A.G. Gancarski, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

Despite five open seats and one seat with an indicted incumbent, the action in Northeast Florida State House races largely is wrapped up in time for the Labor Day weekend, thanks to the realities of gerrymandering making the primaries the real show. The only seat left with a competitive election: the one in HD 13 […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

County Referendum 1 — which will authorize the extension of Jacksonville’s half-cent sales surtax and dedicate it to funding the $2.8 billion unfunded pension liability — was passed Tuesday by a resounding number. At the time of publication of this post, the referendum was up 65 to 35 percent, with all but two precincts reporting. Jacksonville Mayor […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties will see a new state attorney and a new public defender in January, as two polarizing incumbents were swept out of office, with resounding defeats in contentious primaries. In the most expensive GOP primary race for state attorney ever in this region, challenger Melissa Nelson — with a war chest of […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

The Corrine Brown era is over in Congressional District 5. Brown won two counties: Duval and Columbia. Lawson won everywhere else. Former State Sen. Al Lawson defeated the 12-term incumbent and L.J. Holloway on Tuesday, with a margin of 47 percent to 40 percent. This seemed to be a race that could go either way, with the […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

Former Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford started the Congressional District 4 GOP primary as the establishment favorite, and on Tuesday night, with almost 39 percent of the vote, he defeated Hans Tanzler at 20 percent, Jacksonville State Rep. Lake Ray at 19 percent, and St. Johns County Commissioner Bill McClure with 10 percent. Rutherford, though outspent by […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

The narrative established in early voting continues on Election Day in Duval County, with GOP turnout surging near 30 percent at 2:00, and Democratic turnout finally above 21 percent. This disproportionately larger Republican electorate may be driven, in part, because of the jump in GOP registration after primaries were closed in the contentious races for state […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2016

In the GOP race in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, a little last-minute ammunition was used by the John Rutherford-friendly “Conservatives United” PAC. The targets: Hans Tanzler, with $8,000 of TV, and Lake Ray, with $2,449 on robocalls Sunday and Monday reminding voters that Ray had voted to give illegals drivers’ licenses. Both of these were Aug. 29 expenditures. The […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 29, 2016

After a busy primary season for Susie Wiles, including a leadership role in “Yes for Jacksonville” and serving as a media liaison to Democratic congressional candidate Al Lawson, Wiles’ next move will be serving as a communications adviser to Donald Trump. Wiles, the Florida co-chair for Trump’s primary campaign, will function in a “battleground communications” role, reports The Washington Post. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 29, 2016

The last eight months in Jacksonville politics have been dominated by one referendum. County Referendum 1, which would allow Jacksonville to extend a current 1/2-cent sales surtax past its sunset and to dedicate it to a $2.8 billion unfunded pension liability, is that referendum. Mayor Lenny Curry and his political machine have done everything they could […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 29, 2016

The House District 11 GOP primary will come down to one of three candidates: Cord Byrd, Donnie Horner, or Sheri Treadwell. HD 11 includes Nassau County, as well as the Jacksonville Beaches. Its current representative, Janet Adkins, is from Nassau. However, at least one pol from the Beaches communities wants to ensure that the seat becomes a “beaches” seat, […]

A.G. Gancarski

Kim Daniels, Reggie Fullwood, Jason Fischer among NE Florida state House primary victors

County Referendum 1 passes big, allowing Jacksonville to resolve $2.8B unfunded liability

Melissa Nelson, Charles Cofer win primaries; the Angela Corey/Matt Shirk era ends

Al Lawson wins CD 5 primary; Corrine Brown’s era is over

John Rutherford wins CD 4 primary

Duval GOP turnout nears 30 percent at 2 PM,; Dems above 21 percent

Last-minute spending by pro-John Rutherford super PAC targets Hans Tanzler, Lake Ray

Susie Wiles takes on communications adviser role with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign

Jax referendum opponents coalesced, but too late to matter

Ahead of HD 11 primary, endorsers make impassioned pleas to Jax Beaches voters