Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

A.G. GancarskiAugust 30, 2017

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry hasn’t suffered many political setbacks during his two years occupying the fourth floor of City Hall. But on Tuesday — for the first time since Sen. Marco Rubio‘s presidential dreams were incinerated at Florida ballot boxes almost 18 months prior — Curry’s allies suffered losses (mayoral races in Atlantic Beach and St. Petersburg) […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 22, 2017

In what has become a tradition in Jacksonville politics, a well-timed poll dropped Monday, just days before the City Council had a big decision to make. A difference this time: instead of dropping from the political committee of Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, it came from “A Safe Jacksonville,” the political committee of Sheriff Mike Williams. The poll […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 1, 2017

Despite facing challenges, state Rep. Jay Fant‘s position regarding the GOP primary for Attorney General is simply put as “AG or bust.” This leaves a void in the House District 15 race for 2018. And it appears the invisible primary is all but over as local establishment favorite Wyman Duggan is poised to enter. “After much encouragement […]

A.G. GancarskiApril 13, 2017

Jacksonville Republican Ron Salem has never served on the Jacksonville City Council. Yet he has attended recent meetings on pension reform and the opioid crisis — showing the kind of real interest and engagement that separate him from other candidates, both those who have declared and those teasing a run. Also demonstrating interest and engagement: Salem’s […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 23, 2017

4th Circuit State Attorney Melissa Nelson rode into office wearing a white dress, surfing on a wave of hagiography, balanced on a board constructed on a sturdy narrative of collective anathema toward Angela Corey. For many of those who voted for her, the job was accomplished when Corey was defeated in August by a blowout […]

A.G. GancarskiDecember 28, 2016

Subpoenas with a side of sauce. That’s one way to sum up the year. In Jacksonville politics, 2016 started with subpoenas being delivered to Rep. Corrine Brown and her clique at a barbecue place on the Northside. And it ended with a raid on Councilwoman Katrina Brown’s familial barbecue sauce plant on the Westside. Katrina […]

A.G. GancarskiNovember 11, 2016

A Republican lawyer with an interest in Second Amendment rights. A GOP UPS HR manager who, when president of the Jacksonville City Council, led a quixotic effort to remove a nude photograph from the city’s Museum of Contemporary Art. And who fought against the appointment of a university professor to the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission. […]

Peter SchorschNovember 10, 2016

Tuesday’s slate of general elections in Florida certainly provided a list of winners and losers, and I’m not just talking about the candidates. Here is my list of the real winners and losers coming out of Election Day. Winners Rick Scott — The Naples Republican was an early backer of the president-elect, comparing Trump’s rise to his own 2010 gubernatorial […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 21, 2016

“Families for Safety and Prosperity,” the state political committee organized to sell the Jacksonville referendum allowing slots at the bestbet location near Regency Mall, had a very good week between Oct. 8 and 14. A million-dollar week, to be exact. The pro-slots committee raised $1 million with two $500,000 checks from Jacksonville Greyhound Racing on Oct. 11 and […]

A.G. GancarskiOctober 12, 2016

Some things don’t change in Jacksonville. Just as was the case before August’s County Referendum 1, an overwhelmingly approved vote that allows the city to extend a current half-cent sales tax to address the unfunded pension liability, there is a November County Referendum 1 also. The first mailer selling the slots vote looks just like the […]

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Elizabeth Martinez Strauss. Image via campaign.

Lenny Curry’s 0-for-2 Tuesday

Why Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams is playing political hardball

Wyman Duggan enters HD 15 race as instant establishment favorite

Jax City Council hopeful Ron Salem posts big March numbers

‘Tough but fair’ approach guides Melissa Nelson’s reform path

Subpoenas with a side of sauce: The 10 biggest #JaxPol stories of 2016

Election turnover brings real change to Duval Delegation

A rundown of the real winners and losers from Florida’s general election

$1M week of fundraising for Jacksonville slots committee

Pro-slots political committee gears up in Jacksonville