Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Scott PowersMay 9, 2018

Two Florida former top cops now in Congress — Republican U.S. Rep. John Rutherford of Jacksonville and Democratic U.S. Rep. Val Demings of Orlando — are teaming up to make it an additional federal crime for criminals to attack law enforcement officers. Rutherford sponsored and Demings co-sponsored House Resolution 5698, which they dubbed the “Protect and […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 4, 2018

Florida Congressional cosponsors abound for the National Park Service Legacy Act, a bill that would fund solutions to $11.6 billion in deferred maintenance at national parks. The bill has had a subcommittee hearing on the House side, and a committee referral on the Senate side, so there’s still a long way to go for the legislation. […]

Staff ReportsMay 4, 2018

Congressional candidates finish qualifying this week, setting the stage for a 3+ month sprint to nominations. Virtually every Congressional incumbent, save John Rutherford, will face a primary. Ted Yoho faces nominal competition for what could be his final term; Al Lawson faces more than a symbolic challenge in the form of Alvin Brown in Congressional District 5. We are a few weeks […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 30, 2018

Popular Northeast Florida Republican Congressmen John Rutherford and Ted Yoho, heavy favorites for re-election, have qualified for the 2018 ballot. Rutherford, whose district encompasses Nassau, Duval, and northern St. Johns Counties, has $300,000 in the bank for his re-election campaign. Jacksonville candidates Joceline Berrios and Monica DePaul, as well as Ponte Vedra businessman George Selmont, comprise the three candidates from the […]

Staff ReportsApril 27, 2018

Lately, Jacksonville politics has been fractious. A debate over JEA privatization, a hot-button topic for months, saw the culmination of claims and cross-claims of lies, betrayals, subterfuge and deception before Mayor Lenny Curry pulled the plug Thursday. As the political season approaches, locals may want to take a cue from gubernatorial candidate Adam Putnam, who made yet another […]

Staff ReportsApril 20, 2018

In Jacksonville, tales of the next year of elections have just begun. In this edition: congressional fundraising. For those needing a guide to both contenders and pretenders, a look at the money (months before voters cast ballots) will tell that tale. Down the page, our story on City Council fundraising. Some candidates who are not […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 17, 2018

Odds are long for any Democrat running against U.S. Rep. John Rutherford in the Republican sinecure that is Florida’s 4th Congressional District. Rutherford, a former three-term Jacksonville sheriff, has $300,000 cash on hand and name identification to spare. Fundraising numbers are comparably modest for Jacksonville candidates Joceline Berrios and Monica DePaul, as well as Ponte Vedra businessman George Selmont. Berrios […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 16, 2018

Rep. John Rutherford, the Jacksonville Republican representing Florida’s 4th Congressional District, now has $300,000 in the bank for his re-election campaign. Rutherford had not been aggressively fundraising before the just-concluded quarter. Rutherford ended 2017 with $183,748 on hand. Among interesting donors for Rutherford: Jacksonville donor Peter Rummell, who recently stated that he would only give […]

Staff ReportsApril 13, 2018

In campaigns, there is always a watershed moment when all the gauzy, aspirational rhetoric fades — like so many temporary tattoos — replaced by the hard realities of campaign finance and infrastructure. For races on the 2018 ballot, we are there — even if some candidates haven’t figured it out. If one is looking to […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 6, 2018

Jacksonville political veteran Matt Carlucci, a Republican running for City Council in At Large Group 4, became the first candidate this cycle to clear $250,000 raised. Carlucci, who seeks to return to Jacksonville’s legislative body, drew from a diverse group of contributors again in March, as he brought in over $29,000. Republicans, such as U.S. […]

Tag: john rutherford
Golf ball and golf club in bag on green grass

John Rutherford, Val Demings bill to add federal penalties for attacks on officers

Congressional remedy slow in coming for national parks funding shortfalls

Jacksonville Bold for 5.4.18 — Qualifying Week

John Rutherford, Ted Yoho qualify for re-election

Jacksonville Bold for 4.27.18 — Lessons learned

Jacksonville Bold for 4.20.18 — Can’t knock the hustle

Duval Democrats courted by congressional candidates

John Rutherford now has more than $300K for re-election bid

Jacksonville Bold for 4.13.18 — Infrastructure week

Matt Carlucci has now raised $250K for Jacksonville City Council bid