A known quantity in the pro bono legal arena and the nonprofit community, attorney and community advocate Leslie Jean-Bart is less familiar as a political entity, though she has run for office before. We ask the candidate about her endorsement from current District 13 Rep. Angie Nixon, her plans for the district if elected and what differentiates her from her Democratic opponent, Audrey Gibson. First Coast Connect is covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find all of our election coverage here, and you can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website Vote411.org. Additional candidate coverage is featured in Jacksonville Today’s political section.

Guest: Leslie Jean-Bart, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 13

Renner's run

Florida gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner returns to WJCT’s Studio 2 to discuss what has become an increasingly ugly Republican primary. Though Renner has largely remained above the fray, he is seriously underwater in fundraising and in recent polls, lagging well behind frontrunner Byron Donalds, but even behind increasingly longshot candidates like investor James Fishback and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. We ask the former speaker of the Florida House what keeps him running just one week out from the Aug. 18 Republican primary, and whether an apparent nod from Gov. Ron DeSantis might help fill his political sails.

Guest: Paul Renner, Republican candidate for Florida governor

A known quantity in the pro bono legal arena and the nonprofit community, attorney and community advocate Leslie Jean-Bart is less familiar as a political entity, though she has <a href="https://floridapolitics.com/archives/191238-jax-dem-leslie-jean-bart-kicks-off-hd-14-campaign-october-1/">run for office</a> before. We ask the candidate about her endorsement from current District 13 Rep. Angie Nixon, her plans for the district if elected and what differentiates her from her Democratic opponent, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhyO1MFfrB4">Audrey Gibson</a>. First Coast Connect is covering a range of local races and election-related topics between now and Nov. 3. You can find all of our election coverage <a href="https://news.wjct.org/elections">here</a>, and you can find detailed information about upcoming elections, including information about candidates and ballot initiatives in your district, at the nonpartisan League of Women Voters website <a href="http://vote411.org/">Vote411.org</a>. Additional candidate coverage is featured in Jacksonville Today&rsquo;s <a href="https://jaxtoday.org/category/government-and-politics/">political section</a>.
Guest: Leslie Jean-Bart, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 13
Renner's run
Florida gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner returns to WJCT&rsquo;s Studio 2 to discuss what has become an increasingly ugly Republican primary. Though Renner has largely remained above the fray, he is seriously underwater in fundraising and in recent polls, lagging well behind frontrunner <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9wO_z9E9CU">Byron Donalds</a>, but even behind increasingly <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/elections/2026/08/11/florida-republican-governor-primary-donalds-renner-fishback-collins/">longshot candidates</a> like investor James Fishback and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. We ask the former speaker of the Florida House what keeps him running just one week out from the Aug. 18 Republican primary, and whether an <a href="https://www.fox13news.com/news/florida-gop-primary-desantis-praises-doesnt-endorse-paul-renner">apparent nod</a> from Gov. Ron DeSantis might help fill his political sails.
Guest: Paul Renner, Republican candidate for Florida governor

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now — your free, daily news podcast from WJCT Public Media. Every morning, anchor Steven Ponson breaks down the headlines you need to start your day informed. Then go deeper with highlights from First Coast Connect — the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.

 Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.

Stay connected to Jacksonville and Northeast Florida with WJCT News Now &mdash; your free, daily news podcast from WJCT Public Media. Every morning, anchor Steven Ponson breaks down the headlines you need to start your day informed. Then go deeper with highlights from First Coast Connect &mdash; the show where local newsmakers, civic leaders, artists, and community voices come together to talk through what's happening in your backyard.
&nbsp;Subscribe free and make WJCT News Now part of your daily routine.