With state Rep. Angie Nixon exploring a run for U.S. Senate, a familiar face is resurfacing as a candidate in 2026.

Another one may be in the race soon.

Former Jacksonville City Council member Reggie Gaffney Sr. is in the House District 13 Democratic Primary.

And Audrey Gibson, the former leader of the Senate Democrats, could file as soon as this week.

Both are among the best-known Democrats in Duval County, with considerable political experience.

And both are recovering from recent political setbacks.

Gaffney served most of two terms, then left the Council for an unsuccessful run against Tracie Davis for the Florida Senate in 2022, after Gibson was term-limited.

Gibson ran to be Chair of the Florida Democratic Party after leaving the administration of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan last year, but ultimately fell short in her bid to replace Nikki Fried.

Political newcomer Shemiah Rutledge is already in the race, but Gaffney and Gibson will complicate any path she might have had.

Whoever wins the Primary likely wins the seat, given the Democratic registration edge in the Duval County district.

If elected, Gaffney promises to bring the “same energy” to Tallahassee that he did to City Hall, vowing to “build relationships” and “work across the aisle” for economic development, job creation, mental health and education.

He laments that in Washington and state government, people don’t work together across party lines.

“From Day One, I’ll know the Governor’s name, the key members in the House. I’ll make a difference,” he told Florida Politics.

He also promises to make appropriations a priority for the district, which includes much of Jacksonville’s Urban Core.

Gibson notes that she told Gaffney she would run weeks ago and is excited about the opportunity to serve in office again.

As a former leader of the Senate Democrats, she is well acquainted with the process in the State Capitol and has been productive in scoring wins for her constituents as well.

Gibson confirmed that Nixon was not running for a fourth term in the House before deciding on a run.

Keep the cash

A Fernandina Beach Republican is refusing his congressional pay until Congress passes legislation to reopen the federal government.

U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean says he “cannot in good conscience receive compensation during the shutdown while our American service members, air traffic controllers, and homeland defenders go without pay, nor while Northeast Floridians endure a disruption to essential services from federal agencies.”

While the House has passed a continuing resolution, which it can do with a simple majority, the Senate requires 60 votes, and few Democrats are willing to concede on the House’s condition of not extending tax subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans.

Bean communicated his thoughts to Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor on Friday.

The ongoing impasse has led to consequences throughout the federal government, including reductions in force that the Donald Trump administration says could be permanent.

One more try

Sen. Tom Leek is renewing his push to toughen penalties for crimes against police officers.

He just refiled a 2026 version of the “Officer Jason Raynor Act” after the measure fell just short of passage last Session.

The bill (SB 156) is named for 26-year-old Daytona Beach Police officer Raynor, who was fatally shot in 2021 while investigating a suspicious vehicle and its occupant.

If passed, the measure would mandate life sentences without parole for defendants convicted of manslaughter in the death of a law enforcement officer.

Rep. Jessica Baker, a Jacksonville Republican and former Assistant State Attorney, filed the bill’s House companion (HB 17) last month.

Leek and Baker collaborated on a similarly written and identically titled proposal last Session that died one vote from passage due to minor wording differences and procedural limits on how many times legislation could cross the rotunda.

At issue was whether Florida law should prohibit the use of force in resisting “any” arrest, Baker’s preferred phrasing last Session, or the standard of a “lawful or an unlawful” arrest in Leek’s bill. This semantic dispute ultimately doomed the 2025 version despite unanimous votes in both chambers.

This year, both sponsors appear determined to avoid a repeat. Baker told Florida Politics last month that she and Leek had already coordinated on a unified draft and expect their respective 2026 versions to “closely mirror” each other’s language. That, she said, should eliminate the friction that killed the legislation last time.

Sam slam

Sam Garrison, the newly named Speaker-designate of the Florida House, currently faces an improbable challenge in next August’s Republican Primary.

If either of his filed opponents qualifies for the ballot, they won’t be able to match the resources held by the Clay County Republican.

Between June 1 and Sept. 30, Florida’s Division of Elections shows Garrison raised nearly $55,000 to his campaign account, and almost $475,000 to his political committee, “Honest Leadership.”

Altogether, the House District 11 incumbent has roughly $1.8 million for a race against two political newcomers with no path to match him.

Antonette Harmon, a professional commercial office cleaner from Orange Park, has $66 cash on hand as of the end of Q3.

Cory Allan Jett of Middleburg hasn’t reported any activity in his account yet.

Should he be re-elected, Garrison envisions his two years as Speaker in 2027 and 2028 as opportunities to bring resources to Northeast Florida in general and Clay County in particular.

In 2024, he got nearly 70% of the vote against a Democrat in the General Election. Two years before that, he got almost 74%.

Mayor’s moola

Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan is known for her “change for good” catchphrase. But with a re-election campaign looming for the first-term Democrat, nothing beats cold, hard cash.

And the third quarter report for her “Duval for All” political committee reflects plenty of that. The committee has raised more than $1 million to date, including $643,150 this quarter.

Major donors include Steve and Sally Pajcic ($500,000), Jim Thompson ($25,000), Kevin Gay ($20,000), Michael Ward ($10,000), and the Foley and Lardner LLP Political Committee ($5,000)

“I’m grateful for the trust and support from people across our city, including Democrats, Republicans and independents alike, who believe in working together to move Jacksonville forward,” Deegan said.

She credits “collaboration and results” with the bipartisan resonance of her message.

“Jacksonville’s strength comes from our shared commitment to progress,” Deegan added. “When we put people over politics, we can get things done and build a city that truly works for everyone.”

No major candidate has confirmed plans to run against Deegan in 2027’s Duval County Elections, though three political newcomers have filed officially.

They don’t seem capable of competing with Deegan if they qualify next January for the First Election in March.

Ronald Armstrong Jr. is the only one to report any financial activity, having raised just over $20,000 and already spent more than $12,000.

Deegan defeated Republican Daniel Davis in 2023, despite a Republican turnout advantage.

Though Republicans are closing the gap with Democrats in terms of registration, candidates will need to make moves sooner than later, as Deegan’s machine is ramping up.

Rejected

The Jacksonville City Council isn’t giving the green light to more legal autonomy for the Duval County School Board.

By an 8-9 vote, the legislative branch rejected a resolution to support a local bill in Tallahassee. If passed, this bill would provide the Board with its own general counsel and send a message to the state Legislature if considered again.

The Duval Delegation will get to vote on the bill next week and potentially carry it forward anyway.

The local charter needs to be changed to make this happen, as the city’s foundational document stipulates that the general counsel is the primary legal authority.

While the School Board would still have access to city lawyers, the move was intended to make DCPS more competitive with other districts and better able to secure a lawyer specializing in educational issues.

Brandon booms

Republican Adam Brandon is off to a good start in raising money for his race to succeed fellow Republican Michael Boylan on the Jacksonville City Council.

According to records with the Duval County Supervisor of Elections, he’s raised more than $65,000 in his first quarter as active fundraising, giving him a three-to-one advantage over the other filed candidate, Sarah Brittany Cohill.

Attorney Daniel Bean, The Fiorentino Group, The “Friends of Rory Diamond” political committee, Charles McBurney, Rep. Wyman Duggan’s “Citizens for Building Florida’s Future” committee, Mike Hightower, Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico, Council member Joe Carlucci, and Jordan Elsbury of Ballard Partners are just a few of the early backers of Brandon’s campaign.

While others, including a former state representative who works for a central Florida Congressman in D.C., have been said to be exploring running for the seat, Brandon’s strong first report says that any other candidates would face challenges.

Tweet, tweet

McGone

Changes are coming to WJCT.

CEO David McGowan is leaving the public radio and television station.

“Serving WJCT Public Media through this period of growth has been a tremendous honor. Everything we’ve been through these last eight years has only strengthened my belief in the power of public media to bring people together,” said McGowan. “WJCT Public Media is such a precious community asset, and I am grateful to have helped guide it during such an interesting time in our industry and in our region. I look forward to working with our Board during this transition.”

McGowan was key in bringing forward the Jacksonville Today newsletter and developing the Jacksonville Music Experience, two initiatives that helped the station find new audiences amid sector challenges.

“David is a world-class executive; we have been fortunate to have him as our President and CEO. He is a remarkable leader whose vision and strategic guidance inspired us all to reimagine how this organization can serve the community. We are grateful for his many years of exemplary service to our mission, and wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement,” said Bill Hendrich, Chair of WJCT Public Media’s Board of Trustees.

“From creating innovative new programs to further enrich our community, to strengthening our financial position through highly effective fiscal and operational management, David has positioned WJCT to move soundly forward,” said Anne K. Madsen, Treasurer and Chair-Elect of WJCT Public Media’s Board of Trustees. “We extend our heartfelt appreciation for his exceptional service to WJCT and our community.”

Manufacturing movement

Manufacturing on the First Coast showed some signs of expansion in September, which is a loosening up of some sectors compared to a tight Summer.

The University of North Florida (UNF) published its monthly survey of manufacturing output and there were some signs of improvement in Northeast Florida industries. However, some contractions remained stubborn in September. The monthly Jacksonville Economic Monitoring Survey (JEMS) report showed output prices, average input prices, suppliers’ delivery times and business activity outlook all expanded in September among manufacturers.

While several aspects showed signs of contraction, key components such as output, quantity of input purchased and backlogs of work all remained unchanged for the month.

Albert Loh, Interim Dean of the UNF Coggin College of Business, oversees the survey that taps industries to assess their manufacturing status each month. Loh said there are signs of improvement, especially compared to a particularly sluggish Summer. But the manufacturing scene is still off-beat and industries are skittish.

“While production held steady and prices showed only mild inflationary pressure, the overall decline suggests that local manufacturers are facing soft demand and lingering cost challenges,” Loh said in his summary of the report. “Both local and national data point to a manufacturing economy operating at low gear, with most firms focused on efficiency, cost control, and maintaining operations amid market uncertainty.”

UNF researchers from the JEMS project reach out to First Coast manufacturing companies each month to see where they stand on production and several other factors.

While September’s survey highlighted continued uncertainty among First Coast manufacturers, the latest report shows improvement over August’s report and July’s analysis, which was pretty bleak.

July’s survey showed 10 out of 12 manufacturing sectors in Northeast Florida contracted in that one month.

Home sales simmer

Home sales in the six-county Northeast Florida region showed a slight uptick in September, ending a slide in closed signings in the four previous months.

The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors (NEFAR) published its monthly housing market report and there was a modest increase in closed single-family houses sold last month. There were 1,651 homes sold in September, marking a 2.8% increase compared to the year-over-year figure for September 2024, when 1,606 homes were sold. But the latest figure is a 7% dip from August’s number of 1,651 homes sold.

Meanwhile, the median home sale price decreased in September, falling by 0.1% to $387,694, down from the previous year’s figure of $388,000. It’s also a downturn from August’s median sales price of $395,985, representing a 2.1% drop from the previous month.

At the same time, while prices are dropping, the number of houses on the First Coast market is going up, according to NEFAR figures. September saw a 5.9% increase in the number of homes in the annual inventory, coming in at 8,428, up from September 2024’s number of 7,959. The latest inventory tab is also a 0.4% increase from the August figure of 8,392.

Duval County, the region’s most populous county and home to Jacksonville, saw a 6.2% increase in homes sold last month, with 841. That’s up from 792 sold in September 2024. But it was an 8.1% drop from August.

St. Johns County, one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, witnessed a 3.6% drop in sales in the past year, going from 439 in September 2024 to 423 last month. The latest figure is also a drop from August’s figure of 489, a 13.5% decline.

Nassau County had a 2.9% increase in home sales for the year, coming in at 107, up from 104 a year ago and an 8.1% jump from August’s tally of 99 houses sold.

Clay County had an increase in home sales both in the annual count and the monthly figure. There were 228 houses sold last month, a 4.1% jump from the 219 sales in September 2024 and a 6% increase from August’s number of 215.

We have questions

Six games are enough to make a solid assessment of any NFL team. So, what is the league to make of the Jacksonville Jaguars after a 4-2 start?

With a new coaching staff and significant changes to the roster (some continuing throughout the season), the Jaguars have outperformed the consensus expectation through the first month and a half of the season.

The three biggest storylines heading into the season were how first-time head coach Liam Coen and a pair of first-time coordinators would handle their new responsibilities, if and how quarterback Trevor Lawrence would improve in a new scheme and what level of impact would be felt from the addition of first-round draft pick Travis Hunter. Let’s take them one by one.

Coen, offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile have guided the Jaguars to a 4-2 record to start the season. That, of course, is the ultimate gauge of a team. In comparison, Coen has handled offensive play-calling duties, as he did as offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Hence, the burden on Udinksi isn’t as significant as it could be in his first year in the position. Still, the offense has been good (not great). The Jaguars are in the top half of the league in scoring (although barely so with a defensive touchdown mixed in). There have been some challenges with operational efficiency. The running game was ranked near the top of the league last month but has slid to 11th this week. It’s an area the Jaguars should pay more attention to.

The defense has been tremendous. Campanile’s unit has given up yardage to opponents, but the Jaguars lead the NFL with 14 takeaways, including a league high 10 interceptions. It’s unlikely that the Jaguars can maintain their pace all season (they did not force a turnover in Sunday’s loss to Seattle), but if they can secure more sacks, this group could be the difference between a winning and a losing season.

Lawrence has enjoyed a few moments of glory. He has also made plays that a five-year veteran quarterback should not make (e.g., two illegal passes past the line of scrimmage). The same issues that have kept him from fulfilling the expectations that followed him to the NFL as the top pick in the draft persist. He has been inconsistent. For substantial stretches in nearly every game, Lawrence’s accuracy and/or decision-making seem to flag. While he ranks 12th in the NFL in passing yards, he is 30th in completion percentage, 17th in touchdown passes, and only four quarterbacks have thrown more interceptions this season. His 81.9 quarterback rating is less than mediocre. If the Jaguars are to continue to contend for the playoffs, Lawrence must play better.

Finally, Hunter played on both sides of the football and occasionally flashes. If the Jaguars had drafted Hunter without trading away a king’s ransom to move up, there would be little concern about how he is playing as a rookie. But because the Jaguars sent next year’s first-round pick and a second-round pick to get Hunter, the bar is higher for his impact. He still has plenty of time to state his case on the field. So far, it has been one or two moments a game, not sustained impact. The Jaguars will want to see more from the Heisman Trophy winner as the season develops.