‘Losing sucks’: Lenny Curry throws down 2019 gauntlet
'Brothers from another mother': Lenny Curry endorses Ron DeSantis for Gov, 2018. Image via A.G. Gancarski

Lenny Curry Ron DeSantis

When so inclined, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry offers some very direct quotes. On Tuesday evening, Curry spiked the ball on local exponents of the “Blue Wave” theory.

Curry reminded locals of his pre-primary endorsement of Ron DeSantis for Governor.

He also reminded them of his support of U.S. Senator-elect Rick Scott.

Curry also offered a rejoinder to those who might note that Democrats U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and Agriculture Commissioner candidate Nikki Fried all won more votes than Republicans in Duval.

https://twitter.com/lennycurry/status/1060024785537822721

Curry also gave a shoutout to his political operation, which is apparently much more reliable than the swath of public polls that put Gillum ahead of DeSantis.

Curry was in position to spike the ball. In addition to DeSantis and Scott winning, other endorsed candidates, like Mike Waltz in Congressional District 6 and Wyman Duggan in House District 15, got over the finish line despite well-funded and energetic Democratic challengers with outside help.

To be sure, there are caveats. Duggan held Fant’s seat by two points, and, if nothing else, Democratic opponent Tracye Polson bought name identification for the next run. And the underperformance of the Republican ticket in Duval (only Attorney General-elect Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer-elect Jimmy Patronis carried the day.

But despite those real caveats (including the latest installment of concerns about leadership of the local Republican Party), Curry’s message is that his machine is in high-gear and ready for any challenge that may materialize.

Just as Northeast Floridians may be waiting for fall, so too are we waiting for a credible opponent to emerge in the fast-approaching 2019 mayoral race.

Some names to file away: Democrat Tracye Polson, who ran a close race in swing-district HD 15; Democrat Mia Jones, who came within two points of winning a countywide race for Duval County Tax Collector; and Democratic City Councilman Garrett Dennis, in a perpetual war with Curry.

Meanwhile, a potential Republican challenger potentially looms: Councilwoman Anna Brosche, another Curry nemesis inside the hallowed halls of the St. James Building, the former department store that is now City Hall.

The electorate in Jacksonville is poised for change, possibly forever, to the Democrats with Amendment 4’s passage Tuesday night allowing 1.5 million reformed felons renewed suffrage. But for now, despite evidence of Democratic enthusiasm, Curry has a message for the haters.

Jacksonville is still his town.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has been the Northeast Florida correspondent for Florida Politics since 2014. He writes for the New York Post and National Review also, with previous work in the American Conservative and Washington Times and a 15+ year run as a columnist in Folio Weekly. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski


2 comments

  • Frankie M.

    November 7, 2018 at 1:02 pm

    Is this a bible verse? I’m not familiar.

    “From my years in Sports, coaching, business, parenting,life & government, I’ve never understood those that lose the battle then find something to celebrate. Odd and a recipe for serial losing. Losing sucks. I’m glad my opponents haven’t figured that out.

    Must be from the Book of Sun Tzu. Way to bring people together. #1cityjoke

    Also how is Rick Scott not an elite? He has more $$ than God. Most of it stolen from the taxpayers to finance his election campaigns. If anything that makes him more of an elite. Just because you grow up “working class” doesn’t mean you can’t become elite.

    Shout out to magic 8ball.

  • Sherry Magill

    November 8, 2018 at 9:00 am

    Interesting. Despite statewide outcome, Duval County Voters supported Gillum and Nelson. Does the mayor consider his constituents “losers”?

Comments are closed.


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