Politics

Harry Cohen raises another $129K, ends Q3 with $267K on hand

Published

2 months ago

October 13, 2025

Hillsborough County Commissioner Harry Cohen raised $129,000 in the third quarter of 2025 between his campaign account and affiliated political committee, Hillsborough Together.

Of his total haul, he raised $24,000 through his campaign account, with $105,000 going to his PC.

“Voters know I’m focused on solving problems and delivering results for Hillsborough County families and neighborhoods,” said Cohen, who is so far unopposed in his 2026 re-election. “I work every day to bring people together and move our community forward — that’s what this job is about.”

The Q3 data accounts for all financial activity from July through September. The numbers come ahead of Cohen’s official campaign kickoff Oct. 21, which will almost certainly provide another campaign cash infusion.

Between both accounts, Cohen entered October with more than $267,000 on hand. Most of that is held by his PC, which enjoyed a major boost via a $100,000 contribution from FDC Capital Group — a firm run by Cohen’s father, Gary Cohen.

Cohen’s PC spent just $6,100 in the third quarter, most to benefit other campaigns. The committee contributed $1,000 each to colleague Gwen Myers’ re-election campaign and David Jolly’s campaign for Governor. It also contributed $500 to Brian Nathan’s Senate campaign.

Cohen’s campaign collected 32 total contributions, most for the maximum $1,000, including four maximum contributions from family members and their businesses.

Other notable contributors include the local plumbers and pipefitters union, a host of real estate development firms and interests, Tampa City Council member Bill Carlson and former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink.

“As we look ahead to another year of growth and opportunity, I remain deeply committed to the people of this district and the progress we’ve made together,” Cohen said.

Cohen represents District 1 on the County Commission and is one of only two Democrats on the seven-member board, the other being Myers.

While he doesn’t face opposition yet, that’s likely to change. District 1 has a Republican voter registration advantage, with just over 70,000 voters registered to the GOP compared to just shy of 63,000 Democrats. Nearly 51,000 voters in the district are not registered to a major political party.

Cohen only narrowly won re-election in 2022, the same year Republicans flipped the Commission red by unseating two of Cohen’s Democratic former colleagues: Kimberly Overman and Mariella Smith. Cohen defeated Republican Scott Levinson with just 50.34% of the vote.

Cohen was first elected to the Commission in 2020, replacing former Commissioner Sandy Murman, a Republican. Prior to his service on the Commission, Cohen served two terms on the Tampa City Council. He ran for Tampa Mayor in 2019, finishing third before now-Mayor Jane Castor went on to defeat the late David Straz overwhelmingly in a runoff election.

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Politics

Ashley Moody, Rick Scott diverge on rescheduling pot

Published

4 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

Florida’s U.S. Senators are split on President Donald Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis.

While Rick Scott signed a letter opposing the move with GOP colleagues, Ashley Moody did not.

“Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age. The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill,” the letter claims.

The Senators argue that changing cannabis’ classification would harm America’s attempts to reindustrialize, would have health consequences, and would give a “massive tax break” to companies in the space.

“While supporters of rescheduling argue that extending tax benefits to marijuana businesses will create economic growth, the costs of workplace and vehicular accidents caused by increased marijuana usage far exceeds any perceived benefits—not to mention the moral costs of marijuana advertising that could reach kids.”

Scott has called marijuana a “gateway drug” and says his own brother died after a lifetime struggle with drugs that began with it, so his opposition to relaxed laws continues.

While Attorney General, Moody opposed legalization initiatives in Florida. However, rumors are that the White House is considering rescheduling to Schedule III, which would permit medical research but wouldn’t immediately make it more commercially available.

12.17.2025-Letter-on-Marijuana-Rescheduling-

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Politics

Florida military installations to divvy up nearly $1B in federal funding act

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

10 military installations in the Sunshine State will get a cut of the funding approved by Congress.

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody is touting approval by Congress of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which will bring nearly a billion dollars in funding for several military installations in Florida.

The measure passed along bipartisan lines in the Senate and covers defense funding for the next fiscal year. It authorizes about $900 billion in total for defense spending across the U.S. The House signed off on the measure last week.

The act earmarks about $851 million for Florida installations. It will also fund expanded shipbuilding and prioritize development of the “Golden Dome” missile defense system.

“The passage of this year’s NDAA is a victory for the strengthening of our national security and Florida’s military bases. It is vital for the protection of our great nation that our military has the resources needed to deter evil and stay mission ready. Sadly, just this week we lost two National Guardsmen and an interpreter far too soon at the hands of an apparent ISIS attack in Syria. My heart breaks for their families’ unimaginable loss. It is a stark reminder that we must continue our efforts to secure peace through a robust national defense,” Moody said in a news release Wednesday.

“Florida is proud to be the home of three combatant commands, including SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM and SOCOM, as well as 21 military installations which all play a highly important role in the United States’ military strategy. I will always fight for their interests, because a strong military is essential for a strong nation.”

Ten different military installations in Florida will get a partial cut of the funding including, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Eglin Air Force Base, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Hurlburt Field, MacDill Air Force Base, Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island, Naval Air Station Key West, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Naval Air Station Whiting Field and Tyndall Air Force Base.

Florida is home to more than 90,000 active military personnel in the state, and about 1.5 million military veterans reside here.

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Politics

New College Foundation announces $1M gift for ‘Socratic Stage’ program

Published

6 hours ago

December 17, 2025

May Greene

The New College Foundation has announced a $1 million donation from Dr. Michael C. and Ling Z. Markovitz to establish a new campus program centered on debate, classical learning and public discourse.

The donation, made directly to the New College Foundation, will help the college establish the Markovitz Socratic Stage, a signature forum dedicated to revitalizing civil discourse, classical learning and the free exchange of ideas on campus.

“We believe deeply in the power of ideas — and the courage it takes to explore them openly,” Michael said in a statement. “New College is leading a movement to bring back real dialogue, real debate, and real education. We are honored to support this mission and help build a program where students learn to think for themselves, speak with conviction, and engage with the world in meaningful ways.”

The donation will support a series of debates, lectures and discussion-based events meant to bring together students, faculty, visiting scholars and community members for debates, dialogues, books discussions, lecture series, public forums, intellectual events open to the community, and student-centered opportunities.

The program will be integrated into New College’s Logos/Techne curriculum and is expected to launch as a recurring campus initiative open to the public.

College President Richard Corcoran called the gift a “defining moment” for the institution, saying it aligns with New College’s emphasis on classical education and intellectual freedom.

“Michael and Ling Markovitz have made a profound and visionary commitment to New College,” he said. “Their gift strengthens our mission to revive rigorous classical education and restore the humanities as a force for intellectual freedom. The Markovitz Socratic Stage will impact generations of students by giving them a place to think deeply, debate boldly, and seek truth fearlessly.”

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