Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsMay 18, 2018

As Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is fond of saying: politics is a “relationship business.” So, this edition of Bold spotlights the utility of political friendships. Whether running for Congress or state or local office, you’d better have your friends’ endorsements (well-timed) and the interest of the donor class (early, and often). In each category, there will be […]

Staff ReportsMay 11, 2018

August primaries are close to three months away. Vote by mail ballots will go out sooner than that. What that means is the time is now for candidates to show what their operations on the state and federal level really look like. And on the local level, where elections are still farther away, it’s infrastructure-building […]

Scott PowersMay 10, 2018

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum‘s new digital ad lays out the six key planks in what he calls a ‘bold, progressive platform,’ delivered from the son of a construction worker and a school bus driver. With shots of him in front of school buses, with his family, as mayor of Tallahassee, and in various campaign […]

Staff ReportsMay 4, 2018

Congressional candidates finish qualifying this week, setting the stage for a 3+ month sprint to nominations. Virtually every Congressional incumbent, save John Rutherford, will face a primary. Ted Yoho faces nominal competition for what could be his final term; Al Lawson faces more than a symbolic challenge in the form of Alvin Brown in Congressional District 5. We are a few weeks […]

Staff ReportsApril 27, 2018

Lately, Jacksonville politics has been fractious. A debate over JEA privatization, a hot-button topic for months, saw the culmination of claims and cross-claims of lies, betrayals, subterfuge and deception before Mayor Lenny Curry pulled the plug Thursday. As the political season approaches, locals may want to take a cue from gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, who made yet another […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2018

In Jacksonville, tales of the next year of elections have just begun. In this edition: congressional fundraising. For those needing a guide to both contenders and pretenders, a look at the money (months before voters cast ballots) will tell that tale. Down the page, our story on City Council fundraising. Some candidates who are not […]

Staff ReportsApril 13, 2018

In campaigns, there is always a watershed moment when all the gauzy, aspirational rhetoric fades — like so many temporary tattoos — replaced by the hard realities of campaign finance and infrastructure. For races on the 2018 ballot, we are there — even if some candidates haven’t figured it out. If one is looking to […]

Phil AmmannApril 6, 2018

In this week’s Bold, a recurring motif … pitched political speech. From a senator saying the president could kick off the next Great Depression, to a gubernatorial campaign telling an opponent is DOA, the knives were out. Shivs went toward Jacksonville’s mayor for exploring the value of JEA. And toward a chair of a local party […]

Staff ReportsMarch 30, 2018

Flowers are blooming. The chill of March fades into April and May heat. And just like the cycle of nature, the cycle of campaigns is kicking off anew. In Congressional races, we are starting to see real action. Political action committees are kicking up, and so is the end of quarter fundraising. What this means: […]

Staff ReportsMarch 23, 2018

Readers may note a focus on campaigns in Jacksonville Bold this week. With the Legislative Session over, we are now heading into campaign season. While Gov. Rick Scott seeks the right time to launch his bid for the U.S. Senate against Bill Nelson, facing no primary competition if he does so, pretty much everyone else […]

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Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

Jacksonville Bold for 5.18.18 — Relationship business

Jacksonville Bold for 5.11.18 — Buy the ticket, take the ride

New Andrew Gillum ad pushes ‘bold progressive platform’ from son of a construction worker

Jacksonville Bold for 5.4.18 — Qualifying Week

Jacksonville Bold for 4.27.18 — Lessons learned

Jacksonville Bold for 4.20.18 — Can’t knock the hustle

Jacksonville Bold for 4.13.18 — Infrastructure week

Jacksonville Bold for 4.6.18 — Shiv season

Jacksonville Bold for 3.30.18 — And the campaigns begin

Jacksonville Bold for 3.23.18 — Five months to go