Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2017

When the Jacksonville media finally begins paying attention to 2019 City Council races, bet that the at-large contest between Bill Bishop and Ron Salem will feature. It has to. Though media turnover on the television side necessarily dictates many TV reporters won’t remember Bishop’s audacious play for mayor in 2015 (an underfunded run that nonetheless garnered 17 […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

There are two types of Jacksonville City Council candidates currently filed for the Spring 2019 elections. One type is the populist; their fundraising is minimal and their rhetoric brims with assurances that he or she will bring new voters to the polls by dint of charisma and word of mouth. The other type is the […]

Drew WilsonAugust 8, 2017

Trilby Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson just posted his best fundraising report since February, with $371,500 added to his “Jobs for Florida” political committee. The Senate Majority Leader’s massive haul came in across 35 contributions, including eight for $25,000. The lucrative month left Simpson, the presumed Senate President for 2020-22, with more than $1.5 million on […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 1, 2017

Despite facing challenges, state Rep. Jay Fant‘s position regarding the GOP primary for Attorney General is simply put as “AG or bust.” This leaves a void in the House District 15 race for 2018. And it appears the invisible primary is all but over as local establishment favorite Wyman Duggan is poised to enter. “After much encouragement […]

Jim RosicaMay 22, 2017

With the state Supreme Court’s decision last week striking down the possibility of a slot machine expansion, what’s next? A unanimous court ruled against pari-mutuels seeking to add slot machines in counties that passed a referendum in support of them: Brevard, Duval, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Washington. Those concerns are holding […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 13, 2017

Jacksonville Republican Ron Salem has never served on the Jacksonville City Council. Yet he has attended recent meetings on pension reform and the opioid crisis — showing the kind of real interest and engagement that separate him from other candidates, both those who have declared and those teasing a run. Also demonstrating interest and engagement: Salem’s […]

Mitch PerryMarch 21, 2017

As the Florida Legislature continues to debate the implementation of a popular medical marijuana initiative, voters believe the state is moving too slow in doing so, according to a new poll released Tuesday. The survey by nationally-recognized pollster Tony Fabrizio of Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found that 44 percent of Floridians believe the implementation of Amendment 2 is going too […]

Scott PowersFebruary 15, 2017

As at least one key lawmaker pushes to open Florida’s coming medical marijuana industry to a free market and the current seven licensed companies fight to keep it tight, a new advocacy group is emerging saying it wants to help develop a middle ground. Smart Medicine For Florida will be pushing for regulations that would assure quality, safety, […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 15, 2017

This week, the Jax Daily Record, via a News Service of Florida story, advanced in print a meme that local reporters had discussed on Twitter: Lenny Curry as CFO. The Daily Record then moved the story forward, abetted by Atwater’s aide discouraging this outlet from asking him about the prospects of Curry as CFO on […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

4th Circuit State Attorney Melissa Nelson rode into office wearing a white dress, surfing on a wave of hagiography, balanced on a board constructed on a sturdy narrative of collective anathema toward Angela Corey. For many of those who voted for her, the job was accomplished when Corey was defeated in August by a blowout […]

Tag: Brian Hughes
Rodney Guttman, image via University of West Florida.

Will money decide the Bill Bishop Vs. Ron Salem race for Jax City Council?

Randy DeFoor: Instant frontrunner in race for District 14 seat on Jacksonville City Council?

Wilton Simpson’s political committee raises nearly $375K in July

Wyman Duggan enters HD 15 race as instant establishment favorite

Pari-mutuels subdued on next steps after Supreme Court slots decision

Jax City Council hopeful Ron Salem posts big March numbers

New poll shows Floridians thinking lawmakers going too slow in implementing medical marijuana initiative

New group seeks to steer medical marijuana between control, free market

Lenny Curry talks CFO, HRO, and pension deal

‘Tough but fair’ approach guides Melissa Nelson’s reform path