Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Phil AmmannMay 20, 2015

Republican Party of Sarasota Chair Joeman Gruters agrees with Barack Obama on one thing. Elections have consequences. And that’s about it. In the latest email to “Conservatives & Republicans,” Gruters laments over the very first meeting of the “all-Democrat” Sarasota City Commission. What raised Gruters’ ire was the board’s first order of business – something […]

Mitch PerryMay 20, 2015

Good morning, everyone. I’m getting off to a slightly later start than usual today because I stayed up near midnight last night to see the Golden State Warriors defeat the Houston Rockets in a very exciting opening game of the Western Conference NBA Finals. As was the case while watching another Warrior playoff game Friday night, […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 20, 2015

Those with long institutional memories in Jacksonville noted that the JAX Chamber, via its JAXBIZ political arm, took a much more active role in the 2015 municipal elections than in previous years. That effort was helped along by meaningful funding and resource allocation for endorsed candidates, and Tuesday’s election showed it paid off. Mayor-elect Lenny Curry, Sheriff-elect Mike […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 20, 2015

A year ago, a small cadre of party insiders and money men were the only ones who could be said to believe that Lenny Curry had what it took to be mayor of Jacksonville. Up against a charismatic incumbent with high approval ratings, people said he was foolish to even try. Fast forward to May […]

Staff ReportsMay 19, 2015

An historic mobilization of pro-equality voters in today’s run-off elections means a majority of the Jacksonville City Council are now on record in support of adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s nondiscrimination law. Working closely with local advocates and partners, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Equality Florida partnered to launch the […]

Melissa RossMay 19, 2015

In the nationally watched race for Jacksonville mayor, Alvin Brown lost to Lenny Curry for three main reasons, says UNF political science professor Matt Corrigan. Here are his takeaways: Campaign Data and Discipline “First, Brown was up against a determined opponent who ran a well-financed, data-driven, targeted campaign,” says Corrigan. “The Brown camp got started late […]

Phil AmmannMay 19, 2015

In the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office runoff, it may have been interesting, and at times there was suspense, but Mike Williams began the evening with the lead, and never really left. Williams, a Republican who recieved a number of high-profile endorsements in the race, overtook Democrat Ken Jefferson early on to win 52 to 48 percent, according to the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website. Williams now replaces […]

Phil AmmannMay 19, 2015

Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry defeated Democratic incumbent Mayor Alvin Brown on Tuesday with help from powerful friends like Sen. Marco Rubio and former Gov. Jeb Bush. Curry was able to tap into friendships he earned while leading the state GOP as well as party resources to defeat Brown, who four years […]

Mitch PerryMay 19, 2015

A Pew Research poll published Tuesday shows that Republican primary voters are more excited to vote for a president than in the past two election cycles. It also shows that while Hillary Clinton remains extremely popular among Democratic voters, her support is the lowest in a Pew Poll since the spring of 2008, when she was last competing to […]

Guest AuthorMay 19, 2015

A Russian pundit in the early 1990s was asked, “What is the difference between the old Soviet Union and the new democracy?” His response was a bit puzzling at first: “We have more plane crashes now.” It was a remark aimed at Pravda, the Soviet state-run news source. He identified “freedom” as the power of […]

Uncategorized

Email insights: “Elections have consequences,” warns Joe Gruters

Mitch Perry Report for 5.20.15 — End of an era

Email insights: JAX Chamber candidates prevail in city election

The making of the mayor: Lenny Curry’s rise to lead Jacksonville

Equality Florida: Historic voter mobilization secures pro-equality majority on Jacksonville City Council

Matt Corrigan’s first draft on why Alvin Brown lost

Last-minute push helps Mike Williams win Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office runoff

Former state GOP chairman elected Jacksonville mayor

New Pew poll shows Marco Rubio viewed positively by 75 percent of GOP voters 65 and older

Henry Kelley: U.S. media bashing GOP on Iraq, protecting Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama