Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 28, 2018

As the campaign heats up in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, Congressman Al Lawson, facing a primary challenge from former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, will have reinforcements on the ground in Duval County. Primary among them: Darren Mason, who is a former Duval Democrats vice-chair, former assistant to Jacksonville City Councilwoman Joyce Morgan and a current at-large council candidate. Lawson, whose […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 21, 2018

The Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, a scrum between the Tallahassee incumbent Al Lawson and former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown, looks to be a test of whether Duval Democrats can take back the district against Lawson, a genial career politician with friends on both sides of the aisle. The battle has been one of dueling […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 13, 2018

In an unprecedented move, the Florida AFL-CIO waded into the Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, endorsing challenger Alvin Brown over incumbent Rep. Al Lawson. Per an official statement, the endorsement came down to Brown’s record. “Our members and their families in Jacksonville saw Mayor Brown’s commitment to the fundamental economic issues we care about,” said Mike […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 29, 2018

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson was in Jacksonville Tuesday for a town hall, as he looks to repel a challenge in the Democratic primary from another moderate who hasn’t been afraid to blur party lines in former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. The question this campaign for Lawson: can he parlay incumbency and a primary opponent who […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 28, 2018

Earlier in May, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson insisted his fundraising for re-election in Florida’s 5th Congressional District was on track. This despite reasons for skepticism, related to sluggish fundraising and a high burn rate. As of the end of March, the first-term Tallahassee Democrat’s campaign had just under $160,000 on hand — roughly half of the […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 24, 2018

A lull in the media releases in the Democratic primary in Florida’s 5th Congressional District ended Thursday, with Alvin Brown pillorying Rep. Al Lawson for voting with Republicans on a Donald Trump approved bill that would undo much of the Dodd-Frank protections instituted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Only 33 Democrats voted for the Dodd-Frank […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 15, 2018

Former Jacksonville Mayor and current 5th Congressional District Democratic hopeful Alvin Brown became the first and so far only North Florida candidate this cycle to laud the beginning of Ramadan. In a statement released Tuesday morning, Brown lauded the beginning of the month-long celebration, while decrying discrimination against American Muslims. “At sunset, Muslims in my district […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 14, 2018

U.S. Rep. Al Lawson hinted earlier this month about a swath of endorsements from his Florida Democratic colleagues in Congress. On Monday he delivered. In total, eight endorsements came his way: U.S. Reps. Darren Soto, Val Demings. Charlie Crist, Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel, Ted Deutch, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Frederica Wilson. “I am humbled to receive […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 3, 2018

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Al Lawson talked to Jacksonville media about his congressional campaign against former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. Lawson and Brown both qualified this week, setting up a primary election that matches up a Tallahassee politician against a Jacksonville pol in the race for the Democratic nomination in Florida’s sprawling 5th Congressional District. Lawson said […]

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 […]

Tag: Florida’s 5th Congressional District

Jacksonville City Council candidate to shore up Al Lawson’s Duval campaign

East versus West dynamic still evident in Alvin Brown, Al Lawson race

AFL-CIO ‘playing politics’ with Alvin Brown endorsement, claims Al Lawson camp

In Jacksonville, Al Lawson tries to score wins on Alvin Brown’s turf

Tallahassee supporters hosting fundraiser for Al Lawson on Thursday

Alvin Brown slams Al Lawson for voting for Trump-backed Dodd/Frank rollback bill

Alvin Brown lauds Ramadan, decries anti-Muslim discrimination

Florida congressional Democrats fall in behind Al Lawson’s re-election bid

Al Lawson confident in campaign against ‘failed’ Alvin Brown

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