Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Staff ReportsNovember 16, 2018

A cottage industry among Northeast Florida political observers this year has revolved around the same question it did in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Did Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry go too far? In 2015, he capsized a popular Mayor. In 2016, he stumped for President Donald Trump and got pension reform through (which ticked off the […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 9, 2018

Florida elections saw in many respects a blue wave, as witnessed by three of the five state-level races on the ballot triggering recounts. However, that 50/50 tendency didn’t extend to every contested race. Exhibit A in that regard: Florida’s 6th Congressional District, the former fiefdom of Governor-elect (?) Ron DeSantis. Republican Mike Waltz, a Trump-endorsed former Green Beret […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 6, 2018

The high-profile race to replace Ron DeSantis in Congress involved two nationally known candidates and went down to the wire. Ultimately, the President picked the winner. And that winner won by double-digits Republican Mike Waltz, a former Green Beret and counterterrorism adviser to then-Vice President Dick Cheney, defeated Democrat Nancy Soderberg, a Clinton-era Ambassador to the United Nations. The race saw […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 3, 2018

Florida’s 6th Congressional District, most recently represented by Ron DeSantis, has become a swing district in the most recent election. Democrat Nancy Soderberg and Republican Mike Waltz have, between them, raised more than $5 million for this race in the Daytona-centric district. Soderberg alone hauled in more than $3 million. To the end, the candidates have been raising […]

Phil AmmannNovember 2, 2018

Election Day is in sight, in Northeast Florida and everywhere else, and we preview the competitive races, as well as the ones decided shortly after 7 p.m. Tuesday. For Jacksonville, a lot is riding on this. Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams invested real political capital in the gubernatorial campaign of Ron DeSantis. Win, […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 25, 2018

On Thursday afternoon, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence headlined a Jacksonville rally for Ron DeSantis. In what clearly was the Republican attempt to counter the appearance of former veep Joe Biden for the Democrats earlier this week, Pence’s arrival was another signal of how nationalized the race between DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum is. However, Duval Republicans seem to […]

Phil AmmannOctober 25, 2018

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Duval County is now a few days into early in-person voting, with the first of two Souls to the Polls weekends about to commence. Do Democrats feel lucky? It depends on who you ask. The Blue Wave that offered so much potential early on may or may not be a tsunami at this point. The […]

Jacob OglesOctober 24, 2018

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Cook Political Report delivered welcome news to Florida Democrats. The political handicappers there upgraded the chances of victory for Donna Shalala, Kristen Carlson and Nancy Soderberg. The biggest lift from the new Cook ratings may come for Carlson. Florida’s 15th Congressional District moves into the toss-up column. “This open seat has flown under the radar […]

Drew WilsonOctober 23, 2018

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Fresh off a strong fundraising quarter, former U.S. Ambassador Nancy Soderberg is out with a new ad touting her healthcare priorities in the race for Florida’s 6th Congressional District. The new ad, “Afford,” features one of the St. Augustine Democrat’s would-be constituents, Kay, explaining why she left the Republican Party to cast a ballot for […]

Staff ReportsOctober 19, 2018

Jacksonville’s political class, with a Republican Mayor and Sheriff, is betting on red this year, all in for Ron DeSantis for Governor. And if he wins, it will be another case of “Jax on the Rise.” Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams endorsed DeSantis before the August primary, as did Duval-adjacent legislators like Sen. […]

Tag: Mike Waltz
Kristen Arrington, Anna Eskamani, Jason Brodeur, Keith Truenow, David Smith, Geraldine Thompson at Tiger Bay. Image by Jacob Ogles

Jacksonville Bold for 11.16.18 — A very good year.

Special forces: How Mike Waltz defeated the national left

The President’s man: Mike Waltz to replace Ron DeSantis in Congress

The race to replace Ron DeSantis in Congress cost $5M

Jacksonville Bold for 11.2.18 — Can Jax afford Andrew Gillum?

Enthusiasm gap? Small Jacksonville crowd for Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis

Jacksonville Bold for 10.26.18 — It’s go time

Cook Political Report lifts Democratic House chances

New ad touts Nancy Soderberg’s bipartisan approach to healthcare

Jacksonville Bold for 10.19.18 — Betting on red