Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonOctober 16, 2018

The Ron DeSantis campaign has added a plethora of high-power politicos for the closing weeks of the race for Florida Governor, including reinforcements in campaign communications and political consulting. Under the leadership of Susie Wiles, who helmed Donald Trump’s Florida campaign two years ago, Team DeSantis has added numerous campaign veterans. Wiles started bringing on […]

Staff ReportsOctober 12, 2018

As poet, novelist and pop culture icon William S. Burroughs once noted: “Control needs control to control.” That observation holds in all hierarchical structures, especially politics, and particularly after voting begins. In a typically Republican area like Northeast Florida, recent history shows it’s been rare to see so many competitive races as we are seeing […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2018

With four weeks before the primary, Republican gubernatorial nominee Ron DeSantis brought on yet another seasoned hand for his campaign’s stretch run. Florida Politics learned Monday evening that operative Tim Baker joined the campaign last week in a senior leadership role, offering strategic and political guidance. Baker, one of a series of recent staff moves in DeSantis […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 21, 2018

On Friday, WJCT broke the news that “Data Targeting, Inc., a Gainesville firm that worked to elect Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, conducted a focus group study in late February asking participants whether they support selling municipal utility JEA.” The claim was that “a private group of investors” who are “nonpartisan” were paying for the focus group, which saw participants […]

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 […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2018

Orange County mayoral candidate Rob Panepinto announced several additions to his campaign team Thursday, with key figures for strategy, communications, fundraising, and grassroots organization. “As a first-time candidate for office, I am incredibly proud of the powerhouse team we have built,” Panepinto, a Winter Park businessman and former leader of the Orlando area chamber of […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 22, 2018

The long-awaited competitive Republican primary in Jacksonville’s House District 15 is now a reality, with yacht broker Mark Zeigler entering the race Thursday. Incumbent Jay Fant is currently running for Attorney General. Zeigler’s rationale for running: “We need more people who understand the impact that the rules made in Tallahassee have on our small businesses. Every time a […]

A.G. GancarskiFebruary 1, 2018

As the race to succeed Pam Bondi for Attorney General heats up on the Republican side, a political committee associated with a candidate (Pensacola Rep. Frank White) is dishing dirt about the candidate, Ashley Moody, endorsed by Bondi. United Conservatives, a committee that has received $50,000 from White’s employer (“Sansing Holdings”) and spent money in December with Data Targeting, […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 9, 2017

To the surprise of no one plugged into Jacksonville politics, Neptune Beach City Councilor Rory Diamond is making a play for the Jacksonville City Council. Diamond launched his campaign this week to replace termed-out Bill Gulliford in District 13, after setting up a political committee (“For the Beaches”) that will offer help as needed. Diamond, an […]

A.G. GancarskiSeptember 5, 2017

There are two types of Jacksonville City Council candidates currently filed for the Spring 2019 elections. One type is the populist; their fundraising is minimal and their rhetoric brims with assurances that he or she will bring new voters to the polls by dint of charisma and word of mouth. The other type is the […]

Tag: Tim Baker

All hands on deck: Ron DeSantis campaign staffs up for final sprint

Jacksonville Bold for 10.12.18 — Control needing control

Ron DeSantis campaign brings in operative Tim Baker for final stretch

JEA privatization focus group not funded by Lenny Curry’s political operation

Darren Mason launches Jacksonville City Council run

Rob Panepinto announces picks filling out Orange County mayoral campaign team

Mark Ziegler becomes second Republican to enter race to replace Jay Fant in HD 15

AG race attack: Frank White committee targets ‘liberal judge’ Ashley Moody

Rory Diamond puts Beaches first in 2019 Jax City Council bid

Randy DeFoor: Instant frontrunner in race for District 14 seat on Jacksonville City Council?