A.G. Gancarski
Rep. Jason Fischer, a first-term Republican representing Jacksonville’s House District 16, will face a general election challenger: Democrat Kenneth Organes.
Organes will have an uphill climb in the general election in terms of fundraising and party identification.
Though Fischer’s March fundraising has not been reported yet, he had $89,000 cash on hand before the Legislative Session, with an additional $39,000 in his political committee’s coffers.
The district leans Republican with a 55,593 to 35,171 voter registration advantage over Democrats, according to LobbyTools.
Fischer was elected in 2016, after a fractious primary with Dick Kravitz. In the general election, Fischer breezed to a win against an NPA opponent.
A Democrat hasn’t actually been on the ballot in this district since the 2007 special election. In 2016, a Democrat filed but withdrew before qualifying.
Organes, who retired from CSX, was driven to run by “turmoil on the national level” and the “unresponsiveness” of the “tone deaf” state Legislature and Governor on issues, including gun violence.
“These people do not represent you,” the Democrat said. “They represent the NRA, charter schools, and developers.”
Organes will use social media and will canvass the district, both with a small but enthusiastic group of volunteers, and by himself as well.
In the coming months, he expects to do a lot of listening, visiting senior centers and the like to find out what people want from government.
