Jacob Ogles, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

Florida Democratic leaders rejoiced as Democrat Nikki Fried seized the lead in the state Agriculture Commissioner race over Republican Matt Caldwell. Florida Democratic Party chairwoman Terrie Rizzo released a statement congratulating Fried on her “win.” “As the important work of counting every last legal vote continues, it has become clear that the electoral process has worked […]

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio went on the offensive to complain how Broward and Palm Beach counties elections officials handled early and absentee voting. This comments came after vote tallies two days after Election Day flipped the Agriculture Commissioner race, tightened a voter gap in the U.S. Senate race and moved the gubernatorial totals into […]

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

Outgoing Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi could become the next U.S. Attorney General, according to CNN. “There are many people in contention for that position just because there are many qualified people who would like to do it,” Kellyanne Conway, one of President Donald Trump’s chief advisers, told reporters. Sources listed Bondi in the mix, […]

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

The gap between Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Bill Nelson dropped down to 21,899 votes as more ballots from left-leaning Broward County finally went through election office scanners. Meanwhile, Republican Matt Caldwell’s lead over Democrat Nikki Fried dwindled to 4,109 votes in the Florida Agriculture Commissioner race. The developments in Broward continue as Democrats mount […]

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis and U.S. Rep. Brian Mast expressed frustration over a land lease with potential to delay construction of a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. The South Florida Water Management District this morning will consider amending a land lease and executing a new agreement with New Hope Sugar Company on property in Palm Beach […]

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

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With Broward County vote tabulations still flowing in and the vote margin shrinking in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, incumbent Bill Nelson signaled he’s not done fighting his seat despite Republican Rick Scott’s lead in tallies to date. “We’re doing this not just because it’s automatic, but we’re doing it to win,” said Marc Elias, an […]

Jacob OglesNovember 8, 2018

In the early days of 2018, Democrats held serious optimism about their Congressional chances in Florida, and that included weighty dreams of a blue wave striking Sarasota. It had been 12 years since U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan squeaked into office with a razor-thin, 369-vote margin and some officials never stopped dreaming of vengeance. Perhaps this […]

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Collier County voters approved a first-ever sales tax by a margin this enough to strike a spark from a penny. The One Collier tax referendum passed with just 51 percent of the vote Tuesday, in the face of opposition from the local Republican Party. With all precincts reporting, 73,090 voters ultimately cast yes votes for […]

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Sarah Fortney, an incoming Polk County School Board member, will become Florida’s first openly lesbian member of a Florida school district. Joe Saunders of Equality Florida Action PAC celebrated Fortney’s win in a statement. “Sarah has made history as the first out lesbian elected to a School Board in the State of Florida,” said Saunders, one of […]

Jacob OglesNovember 7, 2018

Democratic candidate for Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried says she’s braced for a recount in Florida’s closest statewide election. On Tuesday night, Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell came out ahead in the Cabinet position race, but on Wednesday morning the race tightened to 4,008,205 votes for Caldwell to 3,995,684 for Fried. That’s a margin of 12,521 votes, or 0.16 percent. […]

Jacob Ogles

Premature? Democratic leaders congratulate Nikki Fried for victory

Marco Rubio on recount: Broward, Palm Beach failed to follow law

CNN: Pam Bondi in the mix for U.S. Attorney General

Senate, Agriculture races tighten; Governor contest nears recount trigger

Ron DeSantis, Brian Mast fight potential delay on Lake O reservoir

Bill Nelson recount attorney: ‘We’re doing it to win’

How Vern Buchanan sailed to victory in CD 16

Despite local GOP resistance, Collier County passes first-ever penny tax

Milestone: Sarah Fortney elected first openly gay School Board member in Florida

Agriculture Commissioner race: Nikki Fried readies for recount, hopes to catch Matt Caldwell