Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiNovember 8, 2017

Jacksonville’s House District 12 will see a competitive election next November between incumbent Republican Clay Yarborough and Democrat Tim Yost. Clearly not taking re-election for granted, Rep. Yarborough posted his strongest total since June: $21,750 of new October lucre. Big Pharma was a well represented interest group; $3,500 came from drug companies, including Pfizer and Merck. Local […]

Peter SchorschOctober 3, 2017

First it was Washington D.C., now it’s Europe. Ballard Partners, the Florida-based government affairs firm with strong ties to President Donald Trump, has formed an international strategic alliance with Alber & Geiger, a political lobbying powerhouse in the European Union, in efforts to leverage both firms’ governmental expertise in their respective countries. Ballard Partners is led […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 20, 2017

Some aspects of the hyperbolic version of pro-Trump nationalism that popped up during the 2016 campaign were Russian agitprop, per The Daily Beast Wednesday. The online report focuses on a specific substratum: Aug. 20, 2016 “Florida Goes Trump!” events staged by the “Being Patriotic” page, events which, per The Daily Beast, were billed as a “patriotic […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 19, 2017

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott was in Jacksonville for a job creation event. But national stories involving the President crowded out the gaggle. The big story: the subject of the stalled out movement to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. In recent months, Scott has played a pivotal role in attempts at healthcare reform, but […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 19, 2017

In Jacksonville Wednesday for a job creation event, Florida Gov. Rick Scott discussed a white-hot scandal that now has a Florida tie: meetings between Russians and Trump campaign members, either for the purposes of discussing adoption of Russian children or opposition research, depending on who you believe. Russians, including attorney Natalia Veselnitskaya, met with senior level representatives […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 16, 2017

ABC News reported Saturday evening that Lanny Wiles, the husband of Florida Trump Campaign Chair Susie Wiles, saved a seat for a Russian lawyer at the heart of the current scandal involving Russia, the President’s son, son-in-law, and campaign manager. “The husband of the former Florida chair of the Trump campaign obtained a front-row seat […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 27, 2017

It was only a year ago that candidate Al Lawson was being introduced to Jacksonville media by Susie Wiles, the chair of the Donald Trump Florida campaign. Lawson was presented as an alternative to the fiercely partisan Corrine Brown, and was lauded as someone willing to work across the aisle. However, incumbent Rep. Al Lawson is a different story, as […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 15, 2017

President Donald Trump barely carried Duval County in 2016. Yet, for Jacksonville power brokers, the Trump era has meant access to the White House. The most recent manifestation of that was just this week, as a JAX Chamber delegation was received by one of the more important people in Trump’s orbit: Omarosa Manigault. Manigault has a […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 31, 2017

With Jacksonville candidates mulling a challenge to Tallahassee Democrat Rep. Al Lawson in Florida’s 5th Congressional District, Lawson begins his fundraising in earnest June 1 with a fundraiser heavy on big names in the State Capital. Among those names: State Reps. Ramon Alexander and Lorraine Ausley; FSU basketball coach Leonard Hamilton; State Sen. Bill Montford; and Allison Tant, the most recent […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJanuary 31, 2017

Ballard Partners is extending its reach, announcing it is opening an office in Washington, D.C. Brian Ballard, the firm’s president, announced this week Ballard Partners has opened an office in the nation’s capital. The announcement comes just weeks after President Donald Trump, who Ballard supported, took the oath of office. “There is great enthusiasm with […]

Cash gap spreads in HD 12 clash

Ballard Partners forms strategic alliance with European lobbying firm Alber & Geiger

Report: Pro-Trump Florida ‘flash mobs’ were Russian fronts

Rick Scott to Congress: ‘Do your job,’ repeal and replace Obamacare

Rick Scott talks Russia scandal, Donald Trump Jr., Lanny Wiles

Former Florida Trump campaign chair Susie Wiles talks Russia scandal, ABC News story

Al Lawson fundraising off of ‘MEAN’ Trumpcare

For Jacksonville, Donald Trump means White House access

Al Lawson draws on Tallahassee base for first re-election fundraiser

Ballard Partners going national, opens D.C. office