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Josh Archote - State Politics General Assignment Reporter
Josh Archote

State Politics General Assignment Reporter

I grew up in small-town Southern Louisiana, graduated from Louisiana State University and am now covering Florida state politics here at the Tampa Bay Times. I covered an array of topics in Louisiana before arriving here, including environment and energy, higher education and social issues. The political world is complicated and seemingly inaccessible to many people, and yet the decisions elected officials make have huge impacts on our lives. My goal is to help people understand the impacts of those decisions, why it matters and what it all means in the larger picture. Have a tip or story idea? I'm always happy to chat.

  1. DeSantis supports offshore drilling and fracking, just not in Florida
    Aug. 10• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    A man wears a face mark as he fishes near docked oil drilling platforms, on May 8, 2020, in Port Aransas, Texas.
  2. Democrats want to take on Anna Paulina Luna in 2024
    Aug. 10• Elections
    Anna Paulina Luna speaks to a crowd during the Keep Florida Free Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, in Tampa.
  3. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s latest foray in Congress: UFOs
    July 28• Florida
    Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who represents part of Pinellas County, is among the leading figures on a House subcommittee investigating a whistleblower's claims that the government knows more about unidentified flying objects than it has made public.
  5. Does the DeSantis campaign face the same fate as Jeb Bush in 2016?
    July 25• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Former Gov. Jeb Bush, left, in background, watches as Gov. Ron DeSantis, Casey DeSantis and their children Mason, Madison and Mamie wave to the crowd during an inauguration ceremony at the Florida Capitol on Jan. 3 in Tallahassee.
  6. Rep. Luna introduces bill requiring monthly payment option on flood insurance
    July 20• Florida
    FEMA employees hang a banner at a Disaster Recovery Center on May 12 in Hollywood, Florida.
  7. 3 takeaways from DeSantis’ rare sit-down interview with CNN
    July 18• Elections
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president, talks to a crowd Monday in Tega Cay, S.C.
  8. Video shows beachgoers harassing manatees near Clearwater
    July 14• Environment
    In a screengrab from a video posted to Facebook on Thursday, beachgoers can be seen swimming with and touching manatees near Indian Rocks Beach in Pinellas County.
  9. 4 injured after ‘severe turbulence’ on flight to St. Petersburg, officials say
    July 12• Breaking News
    Several Allegiant Airlines planes are seen parked at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport Aug. 25, 2020, in Clearwater.
  10. Tampa police hear from Grant Park residents in town hall meeting
    July 12• Community News
    Tampa police officers speak to Grant Park residents at a Tuesday town hall meeting on July 11, 2023.
  11. Sinkhole that swallowed Seffner man reopens for 3rd time in 10 years
    July 11• Environment
    A sinkhole has reopened in Seffner, as seen in this image from video. This is the third time the hole has reopened in 10 years. In 2013, a man was killed after falling into the sinkhole.
  12. LGBTQ+ Republicans to DeSantis: The ‘old playbook’ doesn’t work anymore
    July 10• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis delivers remarks at the Faith and Freedom Road to Majority conference at the Washington Hilton on June 23, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
  13. Is sports betting legal in Florida? After ruling, here’s what’s next.
    July 3• Latest News
    Sports betting is now legal through the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa and other casinos run by the Seminole Tribe, following a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on June 30.
  14. Anclote River dredging begins after years of funding battles, delays
    June 29• Business
    Dredging continues along the Anclote River as boat glides by Monday, June 19, 2023, in Tarpon Springs.
  15. Where the Florida presidential candidates stand on environment, climate change
    June 26• Elections
    Aerial footage shows a partially submerged home in October 2022, the result of Hurricane Ian, a Category 4 storm.
  16. DeSantis sues Biden administration over college accreditations
    June 22• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the North Carolina Republican Party Convention in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, June 9, 2023.
  17. Rep. Luna sponsors resolution censuring Adam Schiff for Russia investigation
    June 21• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., listens as votes are cast for the new Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington.
  18. Here are Florida lawmaker turkeys lopped by Gov. Ron DeSantis
    June 15• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    The Community Aging and Retirement Services (CARES) is building a new senior center on the corner of Fourth Street and Florida Avenue in Dade City. It is named for Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson who donated the land for the building. Thursday, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed more than $600,000 appropriated for the construction in the state budget year beginning July 1.
  19. DeSantis campaign’s use of fake images against Trump part of AI ‘arms race’
    June 14• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    In May, former President Donald Trump shared a two-minute parody video on Truth Social and Instagram of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential announcement that made it look like DeSantis was making his announcement alongside the devil, Adolf Hitler and others.
  20. Fewer ‘Tiger Kings’? Carole Baskin celebrates law requiring big cat pet registry
    June 9• Hillsborough
    Founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue Carole Baskin, right, hugs U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida as Baskin’s husband, Howard Baskin, looks on during a media tour and news conference at Big Cat Rescue on Friday.