Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 17, 2016

The Carlos Lopez-Cantera Senate campaign has talked a lot about the grassroots being its path to the nomination. In Jacksonville at least, that’s true. Two prominent Republican Party of Duval County leaders are members of the CLC Grassroots Leadership Team: Committeeman Alexander Pantinakis and Vice Chairwoman Karyn Morton. It’s important to note they are supporting CLC as […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2015

The Republican Party of Duval County elected Lake Ray III as its new party chair last night. Obviously, the majority of the party believes that’s a good thing. Joining those voices: former mayoral candidate and two-term City Councilman, Bill Bishop, who contrasted the new chair with the old one. “Robin presided over a very divisive period for […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

For the second time in less than a year, the Duval County Republican Party has a new chairman. Lake Ray III defeated Vice Chairwoman Karyn Morton 101 to 78 after the culmination of a process full of color, drama, and intrigue. Morton, who became vice chairwoman in 2014 (and acting chairwoman after Robin Lumb resigned for a Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 17, 2015

There are no polls, as far as I know, in the all-important Duval County Republican Executive Committee race. But based on an email going around this weekend, it’s fair to assume that state Rep. Lake Ray III might have the inside track in Monday night’s election. With the party poised to pick its third chairman […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 24, 2015

The first thing you would have seen walking into the Salem Center for the Monday Duval County Republican Executive Committee meeting would have been Raymond Johnson. You couldn’t have missed him. He stood directly across from the glass doors, with a poster board and a petition opposing Jack Webb, a candidate for GOP chair,. Objecting […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 20, 2015

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The crowded field of Duval GOP chair candidates may get more crowded soon, as term-limited Representative Lake Ray has been “looking at running over the course of the last several weeks” and is “likely to step into this thing.” Rep. Ray sees his candidacy as a “chance to build unity in the party.” and he is […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 16, 2015

One of the livelier stories of the #jaxpol week has been the ongoing saga of the REC chairman position. The week started with Property Appraiser Jerry Holland entering the race. Not long thereafter, a few insider types made the case that Holland’s candidacy was no sure thing. Holland then responded to the anonymous critics, some of whom […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 15, 2015

Since Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland announced his ambitions to be Duval Republican Executive Committee chairman, there have been two distinct types of reaction. The public reaction has been almost unanimous support. On Holland’s Facebook page, the recurring theme among comments is that Holland, who restored the credibility of the Duval County supervisor of elections office, […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 14, 2015

On Monday evening, Acting Chairwoman of the Duval County Republican Party Karyn Morton confirmed she will be running for a full term, against two better-known candidates. They’re Property Appraiser Jerry Holland and (according to multiple sources) former one-term Councilman Jack Webb, a smooth, well-connected politician who nonetheless lost a contentious race in 2011 to Matt […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 13, 2015

Even before Florida Politics broke the news regarding Duval County Property Appraiser Jerry Holland running for Duval County Republican Party chairman, there apparently was a persistent whisper campaign about his move. Now that the move is a matter of public record, some people still aren’t talking … at least, not on the record to Florida Politics. Robin Lumb, […]

Duval GOP leaders line up behind Carlos Lopez-Cantera for U.S. Senate

Alex Pantinakis disappointed in Bill Bishop REC Chair comments

Lake Ray new Duval GOP chairman; Lindsey Brock treasurer

One last bit of intrigue in Duval GOP chairman race

Civil war in the Duval GOP? Or business as usual?

Lake Ray mulls run for Duval GOP Chair

As Jack Webb mulls run, Duval REC chairman election pushed to August

Jerry Holland addresses anonymous critics

Karyn Morton confirms run for Duval GOP chair

Becoming Duval GOP chair no sure thing for Jerry Holland