Reporting on local and state politics, elections, legislation, and the leaders shaping policy in Jacksonville and Florida.
Featured image for “Atlantic Beach wants you to take a FlashVote survey instead of ranting on Facebook”
FlashVote is a platform used in more than 30 states. | FlashVote
13 hours ago

Atlantic Beach wants you to take a FlashVote survey instead of ranting on Facebook

The FlashVote platform is aimed at residents who can’t attend city meetings, with quick, anonymous surveys. Jacksonville and Atlantic Beaches…

Featured image for “Analysis | What a Democratic win on Jax City Council means for Duval County”
Jacksonville City Council member-elect Moné Holder. | File photo, Jacksonville Today
August 20, 2026

Analysis | What a Democratic win on Jax City Council means for Duval County

Democratic Candidate Mone Holder flipped an At-Large Jacksonville City Council seat held by a Republican for seven years.…

Featured image for “After major primary upsets, Florida Democrats prepare for uphill battle in November”
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. | Wilfredo Lee, AP
August 20, 2026

After major primary upsets, Florida Democrats prepare for uphill battle in November

Democratic leaders pledge to flip political power in Florida after 30 years of Republican governance.…

Featured image for “Here were the local contests decided outright on Election Day in August”
Duval County Democratic Party Chair Millie Leeds, (center) is flanked by Jacksonville City Council member-elect Moné Holder (left) and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon, following their victories on primary night, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 18, 2026

Here were the local contests decided outright on Election Day in August

From school board to judges and state Legislature, here were the winners on Election Day, Tuesday, Aug. 18.…

Featured image for “See how Northeast Florida voted for state and federal offices”
August 18, 2026

See how Northeast Florida voted for state and federal offices

Live results from Tuesday’s primary election for Congress, governor, the Florida Legislature and others.…

Featured image for “Jax mayor taps retired Florida Blue executive to return as chief of staff”
Darnell Smith, chief of staff for Mayor Donna Deegan, speaks during the city of Jacksonville's Black History Month celebration at City Hall on Feb, 27, 2024. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 10, 2026

Jax mayor taps retired Florida Blue executive to return as chief of staff

Darnell Smith is returning as chief of staff as Mayor Donna Deegan enters the final year of her first term.…

Featured image for “Q&A | Rep. Byron Donalds takes questions on ‘First Coast Connect’”
Rep. Byron Donalds is three-term member of Congress who is a Republican gubernatorial candidate. He spoke with "First Coast Connect" host Anne Schindler on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
August 3, 2026

Q&A | Rep. Byron Donalds takes questions on ‘First Coast Connect’

The Republican gubernatorial candidate discusses campaign finance, data centers, the environment and more.…

Featured image for “JEA may have under-collected water capacity fees by $55M, auditors say”
JEA headquarters is at 225 N. Pearl St. | Jacksonville Daily Record
July 27, 2026

JEA may have under-collected water capacity fees by $55M, auditors say

JEA officials and Jacksonville City Council auditors are working to determine if any of the unbilled fees can be recouped.…

Featured image for “Scott Wilson, past City Council president, to challenge Kevin Carrico in election”
Then-Jacksonville City Council President Scott Wilson speaks at a news conference Jan. 20, 2020. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Daily Record
July 24, 2026

Scott Wilson, past City Council president, to challenge Kevin Carrico in election

Scott Wilson retired from the Downtown Investment Authority and filed paperwork to run in City Council District 4.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County asks governor to remove commissioners charged with crimes”
St. Johns County Commissioners Sarah Arnold and Christian Whitehurst are criminally charged in connection with a fake voter guide scheme in 2024. | St. Johns County
July 22, 2026

St. Johns County asks governor to remove commissioners charged with crimes

Three members of the St. Johns County Commission took a no-confidence vote against their peers.…

Featured image for “Deegan plans 8 town hall meetings to discuss proposed city budget”
Mayor Donna Deegan, on stage at right, speaks at a town hall meeting on March 24, 2026, at Springfield Middle School. | City of Jacksonville
July 20, 2026

Deegan plans 8 town hall meetings to discuss proposed city budget

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan will meet with residents in August and September to discuss her budget priorities.…

Featured image for “Deegan’s $2B budget: public safety, affordable housing, and roads and bridges”
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, delivers her annual budget address Monday, July 20, 2026, with City Council President Nick Howland to her side. | Mike Mendenhall, Jacksonville Today
July 20, 2026

Deegan’s $2B budget: public safety, affordable housing, and roads and bridges

The mayor’s proposed budget is heavy on infrastructure and holds the tax millage rate steady.…

Featured image for “UNF poll finds mixed opinions on ballot issue to cut property taxes”
Ballot boxes at a voting booth. | Felix, rawpixel.com, stock.adobe.com
July 20, 2026

UNF poll finds mixed opinions on ballot issue to cut property taxes

Support was weaker when the poll explained that tax cuts could severely reduce public services.…

Featured image for “Democratic Senate race: Jacksonville progressive Angie Nixon vs. ret. Lt. Col. Alex Vindman”
Alex Vindman (left) and Angie Nixon (right) seek to become the first Democrat from Florida elected to the United States Senate in 14 years. | Submitted
July 20, 2026

Democratic Senate race: Jacksonville progressive Angie Nixon vs. ret. Lt. Col. Alex Vindman

Alex Vindman and Angie Nixon face off in the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Both hope to unseat Republican…

Featured image for “As AI grows, so does its influence on Florida politics”
Congressman Byron Donalds at an event April 8, 2025, celebrating heroic veterans across a Southwest Florida community. He is running for Florida governor in 2026.
July 20, 2026

As AI grows, so does its influence on Florida politics

From political spending to data center debates, here’s how AI is shaping politics in this election season.…

Featured image for “Monday is deadline to update voter registration for August primary”
A Florida voter registration form.
July 17, 2026

Monday is deadline to update voter registration for August primary

In addition to new Florida voters, people who want to switch their political party also have until Monday.…

Featured image for “Jacksonville Alphas provide voter information ahead of August primary”
Duval County Judge Group 13 candidate Marquita H. Green, left, and Duval County School Board, District 4 candidate Rhodesia “Rho” Butler, second from right, speak with members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. following a voter information seminar on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
July 15, 2026

Jacksonville Alphas provide voter information ahead of August primary

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. held a voter education forum to spur turnout ahead of the 2026 election season.…

Featured image for “Q&A | City Council president talks about spending, property taxes and Cecil Airport”
Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland takes the oath of office June 26, 2026, during an installation ceremony at City Hall. | City of Jacksonville
July 13, 2026

Q&A | City Council president talks about spending, property taxes and Cecil Airport

Jacksonville City Council President Nick Howland talked with Jacksonville Today about the next year at City Hall.…

Featured image for “St. Johns lawmaker suggests replacement for accused commissioners”
Florida state Rep. Kim Kendall, R-St. Augustine. | Florida House of Representatives
July 10, 2026

St. Johns lawmaker suggests replacement for accused commissioners

State Rep. Kim Kendall has written to the governor in the event he removes the two commissioners from office.…

Featured image for “Former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum faces drug charges in Alabama”
Former Florida Democratic gubernatorial nominee Andrew Gillum speaks to supporters during a gathering at the Florida Democratic Party state conference, June 7, 2019, in Orlando. | John Raoux, AP file
July 7, 2026

Former gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum faces drug charges in Alabama

Police said they found marijuana cigarettes and suspected methamphetamine in Gillum’s car.…

Featured image for “Federal court halts Florida law banning ‘woke’ instruction in universities”
The full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Florida's "Stop WOKE Act." | 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
July 7, 2026

Federal court halts Florida law banning ‘woke’ instruction in universities

The court said the state’s “Stop WOKE Act” sought to ban unpopular ideas from public discourse.…

Featured image for “St. Johns County officeholders charged in connection with fake voter guide”
County Commissioner Sarah Arnold, former St. Augustine Beach Mayor (and current City Commissioner) Dylan Rumrell and County Commissioner Christian Whitehurst. | St. Johns County, St. Augustine Beach
July 7, 2026

St. Johns County officeholders charged in connection with fake voter guide

Three elected officials are accused of circulating a fake Republican voter guide ahead of the 2024 election.…

Featured image for “Legal changes will ease prosecution of people who fail to report child abuse”
The Florida Legislature in session on April 29, 2026. | Mike Stewart, AP
July 6, 2026

Legal changes will ease prosecution of people who fail to report child abuse

The law changes the statute of limitations for people like teachers who are required to report any abuse they suspect.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Children are the future of representative government”
The Duval County Supervisor of Elections Office l Steven Ponson, Jacksonville Today
July 5, 2026

OPINION | Children are the future of representative government

Opinion columnist A.G. Gancarski argues that Gov. Ron DeSantis should not have vetoed a bill that would have allowed teens…