Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 3, 2018

Saturday afternoon saw a couple of atypical retweets from the personal account of Rep. Al Lawson. The RT action went to President Donald Trump, in what was either a remarkable crossing of party lines in a contested primary, or perhaps a compromised account. After deleting the tweets, Lawson asserted the “campaign accounts” were “breached” and “hacked,” an […]

Peter SchorschJune 1, 2018

The literary field of semiotics, as articulated by French theorist Ferdinand de Saussure, boils down to a relationship between signs and their intended meaning. The ultimate meaning of those signs is not fixed; rather, it moves with cultural interpretation. As we find ourselves now less than three months before primary elections for the 2018 ballot, we […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 30, 2018

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson‘s re-election campaign rolled out an endorsement Wednesday from the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police. The local is backing Lawson, a first-term Democrat from Tallahassee, in his primary challenge from Alvin Brown, a former Jacksonville Mayor. Brown didn’t even sit for an interview with the union — and given Lawson’s history of support for and from […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 29, 2018

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson was in Jacksonville Tuesday for a town hall, as he looks to repel a challenge in the Democratic primary from another moderate who hasn’t been afraid to blur party lines in former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. The question this campaign for Lawson: can he parlay incumbency and a primary opponent who […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 29, 2018

At last count, a member of the United States Congress makes $174,000 per annum. Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, a current candidate for the primary nomination in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, would stand to receive a serious pay raise in 2019 if he wins the nomination and is elected, per his financial disclosure form. Brown has […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 28, 2018

Earlier in May, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson insisted his fundraising for re-election in Florida’s 5th Congressional District was on track. This despite reasons for skepticism, related to sluggish fundraising and a high burn rate. As of the end of March, the first-term Tallahassee Democrat’s campaign had just under $160,000 on hand — roughly half of the […]

Staff ReportsMay 25, 2018

We’ve reached the point in the primary cycle where, by now, campaign groundwork and infrastructure should be well underway. Bold is offering evidence of that proposition. Smart candidates are bringing out the big endorsements, and less seasoned candidates making career-killing gaffes. The operatives are talking. If our Jacksonville correspondent isn’t typing, odds are good he […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2018

A lull in the media releases in the Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District ended Thursday, with Alvin Brown pillorying Rep. Al Lawson for voting with Republicans on a Donald Trump approved bill that would undo much of the Dodd-Frank protections instituted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Only 33 Democrats voted for the Dodd-Frank […]

Staff ReportsMay 18, 2018

As Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is fond of saying: politics is a “relationship business.” So, this edition of Bold spotlights the utility of political friendships. Whether running for Congress or state or local office, you’d better have your friends’ endorsements (well-timed) and the interest of the donor class (early, and often). In each category, there will be […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2018

Former Jacksonville Mayor and current 5th Congressional District Democratic hopeful Alvin Brown became the first and so far only North Florida candidate this cycle to laud the beginning of Ramadan. In a statement released Tuesday morning, Brown lauded the beginning of the month-long celebration, while decrying discrimination against American Muslims. “At sunset, Muslims in my district […]

Tag: Al Lawson

‘Dirty politics at best,’ as ‘hacked’ Al Lawson account retweets Donald Trump

Jacksonville Bold for 6.1.18 — Signs and symbols

Jacksonville police union backs Al Lawson, snubs Alvin Brown again

In Jacksonville, Al Lawson tries to score wins on Alvin Brown’s turf

If Alvin Brown goes to Congress, he will get a pay raise

Tallahassee supporters hosting fundraiser for Al Lawson on Thursday

Jacksonville Bold for 5.25.18 — Game theory

Alvin Brown slams Al Lawson for voting for Trump-backed Dodd/Frank rollback bill

Jacksonville Bold for 5.18.18 — Relationship business

Alvin Brown lauds Ramadan, decries anti-Muslim discrimination