Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiApril 30, 2018

Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown launched his campaign for Florida’s 5th Congressional District on Saturday morning at the IBEW Hall in Jacksonville — the same place he began his first mayoral campaign eight years ago. “They said it wouldn’t happen,” Brown said of that 2011 race. “Let’s do it again.” The location, where the Duval […]

Staff ReportsApril 27, 2018

Lately, Jacksonville politics has been fractious. A debate over JEA privatization, a hot-button topic for months, saw the culmination of claims and cross-claims of lies, betrayals, subterfuge and deception before Mayor Lenny Curry pulled the plug Thursday. As the political season approaches, locals may want to take a cue from gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, who made yet another […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 20, 2018

Alvin Brown, the former Jacksonville mayor running in the Democratic Primary for Florida’s 5th Congressional District, may be positioning himself to do the unthinkable and capsize incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Lawson. Brown enjoyed a two-to-one fundraising advantage during the first quarter of 2018: $167,088 to $83,866. Lawson had $100,000 cash on hand at the end […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2018

In Jacksonville, tales of the next year of elections have just begun. In this edition: congressional fundraising. For those needing a guide to both contenders and pretenders, a look at the money (months before voters cast ballots) will tell that tale. Down the page, our story on City Council fundraising. Some candidates who are not […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 16, 2018

It appears there is a money race in the Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District. According to a press release from Alvin Brown, the former Jacksonville mayor enjoyed a two-to-one fundraising advantage during the first quarter of 2018. And that means that Brown has pulled close to incumbent U.S. Rep. Al Lawson in terms of […]

Staff ReportsApril 13, 2018

In campaigns, there is always a watershed moment when all the gauzy, aspirational rhetoric fades — like so many temporary tattoos — replaced by the hard realities of campaign finance and infrastructure. For races on the 2018 ballot, we are there — even if some candidates haven’t figured it out. If one is looking to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 11, 2018

The Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, a cartographical anomaly that sprawls from downtown Jacksonville west to Tallahassee, saw some moves this week by both incumbent Al Lawson and challenger Alvin Brown. Lawson’s campaign showed its first signs of engagement, with the hire of self-styled “hip-hop lobbyist” Phillip Singleton as the campaign’s “senior advisor,” handling fundraising and outreach. […]

Staff ReportsApril 6, 2018

Squawking about chicken this week led to a parking lot showdown, then lockdown, for a Congressman’s son. The Tallahassee Democrat reports that Alfred Lawson III, the son of Rep. Al Lawson, “is facing battery and aggravated assault charges after investigators say he tried to run over a gas station clerk on Tuesday.” As of Thursday evening, Lawson was […]

Phil AmmannApril 6, 2018

In this week’s Bold, a recurring motif … pitched political speech. From a senator saying the president could kick off the next Great Depression, to a gubernatorial campaign telling an opponent is DOA, the knives were out. Shivs went toward Jacksonville’s mayor for exploring the value of JEA. And toward a chair of a local party […]

Staff ReportsMarch 30, 2018

Flowers are blooming. The chill of March fades into April and May heat. And just like the cycle of nature, the cycle of campaigns is kicking off anew. In Congressional races, we are starting to see real action. Political action committees are kicking up, and so is the end of quarter fundraising. What this means: […]

Tag: Alvin Brown
Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Image via AP.

Alvin Brown’s congressional campaign kick-off has familiar cadence, leaves unanswered questions

Jacksonville Bold for 4.27.18 — Lessons learned

Is Al Lawson in trouble? Re-election to Congress may be in doubt

Jacksonville Bold for 4.20.18 — Can’t knock the hustle

More money: Alvin Brown closes fundraising gap with Al Lawson

Jacksonville Bold for 4.13.18 — Infrastructure week

Al Lawson hires ‘hip-hop lobbyist’, Alvin Brown plays to right-wing radio

Chicken beef spawns assault and battery charges for Congressman’s son: Report

Jacksonville Bold for 4.6.18 — Shiv season

Jacksonville Bold for 3.30.18 — And the campaigns begin