Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterSeptember 14, 2016

Mike Pence will address Florida Republicans in October. The Republican Party of Florida announced Wednesday that Pence, the Republican vice presidential nominee and the governor of Indiana, is scheduled to speak at the 2016 Victory Dinner Oct. 15 at the Hilton Downtown Tampa. “We eagerly await the powerful conservative message of victory to more than […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 13, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump have a number of things in common. One of them: deciding to have Susie Wiles, the legendary Jacksonville political operative, in key campaign roles. Wiles ran Scott’s 2010 campaign, and now she has taken command of Trump’s Florida campaign, which thus far has lacked key components, such as field […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 29, 2016

After a busy primary season for Susie Wiles, including a leadership role in “Yes for Jacksonville” and serving as a media liaison to Democratic congressional candidate Al Lawson, Wiles’ next move will be serving as a communications adviser to Donald Trump. Wiles, the Florida co-chair for Trump’s primary campaign, will function in a “battleground communications” role, reports The Washington Post. […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 19, 2016

After a debate Thursday night that focused on Corrine Brown and her legal issues, Congressional District 5 Democrat Al Lawson had to address issues of his own in the post-debate presser. Specifically, $14,000 in money from political committees since July 1 — many of which, such as U.S. Sugar, Associated Builders and Contractors, and I-PAC Jax … line up almost exclusively behind […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 18, 2016

Florida’s Congressional District 5 has seemed to be the tale of two districts: Jacksonville — and “North Florida” out west. It’s been assumed Corrine Brown, no matter the strengths of her primary opponent Al Lawson, would carry Duval County, compelling Lawson to stack votes out west. However, an internal poll from Lawson’s camp shows that, since Brown’s indictment, Lawson […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 3, 2016

Running the risk of courting controversy with the local press, and perhaps some friction with Democrats and independents ahead of the Aug. 30 pension tax referendum, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry served as master of ceremonies at the Donald Trump rally Wednesday in front of a crowd of roughly 8,000 Trump supporters, which filled out further after his portion […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 23, 2016

Katie Schoettler and Jenny Busby go way back. Specifically, to the same kindergarten class. Schoettler emerged into adulthood as a Republican, working for people like Aaron Bean and John Thrasher; Busby, as a Democrat who worked for the Florida Democratic Party. Despite that difference in party label, their paths have paralleled. Both women work as assistants to members of the […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 10, 2016

In the race to replace termed-out Lake Ray in Florida’s House District 12, it looks increasingly more like Clay Yarborough will emerge from the scrum for the GOP nomination in the heavily Republican Jacksonville district. Yarborough has been consistent: through seven months of fundraising, he has brought in $74,445. In May, the former Jacksonville City Council president […]

A.G. GancarskiJune 9, 2016

Alas, there were no slot machines in the Lynwood Roberts Room for demonstration purposes. None of the earmarks of a casino. No young women selling packs of cigarettes. And very little in the way of entertainment in a committee workshop that had about as much drama as an algebra equation. Rather, there were just the familiar […]

A.G. GancarskiMay 18, 2016

Is Jacksonville ready for slot machines? bestbet, the Jacksonville-based gambling concern, believes so. Tia Mitchell reported in the Florida Times-Union Wednesday that “Legislation has been filed with the Jacksonville City Council to put a referendum on the November ballot on whether to authorize slot machines at bestbet’s facility in Arlington.” The bill, filed Wednesday by Councilman Aaron […]

Tag: Susie Wiles

Mike Pence to address Florida GOP Victory dinner in October

Rick Scott lauds Donald Trump’s choice of Susie Wiles to run Florida campaign

Susie Wiles takes on communications adviser role with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign

Democrat Al Lawson downplays GOP donor interest in his CD 5 campaign

Al Lawson outlines his path to victory over Corrine Brown

Lenny Curry serves as master of ceremonies on the Trump Train

‘Future Leaders of Jax Coalition’ pushes pension tax to young voters

Clay Yarborough maintains money lead in HD 12 GOP race

Jax Council committees workshop slots legislation

bestbet bet on 10 of 19 Jacksonville City Council members last election