caldwell

Caldwell Concedes Ag Commissioner Race to Fried

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Republican Matt Caldwell pointed to a need for political “sanity” and a “peaceful transfer of power” Monday as he conceded the race for Florida agriculture commissioner to Fort Lauderdale lawyer Nikki Fried, the only Democrat to win statewide this year. Caldwell, a real-estate appraiser from North Fort Myers who has served the past eight years in the Florida House, said …

florida

Florida Ag Commissioner among Recounted Races

Dan Florida

On Saturday, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner ordered recounts in high-stakes races for not only Florida agriculture commissioner, but also the U.S. Senate and governor. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, the orders also included recounts in three legislative districts. State law requires “machine” recounts when the margins between candidates are 0.5 percent or less. …

caldwell

Fried Holds Narrow Lead Going Into Recount

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Nikki Fried, the Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, led Republican Matt Caldwell by more than 3,000 votes as a recount neared in their race for the Cabinet seat, according to numbers posted on the state Division of Elections website. As of 10 a.m. Saturday, Fried had 4,025,824 votes, while Caldwell had 4,022,704. In all, 8,048,528 votes had been tallied, with …

agriculture

Fried Tops Caldwell By Narrow Margin in Ag Commissioner Race

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

After trailing on election night, Democrat Nikki Fried held a slight lead Friday morning in her race with Republican Matt Caldwell to become state agriculture commissioner. With votes continuing to be counted, Fried held a 2,915-vote lead as of 7 a.m. Friday, according to the state Division of Elections website. With 8,046,381 votes tallied in the Cabinet race, Fried had …

recount

State Cabinet Race Heads Toward Recount

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Despite a declaration of victory Tuesday night by Republican Matt Caldwell, the race for Florida agriculture commissioner likely will require a recount, joining expected recounts in the U.S. Senate race and a handful of state legislative contests. Caldwell, a state House member from North Fort Myers, led by less than 13,000 votes late Wednesday morning in the Cabinet race against …

caldwell

Fried, Caldwell Face Off Over Medical Marijuana, Water

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Democrat Nikki Fried, a medical-marijuana lobbyist, had to defend her desire to move the state’s oversight of medical marijuana into the agency she wants to run. Her Republican opponent, state Rep. Matt Caldwell, was questioned about his support for a bill that delayed for 20 years an unmet deadline to reduce nutrients flowing into Lake Okeechobee. Fried and Caldwell — …

caldwell

Agriculture Candidates Set to Debate

Dan Florida

The two candidates vying to become Florida next agriculture commissioner — state Rep. Matt Caldwell, a Republican from North Fort Myers, and Fort Lauderdale Democrat Nikki Fried — have agreed to an early Sunday morning debate next month. Caldwell and Fried are seeking to replace term-limited Adam Putnam in the Cabinet position that oversees the Department of Agriculture and Consumer …

Troutman Joins Lineup of Florida Ag Commissioner Hopefuls

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Legislative

by Lloyd Dunkelberger News Service of Florida Former state Rep. Baxter Troutman entered the race for state agriculture commissioner on Monday, priming his Republican bid for a Cabinet seat with $2.5 million of his own money. “For two decades, I’ve been building a business and continuing my work in Florida agriculture,” Troutman, of Winter Haven, said in a statement. “Real …