Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year. ...more

November 4, 2009

Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year. ...more

November 4, 2009

TAMPA A competitive race with well-known candidates and possible primaries on both sides is developing for the U.S. House seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow. ...more

March 4, 2009

Three-term Republican incumbent Ginny Brown-Waite will once again try to fend off outspoken Democrat John Russell, who has twice tried to snatch the 5th Congressional District seat away from her. ...more

October 19, 2008

Tom Rooney, 37, is almost stereotypically Irish. He's tall, red-haired, flush-faced, freckled, and built like a lumberjack. Actually, he's a former tight end, an Army veteran and an attorney. ...more

October 12, 2008

Freshman Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, is the second Tampa Bay area congressman to raise at least $1 million for his re-election bid this fall, exceeding $1.05 million. ...more

July 18, 2008

Jim King, a Land O' Lakes Republican who sought to unseat U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, has ended his campaign. ...more

July 10, 2008

SAYS BACK ISSUES WILL KEEP HIM FROM FIGHT FOR 5th DISTRICT ...more

July 9, 2008

Jim King, a Land O'Lakes Republican seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, has suspended his campaign to tend to a back injury. ...more

July 2, 2008

SEBRING — There are lots of interesting things to know about Hal Valeche. He was a carrier pilot in the Vietnam War who trained at Mirimar Naval Station. He was a Wall Street investment banker. He got into Yale at 16. But even more interesting is how well versed he is on "American Idol." After being interviewed at Inn on the Lakes, he stood out front and asked which contestant had the greatest chance of winning. ...more

May 29, 2008