Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 5, 2018

Is it the state’s business if parents don’t ensure their kids buckle up? If newly filed legislation passes, it will be if those kids are injured in car wrecks. A new bill from Sen. Aaron Bean seeks to expand the Department of Children and Families’ ability to investigate to two new areas. The measure (SB 128) would allow […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 28, 2018

Earlier this year, a suspect shot and killed Fang, a 3-year-old Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office K-9. The German Shepherd chased the suspect into the woods, and that was his last chase. A 9 mm handgun saw to that. JSO and the larger community grieved. And now, via area state Sen. Aaron Bean, a legislative remedy: A bill […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 27, 2018

For the second straight year, Northeast Florida Republican Rob Bradley will chair the Senate Appropriations Committee. With Rep. Travis Cummings chairing the House’s budget panel, that means Clay County has two lawmakers overseeing statewide spending decisions for the 2019 Legislative Session. Bradley replaced Jack Latvala ahead of the 2018 Legislative Session, when the Clearwater Republican quit the Senate amid sexual misconduct […]

Phil AmmannNovember 2, 2018

Election Day is in sight, in Northeast Florida and everywhere else, and we preview the competitive races, as well as the ones decided shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. For Jacksonville, a lot is riding on this. Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams invested real political capital in the gubernatorial campaign of Ron DeSantis. Win, […]

Phil AmmannOctober 25, 2018

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Duval County is now a few days into early in-person voting, with the first of two Souls to the Polls weekends about to commence. Do Democrats feel lucky? It depends on who you ask. The Blue Wave that offered so much potential early on may or may not be a tsunami at this point. The […]

Staff ReportsOctober 19, 2018

Jacksonville’s political class, with a Republican Mayor and Sheriff, is betting on red this year, all in for Ron DeSantis for Governor. And if he wins, it will be another case of “Jax on the Rise.” Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams endorsed DeSantis before the August primary, as did Duval-adjacent legislators like Sen. […]

Drew WilsonOctober 16, 2018

The Florida Retail Federation on Tuesday endorsed nine incumbent Republican state Senators and one incumbent Democrat for re-election in the fall. Making the trade association’s general election list were Republican Sens. Dennis Baxley, Aaron Bean, George Gainer, Tom Lee, Kathleen Passidomo, Keith Perry, Wilton Simpson, Kelli Stargel, and Dana Young, as well as Democratic Sen. […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 15, 2018

In Northeast Florida, most of the live state House races and the only state Senate race are characterized by a fundamental cash disparity. Republicans have serious bank; Democrats are far behind. However, this most recently reported week saw Republicans coasting while Democrats actually won the weekly tally battle (even as cash-on-hand was less buoyant for […]

Staff ReportsOctober 12, 2018

As poet, novelist and pop culture icon William S. Burroughs once noted: “Control needs control to control.” That observation holds in all hierarchical structures, especially politics, and particularly after voting begins. In a typically Republican area like Northeast Florida, recent history shows it’s been rare to see so many competitive races as we are seeing […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 10, 2018

There are relatively few multi-candidate forums in Northeast Florida’s general election season, so the evocatively titled Jacksonville Candidate Forum had a disproportionate importance for candidates seeking to introduce themselves to a general election audience. One Congressional candidate, Democrat Ges Selmont, running in Florida’s 4th Congressional District, was on hand. Also present: state Sen. Aaron Bean and his general election […]

Tag: Aaron Bean

Bill: Buckle up kids or DCF could investigate for child abuse

Fang death inspires Aaron Bean to protect police K-9s, horses

Back again: Rob Bradley returns to chair Senate Appropriations

Jacksonville Bold for 11.2.18 — Can Jax afford Andrew Gillum?

Jacksonville Bold for 10.26.18 — It’s go time

Jacksonville Bold for 10.19.18 — Betting on red

Florida Retailers endorse 10 incumbent senators for re-election

Fundraising slows for Jacksonville incumbent legislators

Jacksonville Bold for 10.12.18 — Control needing control

Northeast Florida candidate forum a sparring exhibition without knockout blows