Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsAugust 10, 2018

We’ve hit the stretch of the primary season; where the money is being spent, not raised. Where ads are cut, and voters engaged. And where candidates know if they are still in the game. No one comes out and says “well, it looks over.” But losing candidates seem different. We saw it with Adam Putnam, […]

Staff ReportsAugust 3, 2018

For political watchers, August offers an embarrassment of riches in this market. A number of competitive and contested primaries, including one open Democratic primary and a citywide race for tax collector. Not to mention the state races, including one competitive primary for governor and one that appears to be all but decided. For those keeping […]

Staff ReportsJuly 27, 2018

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry stirred things up on Twitter this week, essentially declaring total war against his electoral competition. “Same s%#t different place. Elected office is loaded w/amateurs. Folks w/no ability to implement ideas. Many are full of empty rhetoric & a false sense of self. They survive on the bottom w cheap talk. We will retire some […]

Staff ReportsJuly 20, 2018

In this market, we periodically hear remarks about fundraising reports. Often, people seek publicity for candidates who do not have the slightest interest in raising money. It’s hard for media to garner interest in a candidate who has no clue on how to target (or even reach) a constituency. Others wonder why there are so […]

Staff ReportsJuly 13, 2018

Next week, the new Jacksonville City Council year begins, and we will (likely) see two new additions. The names of Terrance Freeman and Ju’Coby Pittman were leaked Monday to the Jacksonville Daily Record, many hours ahead of the Governor’s official announcement. Someone, for some reason, made the decision to advance the message. Historically the Governor’s […]

Staff ReportsJuly 6, 2018

After a brief sabbatical, Bold is back. The campaign season — local state House and Senate races and special elections, and statewide battles — is in full swing. Competitive races abound up and down the ballot, along with more than a few cakewalks. Since we took our break, we’ve also seen a new Jacksonville City […]

Staff ReportsJune 8, 2018

Two of our top stories this week deal with primary battles for Congressional seats. They are interesting for what is said — and what is not. Mike Waltz is pushing fellow Republican John Ward to withdraw from the race in Florida’s 6th Congressional District. Waltz, like many across the political spectrum, believe that Ward saying that recent Puerto […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Tag: Duval County
Image via AP.

Jacksonville Bold for 8.10.18 — Contenders, pretenders

Jacksonville Bold for 8.3.18 — Home stretch

Jacksonville Bold for 7.27.18 — Same s**t, different place

Jacksonville Bold for 7.20.18 — Cash is king.

Jacksonville Bold for 7.13.18 — Media mutters

Jacksonville Bold for 7.6.18 — Fireworks or fizzle?

Jacksonville Bold for 6.8.18 — Tribal warfare

Jacksonville Bold for 6.1.18 — Signs and symbols

Jacksonville Bold for 5.25.18 — Game theory

Jacksonville Bold for 5.18.18 — Relationship business