A.G. Gancarski
Republicans from far outside Duval County are celebrating after the GOP flipped what had been a Democratic seat on the Jacksonville City Council.
Tommy Hazouri, a Democrat, held the seat from 2015 until his death last year. Hazouri, a former Mayor who held the best name identification of any active Democrat in the city before he passed away, was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019 by comfortable margins.
But with Hazouri not on the ballot Tuesday, Republicans took the seat.
Nick Howland got 52% of the vote against Democrat Tracye Polson. The state Republican Party and heavyweights like U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsed Howland before the polls closed, but after statewide Democrats campaigned with Polson during early voting.
And in the aftermath of the victory, the Republican National Committee took a victory lap, mocking those pro-Polson Dems.
“The Biden buyers’ remorse tour just went live from Duval County with announced stops throughout the country come November,” asserted RNC Spokeswoman Julia Friedland.
Friedland offered more critique along those lines in an email to the press.
“Things are not looking good for Florida Democrats in November if, as confused Charlie Crist put it, ‘the most dynamic candidate in the history of Jacksonville’ just lost a City Council seat they held for years. Duval County is also one of the few remaining counties left in Florida with a Democrat voter registration edge. Last night’s devastating loss is a bad sign of what fed-up voters throughout the country have in store for Joe Biden and Democrats in November,” she predicted.
“Tracye Polson fit right in with her endorsers in their effort to make life worse for Floridians by defending Joe Biden’s disastrous agenda,” Friedland added.
Friedland came back with one more burn before the close of business Wednesday: “Just when you thought Florida couldn’t get any more red – Republicans are flipping Democrat seats and closing the gap in Florida’s few remaining blue counties.”
Friedland’s blast continued concerted Republican national messaging that suggests an off-year Special Election for one of 19 Jacksonville City Council seats is a harbinger of what’s to come.
“Indicators of a Republican wave continue to grow: in Jacksonville, a City Council seat went from Democrat to GOP with a 20-point swing in the vote. In Connecticut a Republican won with a state House Special (Election) with a 25-point increase in the GOP margin,” tweeted Newt Gingrich.
12 comments
Impeach Biden
February 23, 2022 at 3:56 pm
Looking forward to Nov 2022 and 2024. What a disaster this year has been for Sleepy and Giggles. What do the Dems have to stand on? I will watch the commercials this year. So many things the Republicans can campaign on. The rout is coming…………
thundarrthelibrarian
February 23, 2022 at 4:57 pm
“So many things the Republicans can campaign on”? Like undying fealty to Vladimir Putin? Banning books? Being anti-science? Love of January 6th insurrectionists? The only rout that’s coming is the one to break you out of your dreamland.
Frankie M.
February 23, 2022 at 5:35 pm
Who knew a special election with 12% turnout would garner such statewide significance. At least it gives Nick Howland an excuse to go piss on Tommy’s grave.
Tom
February 23, 2022 at 7:44 pm
60 House seats pal flip.
6 to 8 Senate seats flip.
America’s Gov and Senator Marco win easily!
Another Manchurian in the liberal bubble. How many ignorant idiot Manchurians can be allowed. Endless.
Milo T.
February 23, 2022 at 4:58 pm
What a silly comment. The seat was firmly in Republican hands before former mayor Hazouri won it; and that special state House election in Connecticut was not a flip–its a red district and the previous representative was also Republican.
Newt as usual talks a lot but knows nothing, much like his fellow minded GOP dummies who post here.
Duval is turning bluer by the day and a low turnout, 4 point win in a Republican district by a Republican is hardly anything to rave about.
Tom
February 24, 2022 at 10:36 am
Wah Wah Wah, Milo, Phil, Frankie and librarian the Manchurian losers.
Go kiss off.
Gingrich one of the great political minds of his generation. Led 60 plu seat swing in 94, ending 40 yr gerrymandered corrupt Dem majority.
Who cares what you Wah losers think.
DeSantis and Repubs beat the pants off you. Spare us your fake truth.
New polls has America’s Gov crushing you all. Biden is abysmal, 36% approval in Florida. DeSantis 20 pts higher, 58% approval. Dems have no chance. The Conn race is the margin, DEm got crushed, just like Desantis and Rubio will. Florida Dems are finished. Wah Wah Wah, LMAO cry eye
Tom
February 23, 2022 at 7:39 pm
Frankie the fng coward, you are a degenerate scum bag! As your parents. You lost like a pussy. Wah Wah, 12%. LMAO.
You shallow non man, demented scum bag, you have nothing to offer. I’m sure you enjoy incest.
Wait til you get your ass kicked in November.
60 House seats and 6, 8 Senate seats.
Go F yourself.
Tom
February 23, 2022 at 9:19 pm
Your dam right A.G., it’s a tidal wave coming.
60 plus House seats. 6 to 8 Senate seats.
America’s Gov and Senator Rubio re elected.
1994 Gingrich like landslide coming.
Virginia, Nov 2021 numbers extrapolated across country are abysmal for Biden & Dems.
Just saying
Duval Conservative
February 24, 2022 at 2:53 am
Get your facts straight Frankie M. it was a 20% turnout. We are going to hold Nick accountable, for him to keep the promises he made to us. As far as the state of affairs in America, Biden voters are responsible for the invasion of Ukraine, blood is on their hands now. This would have never happened under Trump and all of you, Frankie M. know that
Phil Morton
February 24, 2022 at 5:19 am
That “Republicans Vote Here” crap isn’t going to work a second time. They caught us by surprise this time but it won’t happen again. GOP dirty tricks can only get you so far.
Tom
February 24, 2022 at 10:55 am
Caught u nothing by surprise.
You idiot Manchurians.
Biden is destroying u. The floor has fallen out from under you.
DeSantis will crush you guys!
DeSantis, America’s Gov is at 58% approval. Biden is 36% in Florida.
It’s over!!
Brandon
February 25, 2022 at 4:10 am
I’m one of those progressive Democrats that are needed to show up in November. I am also a registered Democrat from Jacksonville. Me and my husband didn’t bother voting in this Commission race.
Joe Biden is NOT a progressive, and until he and Harris get their heads out of their asses, and start delivering on a REAL transformative, progressive agenda, millions of millennials like me, actual progressives, will stay home in November and again in 2024.
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