Doug Jones to campaign with Bill Nelson in Panhandle
Doug Jones

Screen Shot 2018-10-24 at 9.25.00 AM

Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, the first Democratic senator elected in the Yellowhammer State in 25 years, will campaign today with U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in Pensacola.

“Bill fights for the people of Florida every day and I am honored to join him to support his re-election so we can continue to work together to protect our Gulf beaches from oil, push for affordable health care, and support public education,” Jones said.

Jones won one of the most shocking special elections of the last year when he defeated Republican Roy Moore in December. His candidacy got a lift from sexual misconduct allegations against Moore from when he was in his 30s.

Before winning the Senate seat, Jones was best known for prosecuting Klu Klux Klan members responsible for a bombing in 1963 that killed four young girls.

Nelson’s tight re-election battle with Republican challenger and two-term Gov. Rick Scott sure drew the unlikely Democratic star to the Panhandle but he also said he wants to raise attention of an oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico that has quietly become an environmental disaster after discharging for 14 years.

Nelson’s camp touted the senator’s opposition to offshore oil drilling in a press release announcing Jones’ appearance.

“Keeping oil drilling away from Florida’s famous beaches is one of Nelson’s key legislative accomplishments,” the release reads. “He co-wrote the 2006 law that currently bans drilling as far out as 235 miles off Florida’s Gulf coast.”

Jones and Nelson have both campaigned as bipartisan leaders willing to work across the aisle. Pensacola, of course, lies just 15 miles from the Alabama state line.

But right now, the Panhandle region remains a sensitive campaign ground, still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Michael. The region also reliably trends Republican in statewide elections.

Jacob Ogles

Jacob Ogles has covered politics in Florida since 2000 for regional outlets including SRQ Magazine in Sarasota, The News-Press in Fort Myers and The Daily Commercial in Leesburg. His work has appeared nationally in The Advocate, Wired and other publications. Events like SRQ’s Where The Votes Are workshops made Ogles one of Southwest Florida’s most respected political analysts, and outlets like WWSB ABC 7 and WSRQ Sarasota have featured his insights. He can be reached at [email protected].



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, William March, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Jesse Scheckner, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704