Deep Something

Josie Tomkow’s Record Shows Tallahassee Comes First

June 26, 2026June 26, 2026 B. John 164 Views 0 Comments Senate District 14, Hillsborough County, Josie Tomkow, Brian Nathan, Home Rule, local control, Tallahassee preemption, Public Schools, South Tampa

This entry is in the series Florida Legislature

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

Florida Republicans love to talk about freedom, but their voting records often tell a very different story. Over and over again, Tallahassee politicians have voted to take decision-making power away from local communities, local governments, and local school boards. Josie Tomkow’s record in the Florida House is a clear example.

Tomkow is now running again against Brian Nathan in Senate District 14, asking Tampa-area voters to send her back to Tallahassee. But when she served in the House representing Polk County, she repeatedly voted for state preemption over local control, including on housing, zoning, infill redevelopment, civilian oversight, and public schools.

That matters here. Tampa and Hillsborough County deserve representation rooted in this community, not another vote for Tallahassee control. The question for voters is simple: if Tomkow voted this way in the House, why should anyone expect her to vote differently in the Senate?

Politics Election Legislature Economy Featured Places Tampa

Steel-Toed Integrity

January 10, 2026February 4, 2026 B. John 720 Views 0 Comments Working Families, Senate District 14, Brian Nathan, Steel-Toed Integrity, IBEW, Tampa Politics, Veteran

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

When something breaks in the real world, you don’t call a politician to give a speech; you call someone with a toolbox to fix it. That is the leadership Brian Nathan offers Senate District 14. A Navy veteran and IBEW electrician who chose Tampa as his home during the Great Recession, Brian brings a craftsman’s perspective to a political system that is deeply broken.

Read about Brian’s vision for “steel-toed integrity”—a philosophy born on the job site that prioritizes practical solutions for working families over political theater. He is running to fight for affordable housing, good-paying local jobs, and quality education.

Featured Politics Legislature

The Price of Loyalty

January 9, 2026 B. John 523 Views 0 Comments Senate District 14, Josie Tomkow, Brian Nathan, Special Election, Property Insurance, Tort Reform, Insurance Crisis, South Tampa, Florida Politics

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

While South Tampa homeowners struggle with skyrocketing premiums, Josie Tomkow voted for insurance bailouts that stripped away consumer rights without guaranteeing a single cent in rate reductions. In this special election, we have a choice between an IBEW electrician who pays his own bills and a career politician funded by the insurance lobby.

Featured Politics Election Legislature

The Rubber Stamp Comes to South Tampa

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025 B. John 750 Views 1 Comment Josie Tomkow, Tampa, Brian Nathan, Polk County, Special Election, Carpetbagger, DeSantis, Florida Politics, Senate District 14

This entry is in the series 2026 Elections

Florida Senate District 14 is facing a choice between a local voice and a corporate transfer. Josie Tomkow, a term-limited rancher from Polk County, is attempting to buy a Senate seat in South Tampa with $3 million in special interest cash. This essay examines her record of voting against our interests—on insurance, abortion, and education—and why we need a representative who actually lives here, like Brian Nathan.