Writers

Alex Leary, Times Washington bureau chief

Alex Leary is the Washington bureau chief for the Tampa Bay Times. He previously worked in the Times' state capital bureau, and before that covered local politics, environmental issues and law enforcement. His career in journalism began at the Valley News in New Hampshire.

Algae on Lake Okeechobee’s east shore surrounds boats docked at the Pahokee Marina, July 11, 2018. An algae bloom has residents and government officials concerned, particularly after the 2016 algae bloom that impacted the environment and economies in Central Florida.(Charlie Trainor/Miami Herald)

Democrats decry Scott �stunt� on environmental funding

WASHINGTON – Gov. Rick Scott said Friday that Sen. Mitch McConnell had agreed to a key project affecting Lake Okeechobee. "Another step forward for this critical environmental project is great news for Florida," Scott said in a...

Updated one month ago

Vice President Mike Pence and Gov. Rick Scott in Orlando (Photo: Orlando Sentinel)

Mike Pence to campaign for Rick Scott in Orlando, The Villages

Rick Scott remains estranged from President Donald Trump but Mike Pence will do.The vice president will campaign in Florida tomorrow for Scott, indicating a strategy to rally a base still passionate about Trump but minimize alienating...

Updated one month ago

Rick Scott and Bill Nelson (Associated Press photos)

Dead Heat: Nelson and Scott tied in latest poll

Bill Nelson and Rick Scott are in a dead heat in their Senate showdown, according to a Qunnipiac University poll released Wednesday, tied 49-49.The survey of likely voters –92 percent of whom say their mind is made up —...

Updated one month ago

Sen. Marco Rubio was confronted by Alex Jones, the InfoWars conspiracy monger, outside a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on social media and disinformation campaigns. (screen capture from video by @willsommer)

Marco Rubio to InfoWars� Alex Jones, �Don�t touch me again, man�

InfoWars' Alex Jones aggressively confronted Sen. Marco Rubio outside a committee hearing in Washington this morning, drawing Rubio to warn, "Don't touch me again, man."After a security guard asked a highly agitated Jones to...

Updated one month ago

Gov. Rick Scott in Washington on Aug. 31, 2018 (Alex Leary | Tampa Bay Times)

Scott, DeSantis and Putnam to hold GOP rally

Rick Scott, Ron DeSantis, Matt Caldwell and other Republicans will hold a unity rally next Thursday in Orlando.Adam Putnam, who was defeated by Trump-backed DeSantis, will attend, a spokeswoman said.Democrats this afternoon...

Updated: 2 months ago

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., smiles as he meets with reporters as work continues on a plan to keep the government as a funding deadline approaches, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Rick Scott meets with McConnell

WASHINGTON – Gov. Rick Scott met with Mitch McConnell today and called for water project funding while expressing support for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh."The Governor expressed the importance of Congress quickly...

Updated: 2 months ago

Gov. Rick Scott talks with reporters outside the U.S. Capitol on Aug. 31, 2018. Behind him, in wheelchair, is Henry Kissinger, who arrived for Sen. John McCain's memorial service, which Scott attended (Alex Leary | Tampa Bay Times)

Rick Scott says Andrew Gillum would be a return to the �Charlie Crist� era

WASHINGTON – Gov. Rick Scott this morning took a shot at Andrew Gillum, saying the Democratic gubernatorial nominee would be a return to the "Charlie Crist" years of tax and fee increases."We can't go back to what Charlie Crist...

Updated: 2 months ago

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., takes a selfie with public school educators during a rally on Aug. 19 in Miami Gardens. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Can Bill Nelson get his �mojo� back in Senate clash with Rick Scott?

WASHINGTON — Sen. Bill Nelson hoped this was the week he finally appeased Democrats fretting about the state of his re-election campaign, but he was overshadowed by national attention on Florida's blockbuster race for governor between two...

Updated: 2 months ago

Ron DeSantis gives his victory speech during the Ron DeSantis for Governor Election Night Party in the Sebastian Ballroom at the Rosen Shingle Creek on Aug. 28 in Orlando. (TAILYR IRVINE | Times)

Scott calls DeSantis� �monkey� comment �inartful�

Gov. Rick Scott said Thursday that GOP gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis was "inartful" in comments about rival Andrew Gillum that

Updated: 2 months ago

Andrew Gillum pauses, overcome with emotion, as he accepts the nomination to be Florida's Democratic Party candidate for governor, Tuesday in Tallahassee. (Photo by Colin Hackley)

Andrew Gillum could fire up Democrats for Bill Nelson

We're guessing Bill Nelson was as surprised as anyone with Andrew Gillum's victory last night, but the two are now linked in a sprint for November victory.And Gillum, 39, presents upsides for Nelson.Gillum has long...

Updated: 2 months ago