Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 7, 2019

In a move that may or may not lend credence to rumors that he is running for Jacksonville Mayor in 2019, Democratic City Councilman Garrett Dennis demanded a tranche of records from Republican Mayor Lenny Curry last month. Dennis wanted “expedited attention” for his request for information, including secondary employment forms for mayor’s office employees, non-payroll payments to city […]

Guest AuthorNovember 26, 2018

The moment she figured it out, Melinda Fryman’s face fell. It was the look anyone who has watched Wile E. Coyote sprint over a cliff just when he thought he had finally caught the Road Runner would recognize. A few seconds of silence followed that felt like an eternity in the cramped room, surrounded by the Canvassing Board, […]

Drew WilsonOctober 16, 2018

The Ron DeSantis campaign has added a plethora of high-power politicos for the closing weeks of the race for Florida Governor, including reinforcements in campaign communications and political consulting. Under the leadership of Susie Wiles, who helmed Donald Trump’s Florida campaign two years ago, Team DeSantis has added numerous campaign veterans. Wiles started bringing on […]

Drew WilsonAugust 4, 2018

Gonzalez Republican Rebekah Bydlak turned in another $10,000 finance report Friday, adding to her already immense lead over former Republican Rep. Mike Hill in the race for House District 1. After tacking on another $10,300 in contributions, Bydlak has now raised $168,300 for her state House run, more than triple the tally of Hill, who […]

Drew WilsonMay 8, 2018

The political committee backing a ballot amendment to make a 10 percent cap on annual non-homestead property tax increases permanent brought in another $200,000 in April. Amendment 2 is for Everybody raised that cash with a single contribution from The Florida Association of Realtors, which has now funded the committee to the tune of $660,000 […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2018

On Friday, WJCT broke the news that “Data Targeting, Inc., a Gainesville firm that worked to elect Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, conducted a focus group study in late February asking participants whether they support selling municipal utility JEA.” The claim was that “a private group of investors” who are “nonpartisan” were paying for the focus group, which saw participants […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2018

As the race to succeed Pam Bondi for Attorney General heats up on the Republican side, a political committee associated with a candidate (Pensacola Rep. Frank White) is dishing dirt about the candidate, Ashley Moody, endorsed by Bondi. United Conservatives, a committee that has received $50,000 from White’s employer (“Sansing Holdings”) and spent money in December with Data Targeting, […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 10, 2017

Budget meetings of the Jacksonville City Council Finance Committee were rocked in August by a well-timed poll from the political committee of Sheriff Mike Williams. The poll, released to make the case that Jacksonville voters backed Mayor Lenny Curry in his push for 100 new police officers, was rare, in that Council members called it out as […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 4, 2016

“Families for Safety and Prosperity,” the political committee marketing a referendum to add slot machines to bestbet Jacksonville, added $50,000 more to what was already a $2 million war chest on Thursday. The final number of $2,050,000 all came from one source: an affiliate company of bestbet, Jacksonville Greyhound Racing. The extra $50,000 came in handy, as […]

Peter SchorschOctober 17, 2016

Here’s how I know our reporters and I are covering the race for Florida’s 13th Congressional District as it should be covered. On Wednesday, Charlie Crist‘s wife, former first lady Carole Crist, expressed her displeasure with a story from September about a poll that showed Republican David Jolly leading Crist by three points. Even though I explained […]

Tag: Data Targeting
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Big price tag for Garrett Dennis’ oppo dig on Lenny Curry

Matt Mitchell: Be like Melinda

All hands on deck: Ron DeSantis campaign staffs up for final sprint

Rebekah Bydlak increases fundraising lead in HD 1 Republican primary

‘Amendment 2 is for Everybody’ gets another $200K from Florida Realtors

JEA privatization focus group not funded by Lenny Curry’s political operation

AG race attack: Frank White committee targets ‘liberal judge’ Ashley Moody

Controversial poll highlights Jacksonville Sheriff’s Sept. cmte. spending

Jacksonville slots referendum push finishes with $2.05M raised

What to make of all the polling in the David Jolly vs. Charlie Crist race