Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsAugust 17, 2018

Wishful thinking predicates much of election season. Aspirational ads for Democrats; appeals targeting nonexistent issues (hello, “sanctuary cities”) for Republicans. Ultimately, these moves — whether pulled by a winning or losing campaign — are strategic. How a Republican is to eliminate sanctuary cities or how a Democrat is by force of will to create Medicare […]

Staff ReportsAugust 10, 2018

We’ve hit the stretch of the primary season; where the money is being spent, not raised. Where ads are cut, and voters engaged. And where candidates know if they are still in the game. No one comes out and says “well, it looks over.” But losing candidates seem different. We saw it with Adam Putnam, […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2018

For political watchers, August offers an embarrassment of riches in this market. A number of competitive and contested primaries, including one open Democratic primary and a citywide race for tax collector. Not to mention the state races, including one competitive primary for governor and one that appears to be all but decided. For those keeping […]

Staff ReportsJuly 27, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stirred things up on Twitter this week, essentially declaring total war against his electoral competition. “Same s%#t different place. Elected office is loaded w/amateurs. Folks w/no ability to implement ideas. Many are full of empty rhetoric & a false sense of self. They survive on the bottom w cheap talk. We will retire some […]

Staff ReportsJuly 20, 2018

In this market, we periodically hear remarks about fundraising reports. Often, people seek publicity for candidates who do not have the slightest interest in raising money. It’s hard for media to garner interest in a candidate who has no clue on how to target (or even reach) a constituency. Others wonder why there are so […]

Staff ReportsJuly 13, 2018

Next week, the new Jacksonville City Council year begins, and we will (likely) see two new additions. The names of Terrance Freeman and Ju’Coby Pittman were leaked Monday to the Jacksonville Daily Record, many hours ahead of the Governor’s official announcement. Someone, for some reason, made the decision to advance the message. Historically the Governor’s […]

Drew WilsonJuly 12, 2018

A new poll of the Republican primary for Attorney General finds Pensacola state Rep. Frank White with an outside-the-margin-of-error lead over former circuit court judge Ashley Moody. The St. Pete Polls survey, commissioned by Florida Politics, showed White with 26 percent support among active Republican primary voters compared to 19 percent support for Moody. The […]

Staff ReportsJuly 6, 2018

After a brief sabbatical, Bold is back. The campaign season — local state House and Senate races and special elections, and statewide battles — is in full swing. Competitive races abound up and down the ballot, along with more than a few cakewalks. Since we took our break, we’ve also seen a new Jacksonville City […]

Jim RosicaJune 27, 2018

Despite interviewing five “quality candidates” on Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet held off on appointing a new head of the state’s Office of Financial Regulation (OFR). Instead, they decided to keep the application period open through mid-July. Thirty-four people already had applied. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, and […]

Jim RosicaJune 26, 2018

Gov. Rick Scott didn’t telegraph his interest in who should be the state’s top financial regulator at a Tuesday campaign stop in Jacksonville for his U.S. Senate campaign. Earlier, an aide to the Governor at a Cabinet Aides meeting said he would announce his preference later in the day. When asked whether Republican state Rep. Jay […]

Tag: Jay Fant
Image via Palatka Main Street.

Jacksonville Bold for 8.17.18 — Sizzle, and steak

Jacksonville Bold for 8.10.18 — Contenders, pretenders

Jacksonville Bold for 8.3.18 — Home stretch

Jacksonville Bold for 7.27.18 — Same s**t, different place

Jacksonville Bold for 7.20.18 — Cash is king.

Jacksonville Bold for 7.13.18 — Media mutters

Frank White now leads Ashley Moody in AG race, poll says

Jacksonville Bold for 7.6.18 — Fireworks or fizzle?

Rick Scott, Cabinet delay decision on hiring new OFR head

Rick Scott won’t say whether he likes Jay Fant as OFR head