida point of view
When Floridians go to the polls this fall, we’ll be voting to fill 140 seats in the state Legislature —both the House and Senate—that will be up for grabs.
When those newly elected—or re-elected—politicians journey to Tallahassee for the next legislative session, there’s an important question we should know the answer to:
A. Will they be representing our interests?
B. Or will their loyalties be to the army of lobbyists and political action committees eager to line their wallets?
If recent history is any guide, we should be very worried that the answer to that question is B.
Case in point:
According to in-depth research by independent investigative reporter Jason Garcia on his Seeking Rents website and newsletter:
Florida lawmakers banked $14 million in campaign contributions on the day before the start of the 2026 legislative session, according to a Seeking Rents review of first-quarter campaign finance reports.
The avalanche of donations recorded on Jan. 12 was, in part, the result of an annual fundraising orgy that takes place in Tallahassee on the eve of every lawmaking session. Legislators are forbidden from raising money during their 60-day session, which means they — and the special interests seeking to buy access and influence in the state Capitol — must scramble to beat the opening gavel.
Much of that last-minute money was essentially laundered through intermediaries — like political committees controlled by lobbyists or campaign consultants — that make it difficult to trace the true origins of many donations.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Jason’s report on Substack is rich in detail about where this money came from and to whom it was slipped.
I’m keeping this morning’s post short, so rather than tying up your attention here, you can check out his reporting. It’s an eye-opener.
I’ve cross-posted the story on the Tropic Press website, or you can go directly to Jason Garcia’s Substack page and read it here:
I would also note that you are seeing this kind of reporting first thanks to independent journalists.
As regular readers of Tropic Press know, in addition to original reporting, one of the missions of this newsletter and the Tropic Press website is to share this kind of enterprise journalism to the widest possible audience, so it’s a pleasure to be a conduit for Jason Garcia’s work today as well as the regular contributions published here by others, including the Florida Phoenix, The Florida Trident, The Paradise Progressive, and pollster Mark Schullman, among others.
Thank you for your support that makes all this possible.
J.C. Bruce is the founder of Tropic Press, a Florida online news service dedicated to sharing news and commentary relevant to Florida readers. Bruce is an award-winning former newspaper editor, journalist and author living in Florida, his native state.
Onward thru the fog
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed if you are a rational person living in the Free State of Florida, but there are plenty of smart, reasonable people just like you here. The purpose of this newsletter and the Tropic Press website is to provide a source of news and commentary that shines a light through this irrational fog.
Thank you for your support as a subscriber. It is invaluable. This is especially so for those of you who have chosen to upgrade to paid subscriptions. Your contributions are making this possible.
J.C. Bruce
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Time to take back our state
The upcoming midterm elections provide a generational opportunity to change the complexion of Florida’s political makeup. But for that to happen, Republican incumbents in the Legislature must face Democrats on the ballot. Currently, there are far too many seats where Republicans stand to run unopposed. Here’s how we can fix that:
On another matter: As I listened to the so-called "victim" of Eric Stelwell testify, I couldn't help but wonder why all the fuss. She clearly knew early on that he was very open to a sexual encounter. Yet she continued to see him, get very drunk with him TWICE, and then, after she admits that she blacked out from drinking, she took an Uber to his hotel. She now plays the "victim". She whines that no one protected her when she obviously sought him out. SHE HAD A DUTY TO AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH HIM. SHE SOUGHT HIM OUT ANYWAY.
NOT A VICTIM!!!