Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiDecember 30, 2015

In Jacksonville politics in 2015, the game changed … perhaps for good. Big money went into campaigns: over $10 million, including soft money, in the mayoral race. Close to $2 million in the sheriff’s race. And even some City Council candidates who raised close to a quarter of a million dollars did so in vain. […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 23, 2015

At the NO-FLAC forum in Northwest Jacksonville on Tuesday night, State Attorney Angela Corey and her 2016 opponent, Wes White, had a memorable interaction The panelists faced a moderator’s question regarding what their oaths were about, which elicited an interesting response from White, which essentially baited Corey into a heated reply. White asserted that for a lawyer, the pursuit […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 3, 2015

Almost up until the May election, it looked like Democrat Ken Jefferson had a real shot at being elected Jacksonville sheriff. The runoff between Jefferson and Republican Mike Williams was pitched with accusations and counterattacks. After his defeat, Jefferson gave a speech about when a candidate has to resort to “nasty ugly rhetoric to get into office, […]

Phil AmmannMay 19, 2015

In the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office runoff, it may have been interesting, and at times there was suspense, but Mike Williams began the evening with the lead, and never really left. Williams, a Republican who recieved a number of high-profile endorsements in the race, overtook Democrat Ken Jefferson early on to win 52 to 48 percent, according to the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website. Williams now replaces […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 19, 2015

With just hours to go in the Jacksonville sheriff’s race, both Ken Jefferson and Mike Williams have been pulling out all the stops. On Monday, Florida Politics heard from someone familiar with Jefferson camp’s thinking that there has been a barrage of robocalls on behalf of Williams. On Tuesday, Jefferson took to Facebook to make his complaints about robocalls […]

Melissa RossMay 19, 2015

Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford has been a vocal critic of Mayor Alvin Brown and a supporter of his hand-picked successor Mike Williams in the Jacksonville mayor and sheriff’s races. Tuesday morning though, Rutherford turned an eye toward the next election cycle, revealing for the first time his next move as he leaves the Jacksonville […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 19, 2015

Released on Monday evening, the last St. Pete’s Poll assessment of the Jacksonville mayor and sheriff’s races tells everyone with a stake in the game to get ready for a long Election Night. The mayor’s race between incumbent Alvin Brown and Republican Lenny Curry, as well as the sheriff’s race between Ken Jefferson and Mike Williams, are both too close […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 16, 2015

The polls between Alvin Brown and Lenny Curry keep bouncing around within the margin of error; appropriate, given that their campaigns have been messaging to two different Jacksonvilles in many ways. That’s not their fault. Since consolidation, Jacksonville has always been a city with pretty obvious fault lines, and the smart money is on a 51/49 election. […]

Melissa RossMay 15, 2015

They’ve participated in dozens of forums together over a long and, at times, bitterly fought campaign. Thursday night’s televised debate was the final bout between Jacksonville sheriff candidates Ken Jefferson and Mike Williams, with both men looking to land a roundhouse or two before the Tuesday runoff election. The debate, held on the FSCJ South […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 14, 2015

As of early Thursday afternoon, nearly 82,000 votes had been cast so far in the Jacksonville runoff election. The Democrats have about a 1,000-vote lead in raw turnout. The polls are all over the place. Internal polls have Lenny Curry up by as many as 6 points, and other polls have Alvin Brown up by a […]

Tag: Ken Jefferson
Last time this happened, the Earth got plants. Image via Popular Science.

A.G. Gancarski’s Top 10 stories of 2015 in Jacksonville politics

Wes White, Angela Corey spar at NW Jax forum

Ken Jefferson discusses Mike Williams, plans

Last-minute push helps Mike Williams win Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office runoff

Jacksonville Sheriff’s race is interesting to the end

Sheriff John Rutherford confirms he’s running for Ron DeSantis seat

Poll: on Election Eve, Jax mayor and sheriff races too close to call

Optimism abounds in Jacksonville mayoral campaigns in home stretch

Jax sheriff candidates enter ring for final round of debate

Could 3rd Jax mayoral debate decide election?