Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiJune 27, 2018

For at least the third time in three years, former Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Bishop has changed his electoral focus for the 2019 municipal election cycle. In 2015, Bishop vowed he would run for Mayor next year. A Republican, he endorsed Democrat Alvin Brown with the idea the seat would be open. By 2017, Bishop was in […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 11, 2018

May offered more of the same in the Jacksonville City Council at-large race to succeed termed-out Democrat John Crescimbeni. Namely, Republican Ron Salem continued his monetary domination of the field, which includes 2015 Republican mayoral hopeful Bill Bishop and Duval Democratic party official Darren Mason. Salem brought in $4,650 in May from nine donations, pushing him up over $156,000 […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 7, 2018

When then-Jacksonville City Councilman Bill Bishop finished a strong third in the 2015 mayor’s race, the Republican vowed that he would run for Mayor again, before endorsing Democrat Alvin Brown over the eventual Republican winner, Lenny Curry. Both the early declaration of a mayoral re-do and the cross-party endorsement of Brown seemed like a safe bet at the […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 16, 2018

Jacksonville City Council fundraising is picking up, less than a year before the March election. Below are ten insights (in no hierarchical order) into trends we are seeing in local races. —- Ron Salem holds serve: In the now-three-way race between Republicans Ron Salem and Bill Bishop and recently-filed Democrat Darren Mason in At Large […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 7, 2018

The money chase in the Jacksonville City Council at-large group 2 race continues to go Republican Ron Salem‘s way. February saw Salem clear $150,000 cash on hand between hard money and lucre in his “Moving Jacksonville Forward” political committee. Salem brought in $6,800 in new money to his campaign account in February, despite a $1,000 refund […]

A.G. GancarskiMarch 1, 2018

Darren Mason, a former assistant to Jacksonville City Councilwoman Joyce Morgan, is the first Democrat to jump into the 2019 At Large Group 2 race for City Council. He said he would file on March 1; we interviewed him ahead of time. Unlike what is the case with some fields in Council races, Mason comes […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 13, 2018

Local Jacksonville candidates continue fundraising for the 2019 elections, and a leit motif is the relative uncompetitiveness of cash dashes thus far. The carnage starts in the race for Sheriff, where new entry Tony Cummings sputtered in his first campaign finance report, bringing in an anemic $525. That’s a car payment, but not nearly enough to […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2018

With qualifying now in the rearview mirror, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s JAXBIZ political arm finished rolling out its 2019 endorsements. The third and final wave of endorsements included one incumbent for re-election: Republican Al Ferraro, of District 2. District 10 incumbent Republican Terrance Freeman was also backed in his bid in At-Large Group 1 (over Lisa King, […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 12, 2017

November fundraising in 2019 Jacksonville local races saw resource gaps widen between candidates in competitive races. — Believe in Bill?: In At Large Group 2, where Republican Ron Salem faces fellow Republican, former Mayoral hopeful and two-term Councilman Bill Bishop, Salem’s lead grew last month. Salem raised $9,350 in his ninth month in the race, with donations from […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 30, 2017

When the Jacksonville media finally begins paying attention to 2019 City Council races, bet that the at-large contest between Bill Bishop and Ron Salem will feature. It has to. Though media turnover on the television side necessarily dictates many TV reporters won’t remember Bishop’s audacious play for mayor in 2015 (an underfunded run that nonetheless garnered 17 […]

Tag: Ron Salem
TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 4/18/25-Candles and remembrances are left near the Unconquered statue a few hours after the Florida State University Gathering of Unity Vigil held Friday to honor victims of the recent mass shooting. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

Bill Bishop switches to district race for Jacksonville City Council; Joyce Morgan likely foe

Ron Salem maintains money edge in Jacksonville City Council bid

Bill Bishop continues to bellyflop in Jacksonville City Council race fundraising

Politics and checkbooks: Fundraising trends in Jax City Council races

Ron Salem clears $150K on hand in Jacksonville Council race

Darren Mason launches Jacksonville City Council run

Lopsided money races continue in Jacksonville city campaigns

JAXBIZ finalizes Jacksonville City Council slate

In Jacksonville local races, fundraising gaps widened in November

Will money decide the Bill Bishop Vs. Ron Salem race for Jax City Council?