POLITICO
Despite a long-standing reputation for botched elections, Florida’s balloting ran smoothly last year.
Voters wait in line to cast their ballot during early voting at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, Ga. | Michael Holahan/The Augusta Chronicle via AP
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Florida may bar outside groups from giving food or water to voters standing within 150 feet of polling places, a provision that is drawing comparisons to a much broader prohibition included in a contentious election bill recently enacted in nearby Georgia.
The top state House Republican who is pushing the legislation defended the measure on Monday, noting that state law already includes a “no-solicitation zone” near polling places that bar campaigns and political groups from approaching voters.
JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis, who is often talked about in Jacksonville political circles as a possible candidate for mayor in 2023, raked in $1.3 million in January for a political committee that could fuel a high-powered race if he does launch a campaign.
Many of the contributions came from donors who also heavily backed Lenny Curry in his successful campaigns for mayor. Term limits will prevent Curry from running again, so it will be wide-open race in two years.
Davis, a Republican, served on City Council in a Westside district from 2003-10 and then in the state Legislature from 2010-14. He has been president of the chamber of commerce since 2013.