Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 8, 2017

Reporters in the Jacksonville market got to know Brian Hughes in late 2014 and early 2015 when the Republican PR pro was handling the messaging for mayoral candidate Lenny Curry. Soon those reporters — or those who replaced the ones who moved on — will get to know Hughes in a new capacity as Curry’s chief of staff. […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 7, 2017

Build Something That Lasts, the political committee linked to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry both spent and raised money robustly in November. Checks cut were more interesting than deposits, which, by and large, came from the usual suspects. For the first time since August, Curry’s committee cleared six-figures, raking in $112,000. The committee has just under $475,000 […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 6, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry brought his political adviser into the administration Wednesday, naming Brian Hughes as his Chief of Staff. Hughes begins in his new position January 2, 2018. “To me and dozens of other elected officials, Brian Hughes has been a senior adviser on important matters of public policy and communications,” said Curry. “Working with me, Brian […]

Ana CeballosDecember 4, 2017

Before she filed a sexual harassment complaint against Sen. Jack Latvala, Senate aide Rachel Perrin Rogers allegedly engaged in a pattern of raising claims against fellow staffers at the Senate Majority Office, according to a sworn affidavit released Monday. But the head of that office, Republican Sen. Wilton Simpson, now says it is part of […]

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 […]

Tag: Brian Hughes

‘He’s my guy’: Why the Brian Hughes hire made sense for Lenny Curry

$112K raised in November for Lenny Curry committee; new chief of staff gets paid

Brian Hughes, ‘bad boy of comms,’ to be Lenny Curry’s chief of staff

Affidavit: Jack Latvala accuser boasted about sabotaging people’s careers

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