FCC Election

With early voting underway since Monday, the turnout has been strong.

Meanwhile, a new poll from University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows the race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump to be a close one in Florida.

More than 19,000 early votes had already been cast in Duval County by 3 p.m. Monday – and that’s on top of the more than 77,000 who have already voted by mail.

President Donald Trump paid no income taxes in 10 of the last 15 years due to losing much more money than he made, according to a New York Times investigation of tax information it obtained.

President Donald Trump is holding a rally in Jacksonville Tuesday night, Sept. 24. Anyone who attends must sign a waiver acknowledging that they run the risk of contracting COVID-19 and cannot sue the president or his campaign if they get sick. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced Sunday that she would call the House back from its annual summer recess for a vote this week on legislation to block changes at the Postal Service.

Given the rising coronavirus numbers, it’s no surprise that many teens are anxious about going back to brick-and-mortar schools right now.

On Friday’s episode of First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, our Media Roundtable took a closer look at some of the top stories impacting Northeast Florida and beyond this week, including:

Jacksonville is a leading contender on a shortlist of cities to host part of the Republican National Convention in August.

President Trump is moving the Republican Convention out of North Carolina due to Gov. Roy Cooper's refusal to permit a full capacity gathering due to concerns about coronavirus.

Florida's presidential primary is just one week from today on March 17. But first, voters in six other states including Michigan will cast their votes tonight, March 10.

With Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bloomberg ending their active campaigns, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is shaping up as battle between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden.

Bloomberg is throwing his support to the frontrunner in the Democratic primary race - former Vice President Biden.

On Wednesday’s episode of First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, we discussed Florida voter’s reactions to the Super Tuesday results.

On Monday’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, we discussed Democratic presidential candidate, Elizabeth Warren.

On Wednesday's First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, we discussed Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg and why some Florida political leaders are supporting him.

As the presidential race heats up across the country, the deadline to register to vote in Florida’s primaries is fast approaching.

Former First Coast News anchor Donna Deegan is a Jacksonville native, a public figure, and an activist.

Election Day

Five Jacksonville City Council seats are up for grabs in Tuesday's runoff election.

Turnout is expected to be low at the polls, which are open until 7 p.m., as it has been throughout early voting. Daniel Conrath, a political science professor with FSCJ, joined us with more.

Tuesday morning was the second in a series of candidate profiles  in the Jacksonville City Council At-Large runoff races this spring. 

Greg Rachal, the Republican Candidate for Jacksonville City Council At Large Group 3 joined us in Studio 5.

His opponent, Democrat Tommy Hazouri, is scheduled to appear on Thursday.

Several local races are headed to a runoff election in May.

We are profiling the Jacksonville City Council At-Large races this spring as we host the candidates asking for your vote in that runoff.

Wednesday we spoke with City Council At-Large Group1 candidate and former local Democratic leader Lisa King. We have also invited her opponent, Republican incumbent Councilman Terrance Freeman to join us on a future episode.

Incumbent Mayor Lenny Curry easily fought off challengers, including outgoing Councilwoman Anna Brosche, in Tuesday’s election. 

For the first time since regaining the right to vote after Amendment 4 was passed last November, Jacksonville’s returning citizens have the opportunity to make their voices heard in Tuesday’s mayoral election, the race for sheriff, City Council races, and more.

Mayoral candidate Omega Allen, who is running with no party affiliation, spoke about her plans for Jacksonville and answered listener's questions before the March 19 election.

Related: WJCT Voter’s Guide

Dentist Shortage

The Floridians for Access Coalition states that five million Floridians live in areas with a dentist shortage crisis.

Mayoral Candidate Jimmy Hill joined us to discuss his plans for Jacksonville and what he plans to do in the days leading up to the March 19 election to earn voters' support.

The city’s grim parade of gun violence and homicides has become an election issue this season, with both challengers to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry and Sheriff Mike Williams calling for change.

Daniel Cronrath, Professor of Political Science at FSCJ, joined us for a closer look at the ad wars – and other issues – in Jacksonville’s mayoral race, which is less than a month away.

For this week’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week, including:

Mayoral candidate Anna Brosche has hired a top Democratic strategist in the Jacksonville mayor’s race as she seeks to build a bipartisan coalition to unseat incumbent Lenny Curry.

Jacksonville’s March 19 unitary election mayoral race between current Mayor Lenny Curry, City Councilwoman Anna Lopez Brosche and some lesser known candidates is drawing alot of attention.

After months of speculation about whether she’d run, At-Large City Councilwoman and past Council President Anna Lopez Brosche entered Jacksonville’s Mayoral race to challenge incumbent Mayor Lenny Curry - a fellow Republican – on Friday. At her campaign kickoff event, Brosche called for more transparency in city government, a stronger focus on public safety and an end to what she says is bullying and cronyism at City Hall.

For Friday's First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross Media Roundtable, our panel of journalists looked at some of the biggest stories of the week, including: