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Kirby Wilson - Politics Reporter
Kirby Wilson

Politics Reporter

Aside from four years at Duke University, where I double-majored in English and basketball yelling, I’ve lived all my life in Florida. As a reporter, I’m interested in how the decisions of people in power affect everyday Floridians, and in building community around storytelling. I joined the Times in September 2017, and I spent my first year on the politics team covering the 2018 governor’s race. When I’m not in the office, I like to travel, sing show tunes and dream about playing for the Boston Red Sox.

  1. Florida Republican wins state House seat after opponent booted off of ballot
    Yesterday• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Adam Anderson of Palm Harbor will secure the House District 57 seat in north Pinellas after his only opponent was disqualified from the ballot on Sunday.
  2. Florida report on transgender care flawed, politically motivated, Yale experts say
    Jul. 14• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Jeanette Jennings, mother of transgender advocate Jazz Jennings, speaks in 2020 at a news conference in the Florida Capitol against a bill that would have made it a felony for doctors to provide minors with hormone therapy or to perform sex reassignment surgery. The bill did not pass but Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration is proposing a rule that would prevent the state’s Medicaid program from reimbursing providers for a series of therapies meant to treat gender dysphoria.
  3. Which Florida Democrat hoping to replace DeSantis is raising more money off abortion?
    Jul. 14• Health
    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Nikki Fried, left, who’s seeking the Democratic nomination for governor, has sought to paint her opponent Charlie Crist as anti-abortion.
  5. Nuevo marco sobre la prohibición del aborto de las 15 semanas
    Jul. 6• CENTRO
    Florida tendrá su restricción de aborto más estricta en medio siglo. Para muchos es una situación confusa.
  6. Por qué Florida no está perdiendo totalmente el derecho al aborto...al menos por ahora
    Jul. 2• CENTRO
    El gobernador de Florida, Ron DeSantis, sostiene el documento de ley sobre la prohibición del aborto después de las 15 semanas luego de firmarla el 14 de abril de 2022 en Kissimmee, Florida.
  7. Florida’s 15-week abortion ban took effect Friday. Here’s what to know.
    Jul. 1• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Protesters march during an abortion rights rally on Saturday, June 25, 2022, on the corner of East Fowler Avenue and North 56th Street in Temple Terrace.
  8. Marco Rubio’s opponent Val Demings: I do not want to defund the police
    Jun. 29• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, left, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Demings, right.
  9. As DeSantis focuses on Florida transgender kids, here’s what you need to know
    Jun. 27• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, front left, gestures as speaks before a bill signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis, front right, Nov. 18, 2021, in Brandon.
  10. Reaction roundup: Tampa Bay weighs in on the end of Roe v. Wade
    Jun. 24• Health
    Abortion-rights marchers hold signs during a rally Friday in St. Petersburg.
  11. ‘Pro-life’ Florida advocates celebrate end of Roe v. Wade
    Jun. 24• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Pro life signs are seen outside the All Women's Health Center of Clearwater on May 3. The Supreme Court has struck down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that recognized a Constitutional right to an abortion. States can now ban the procedure.
  12. Why Florida isn’t losing the right to an abortion … yet
    Jun. 24• Health
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis holds up a 15-week abortion ban law after signing it, Thursday, April 14, 2022, in Kissimmee.
  13. Can Democrats flip the Florida Legislature in 2022? Realistically, no.
    Jun. 17• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Members of the Florida House of Representatives work during a legislative session at the Florida State Capitol, March 8, 2022, in Tallahassee.
  14. Longtime NRA Florida lobbyist Marion Hammer retiring
    Jun. 16• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Marion Hammer, a longtime Florida lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, is retiring.
  15. DeSantis on Elon Musk 2024 support: ‘I welcome support from African Americans’
    Jun. 15• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Elon Musk tweeted that he is leaning toward supporting a 2024 presidential bid by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Musk has a history of donating to both Republican and Democratic candidates.
  16. Florida permitless carry bill coming next legislative session, top Republican says
    Jun. 9• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, was filmed surreptitiously at an event affirming his support for a permitless carry policy.
  17. 3 things Florida has done to stop school shootings — and 3 ideas that haven’t happened
    May 26• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Lillie Perez, 11, holds a sign during a "March for Our Lives" protest for gun legislation and school safety on March 24, 2018, in Houston. Students and activists across the country planned events Saturday in conjunction with a Washington march spearheaded by teens from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where over a dozen people were killed in February 2018.
  18. Florida special tax districts like Disney’s Reedy Creek, explained
    May 24• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Reedy Creek Improvement District Fire Department Station 4, on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021.
  19. Florida Democrats lose future leader amid sexual harassment allegations
    May 12• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Rep. Ramon Alexander, D-Tallahassee, will not seek reelection in 2022.
  20. Florida Democrats struggle to find spotlight in race against DeSantis
    May 11• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, left, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and state Sen. Annette Taddeo are running for Florida governor.
  21. DeSantis to Florida hospitals: how much are you spending on ‘illegal aliens’?
    May 6• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    As an organization, UndocUnited strive to provide resources to their undocumented population, whether that be through funds, events or support.
  22. Will Florida Republicans ban abortion? Here’s what we know.
    May 3• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    A crowd of people gather outside the Supreme Court in Washington on Monday night. A draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that earlier this year a majority of them had thrown support behind overturning the 1973 case Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide, according to a report published Monday night in Politico. It's unclear if the draft represents the court's final word on the matter.
  23. DeSantis promete la ley de porte de armas sin permiso de Florida antes de dejar su mandato
    May 3• CENTRO
    Un grupo llamado Florida Carry se reunió bajo el lema "Educación, no intimidación, porte de armas".
  24. DeSantis promises Florida permitless carry gun law before he leaves governor’s office
    Apr. 29• The Buzz on Florida Politics
    Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks moments before signing the Parental Rights in Education bill during a news conference on Monday, March 28, 2022, at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills.
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