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

A.G. GancarskiNovember 19, 2018

Only a couple of days of Jacksonville City Council committee meetings stand between the people running local government and the trappings of Thanksgiving. Soon enough, ovens and stoves will be in “go” mode. Yet already heating up: Rhetoric around the mayoral race, qualifying for which begins the week after Epiphany (Jan. 7-11). The Florida Times-Union […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2018

Republican Ron DeSantis, the 40-year-old former three-term Congressman, has defeated Democrat Andrew Gillum to become the next Governor of Florida after a mandated machine recount. The win was just 0.4 percent, a spread of 33,652 votes. The gubernatorial race, like the U.S. Senate and Agriculture Commissioner contests, had margins under the 0.50 percent threshold that triggers a recount. With the margin more than […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 16, 2018

Jacksonville will send a new Republican to Tallahassee next session. In the expensive and brutal race in House District 15, Republican Wyman Duggan defeated Democrat Tracye Polson 51 percent to 49 percent. Polson spent heavily in an attempt to flip the seat previously held by Jay Fant, but ultimately fell short. Duggan, a connected land-use lawyer backed by a wide […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 15, 2018

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Barry Richard, representing Democrat Andrew Gillum as the recount progresses, has a unique perspective on these matters. In 2000, Richard was George W. Bush‘s lawyer. Unlike 18 years ago, Richard’s client may not prevail: with an hour before the Thursday at 3 p.m. machine recount deadline, there is little indication that Gillum will overcome the 0.41 percent […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2018

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum awaits the results of the machine recount in the race for Florida Governor against Republican Ron DeSantis. In what seems to be a strategic move, the Democrat bypassed in-state media in his first interview since rescinding his concession of the race. Gillum preferred instead to give quotes to Rolling Stone (the kind of move […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2018

During the sleepy, largely oppo-free Democratic primary campaign for Governor, one of the rare moments of interest was when a previously-unknown group made moves to take the frontrunner down. The Collective PAC, dedicated to putting African-Americans into office, spent $2 million backing Andrew Gillum during the campaign. Of that sum, $1.75 million went to ads chipping […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 14, 2018

First the vote. Then the “spoiler” charge. After every close election, the inevitable post-game narrative involves some variation of “did the third-party candidate cause a major party candidate to lose?” A couple of examples for those new to American politics: the Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan effects in 2000. The Jill Stein and Gary Johnson blame game after 2016. […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, Jacksonville City Councilman Matt Schellenberg, the liaison to local utility JEA, reiterated concerns about the Council’s lack of oversight over the power provider. Schellenberg had told the Florida Times-Union of his frustrations with not being able to get a meeting with interim CEO Aaron Zahn until after the utility decided whether or not to make Zahn permanent. The […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

On Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council imposed a six-month moratorium on adult arcades. The legislation cleared committees without opposition and landed on the consent agenda, with a majority of the 19-person legislative body listed as sponsors even before Tuesday’s meeting. Ordinance 2018-680 bans any new permitting for so-called internet cafes, a bane to the existence of […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 13, 2018

Two new bills introduced to the Jacksonville City Council Tuesday evening could, at least in theory, lead to a grant to the city from the United Arab Emirates being returned. Though if that happens, it’s over the heads of Mayor Lenny Curry and the Council President. Ordinance 2018-813 would give back that $2.775 million grant. And Ordinance 2018-790 would appropriate the […]

A.G. Gancarski

Rhetoric heats up ahead of Jacksonville mayoral race

After winning Governor’s race, Ron DeSantis seeks summit with Andrew Gillum

Long-range vision: Wyman Duggan sees House seat as more than a stepping stone

More ‘vitriol’ now than in 2000 recount: Andrew Gillum’s lawyer

National strategy? Andrew Gillum bypasses Florida press, gives Rolling Stone exclusive

How the Collective PAC almost brought it home for Andrew Gillum

Third-party gubernatorial candidate rejects ‘spoiler’ argument

Jacksonville City Councilmember bristles over lack of JEA oversight

No more games: Jacksonville imposes adult arcade moratorium

’Blood money‘ reconsidered: UAE grant fight heads to Jacksonville City Council