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Tag: Casey DeSantis

  • Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins joins race for governor

    “Jay’s a good guy. He served this country admirably as a Green Beret. He has a great conservative record in the Florida Senate,” DeSantis said during an appearance in Davie. “I don’t know what he’s going to announce or not announce. You know, my role, obviously, I’m focused on the State of the State (address, which will be given Tuesday) and some other things. If I get involved in the primary, you know, you’ll know it. It’ll be at a time and place of my choosing, and so we’ll see.”

    When he made the lieutenant governor appointment, DeSantis praised Collins for supporting issues such as combating illegal immigration and revamping election laws, while also calling him a “warrior” for assisting rescue workers in areas of the state hit by hurricanes and participating in efforts to rescue Floridians in Israel.

    “I think he’s been one of the most productive senators we have had in modern Florida history,” DeSantis said in August. “And on all the big issues, he not only was an ally of mine, he was standing up for you.”

    The lieutenant governor position had been vacant since February when Jeanette Nuñez — DeSantis’ 2018 and 2022 running mate — was named interim president of Florida International University. She was later named president.

    A political committee led by Collins, Quiet Professionals FL, had just over $922,000 in cash on hand as of Sept. 30. A separate Collins-chaired political committee, Keep Florida Strong PC, opened in August but had not raised money as of Dec. 31, according to information posted on the state Division of Elections website.

    By comparison, as of Sept. 30, Donalds had about $27 million in cash on hand in his Friends of Byron Donalds political committee.

    Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and former Congressman David Jolly are the highest-profile Democrats running for governor.

    Democratic Governors Association spokesman Kevin Donohoe said in a news release that “Collins and his Republican opponents only offer more of the failed status quo that has left working families behind and turned Florida into one of the least affordable states in the country.”

    Jim Turner, News Service of Florida

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  • Latest 2026 GOP gubernatorial poll shows Byron Donalds on top



    Credit: Photo via Congressman Byron Donalds/Facebook

    A new public opinion survey of 600 likely Republican primary voters shows Naples U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds is running away with the 2026 Republican race for governor.

    Donalds, who was elected to Florida’s 19th Congressional District in 2020, leads Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis — who has not declared a candidacy for governor — by “only” 13 points, 39%-26%, in a poll conducted by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, a GOP political polling firm.

    However, when voters are informed that Donalds has already been endorsed by President Donald Trump, his lead swells to 58 points, 68%-10%.

    When GOP voters were asked how they would vote were the gubernatorial race held today, Donalds leads investment firm CEO James Fishback, 47%-5%. His lead leaps to 76%-6% over Fishback when voters are informed about the Trump endorsement. Former House Speaker Paul Renner gets 4%, but that number drops to 1% when informed about the Trump endorsement.

    Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has discussed entering the race, but has yet to do so. The pollsters write that despite a high-profile series of television ads promoting him that aired in the last part of 2025, the needle hasn’t moved at all for the LG.

    “Any sugar high from Jay Collins’ multimillion ad buy has completely dissipated,” they write. “Virtually no RPVs [Republican primary voters] recall seeing anything about Collins (only 16%) and Donalds crushes him in every ballot permutation.”

    There have been no major polls of the Democratic primary race, which features former GOP U.S. Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

    Fabrizio, Lee & Associates conducted the survey of 600 likely GOP Florida voters from Jan. 4-6. The margin of error is +4.0%.

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    The state says the testing results show that the heavy metals included mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium.

    The 34-page bill would presume certain non-citizens are at fault in car accidents, severely restrict their employment, and prevent Florida banks from loaning them money

    HB 991 is sponsored by state Reps. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and Dana Trabulsy, R- Fort Pierce





    Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
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  • Florida finds heavy metals in more than half of baby formulas tested



    Credit: Shutterstock

    Florida officials on Friday warned parents about certain brands of infant formula, saying tests conducted by the state showed potentially unsafe levels of heavy metals.

    First Lady Casey DeSantis said the state tested 24 infant formulas and found that 16 contained heavy metal or chemicals. The samples were obtained through a variety of means, including ordering online, to make sure that it was “not a one-off shipment.”

    The state has placed the testing results on a website called exposingfoodtoxins.com and those results show that the heavy metals included mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium. The brands tested include several manufactured by national industry leaders.

    Infant formulas are not regulated by the state, but Casey DeSantis said it is important Florida and other states do independent testing to “drive accountability.”

    “Parents should not be expected to verify the integrity of products on their own,” she said.

    The push by Florida to test infant formula comes several months after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed the Food and Drug Administration to look at ingredients used in infant formula. Before he joined the administration of President Donald Trump, Kennedy promised to look at whether there were toxic metals in infant formula.

    The first lady discussed the infant formula testing during an event in Bartow that also featured Gov. Ron DeSantis and State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo.

    In his remarks, Ladapo contended the results produced an “understatement of the risk” because infants can be subject to greater harm given their size, weight, and developmental stage.

    He added that, of the items tested, “mercury is probably one of the most toxic things you can put in a person’s body.”

    Gov. DeSantis only briefly touched on the infant formula testing results, but called the effort part of Florida’s efforts to bring “transparency” to medicine and food. He did briefly repeat his support for a bill that would bar physicians from refusing to treat someone if that person has refused to get vaccinated.

     

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    The state says the testing results show that the heavy metals included mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium.

    The 34-page bill would presume certain non-citizens are at fault in car accidents, severely restrict their employment, and prevent Florida banks from loaning them money

    HB 991 is sponsored by state Reps. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, R-Fort Myers, and Dana Trabulsy, R- Fort Pierce





    Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix
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  • Byron Donalds campaign says it’s raised more than $40M in race for governor



    Credit: Byron Donalds/Facebook

    Can anyone stop Byron Donalds from becoming Florida’s next governor?

    There’s still more than 10 months until Floridians elect a successor to Ron DeSantis, but there’s no question the Naples Republican is in the pole position after his campaign announced Thursday that he has raised more than $40 million since February.

    How impressive is that?

    “For perspective, that is 2½ times what then-candidate Ron DeSantis raised and $3 million more than Adam Putnam raised in total in the last open Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018,” writes Ryan Smith, the Donalds’ campaign’s chief strategist, in a memo published Thursday.

    Donalds also continues to dominate in most public-opinion polls of the candidates running in the August 2026 Republican primary, despite having yet to air a single television ad.

    A survey of 800 Republican primary voters taken Dec. 8-9 by The American Promise showed Donalds with a 27-point lead over Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, 38%-9%. (While Collins is not a declared candidate for governor, a political committee has been running ads for weeks in certain key Florida media markets touting him as such. Pollster Ryan Tyson said in a memo that the survey was taken to determine whether those ads helped Collins at all. It appears they have not).

    In addition to being endorsed by Donald Trump, Donalds is backed by Florida U.S. Sen. Rick Scott as well as 17 of the state’s 20 members of Congress and 63 members of the Florida House of Representatives.

    The other major Republican candidates are former House Speaker Paul Renner and investment firm CEO James Fishback.

    Former GOP U.S. Rep. David Jolly and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings are the leading contenders for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2026.

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    Gun-violence prevention groups want Florida’s Senate President to reject a proposal to lower the age to purchase guns from 21 to 18

    The troubling statistics continue despite lawmakers’ efforts to increase road safety for cyclists

    Ingoglia’s proposed legislation includes a provision that would allow removal of local officials found to have committed ‘financial abuse’





    Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
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  • ‘Florida needs a change’: Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings kicks off campaign for governor



    Credit: Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings/Facebook

    Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings on Thursday formally announced his bid for governor, setting up a Democratic primary fight next year against former Congressman David Jolly.

    Demings, a former Orlando police chief and former Orange County sheriff who opened a campaign account for the gubernatorial race last week, issued a statement early Thursday that focused on a need to make Florida more affordable.

    “Our state has become more expensive and less fair for everyone, all while power is being stripped away from local communities that know their residents best,” Demings said. “Florida needs a change. We need a different type of governor who puts delivering results before grabbing headlines and petty political fights.”

     

    Demings, who has been Orange County mayor since 2018, was expected to hold an event later Thursday in Orlando to further launch the campaign.

    With Gov. Ron DeSantis unable to run in 2026 because of term limits, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds and former state House Speaker Paul Renner are seeking the Republican nomination for governor.

    Jolly, a former Republican who kicked off his campaign in June, welcomed Demings to the race Thursday.

    “All of Florida — Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike — deserves a spirited Democratic Party primary that puts voters first, one rooted in real solutions for the affordability of housing and health care, the future of public education, protecting personal freedoms, and restoring trust and competence in government,” Jolly said in a prepared statement.

    The tone Thursday was different from a memo that Jolly’s campaign sent earlier in the week outlining “the choice before Democrats.”

    Touting Jolly, the memo asked who can unite the party, break nearly three decades of Republican control of the state and “has the credibility and message to defeat Republican extremism — not with partisan rhetoric, but with practical ideas that connect across political lines?”

    The memo said that “for 30 years, Florida Democrats have repeated the same losing formula: Campaigns built around consultants instead of communities, focused on fundraisers and corporate boardrooms instead of front porches and town halls. We’ve ignored voters, chased special-interest money, and prioritized the political class over everyday Floridians.”

    It also included former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who is married to Jerry Demings, among “well intended, dedicated nominees” who “still came up short” in statewide contests. Val Demings, who served in Congress from 2017 to 2023, lost a bid for the U.S. Senate in 2022 to then-Sen. Marco Rubio, who is now U.S. Secretary of State.

    Asked about the contest Wednesday, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said having two prominent candidates will provide an “opportunity for the people of our state to hear from our statewide candidates, to share their vision, ask the tough questions.”

    Fried said the party’s job is to build “the infrastructure that no matter who the Democrats in our primary decide to choose, we are going to be ready to build a coalition to again share the vision of what the next chapter of Florida looks like.”

    Whoever emerges from the Democratic primary is expected to be the underdog in the general election, as Republicans have huge edges in fundraising and voter registration. The last Democrat to win a gubernatorial race was Lawton Chiles, who was re-elected in 1994.

    The Republican Party of Florida greeted Demings’ entry into the contest with a news release saying his campaign is “destined to flop.”

    “Under Republican leadership, Florida is booming, freedom is prevailing, and Republicans hold a record voter advantage,” GOP Chairman Evan Power said in the release.

    As of Sept. 30, Florida had about 5.5 million “active” Republican registered voters and nearly 4.12 million Democrats. Another 3.38 million voters had no party affiliation.

    The Republican Governors Association took a shot at Democrats, saying Demings opening a campaign account was a sign “Florida Democrats are clearly unimpressed with David Jolly’s Charlie Crist impersonation.”

    Crist, a former congressman who won statewide races including the 2006 gubernatorial contest as a Republican, was the unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial nominee in 2014 and 2022.

    Equal Ground, a Black-led, nonprofit organization, noted that with Demings entering the campaign, Florida could have Black candidates topping the ticket for both major parties in 2026. Donalds, who has the backing of President Donald Trump, is Black.

    “This moment represents a defining chapter for Florida … It stands as a powerful milestone in a state where Black voices, leadership, and civic power have for far too long faced systemic barriers towards progress,” Equal Ground said in an email.

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    Carfentanil, a powerful and potentially deadly tranquilizer, is often mixed into cocaine, meth, or counterfeit pills, says prevention nonprofit

    The 10 percent reduction in flights comes just as the holiday season approaches

    Both were credited with working to maintain progressive values in the face of Florida’s overwhelmingly right-wing climate





    Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
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  • Majority of Floridians want property tax reform, survey finds – Orlando Weekly



    Credit: via Shutterstock

    Although the specifics of such a proposal are still unknown, a majority of Floridians say that, if given the chance, they would vote for some form of property tax reform. That’s according to a public opinion survey commissioned by the James Madison Institute (JMI) released on Monday.

    If a constitutional amendment to significantly reduce or eliminate property taxes were on the ballot, 65% would support that. Only 15% oppose it, with 20% unsure.

    Constitutional amendments in Florida must win 60% support to go into effect.

    Gov. Ron DeSantis has been campaigning for months on the idea that Floridians want and need property tax relief, and has floated the idea that Florida could become the first state in the nation to completely eliminate them.

    But property taxes pay for crucial local services like police, fire departments, and schools. A study by the Florida Policy Institute concluded that eliminating property taxes for homesteaded properties would cost $18.5 billion.

    As a way to preempt those arguments by local government officials, Florida’s recently appointed chief financial officer, Blaise Ingoglia, has been making appearances around the state calling out local governments for alleged “wasteful spending” (without specifying what reaches that definition).

    Florida Speaker of the House Daniel Perez formed a select committee to study the issue earlier this year, and that group met twice last week in Tallahassee to determine how such a proposal could be written. It’s expected that the Florida Legislature will approve a resolution for a constitutional amendment sometime during the 2026 legislative session, which begins in January, with the measure to appear on the November 2026 ballot.

    On the philosophy of property taxes, 39% of those surveyed said they are a “valid” revenue source but should be limited. Another 33% said property taxes should be eliminated outright. Only 20% said they were critical for funding local government services and should be preserved. Another 8% weren’t sure.

    Sixty-six percent of Floridians worry they may not be able to afford to continue living in their homes or communities due to rising property taxes or other housing costs.

    There were plenty of other nuggets in the JMI survey, including that 62% of Florida voters oppose a DeSantis administration proposal to eliminate vaccine requirements.

    Jolly competitive in one-on-one matchups with top Republicans

    Nearly one in three registered voters (30%) describe themselves as “politically homeless,” feeling unrepresented by either the Democratic or Republican parties.

    Regarding the 2026 gubernatorial race, in a hypothetical matchup between Republican Byron Donalds, Democrat David Jolly, and independent candidate state Sen. Jason Pizzo, Donalds leads Jolly, 36%-32%, with Pizzo at 4%.

    In a three-way race with former House Speaker Paul Renner as the GOP candidate, Renner leads Jolly, 34%-33%, with Pizzo at 5%.

    In a GOP race between Donalds and Renner, Donalds leads, 29%-9%.

    But when Republican voters were asked for whom they would vote among “announced and potential candidates,” it’s First Lady Casey DeSantis who gets the most support. She leads Donalds 26%-23%, with Renner at 7%, Lt. Gov. Jay Collins at 2%, and Agriculture Commission Wilton Simpson at 2%.

    The survey’s questions did not refer to the fact that Donalds has been endorsed by Donald Trump for president.

    The survey of 1,200 registered voters in Florida was conducted by Targoz Market Research for the James Madison Institute between Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, with a margin for error +/- 2.77%.

    Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Contact Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter.

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    Ladapo’s predecessor — Dr. Scott Rivkees — says the matter has ‘nothing’ to do with parental rights

    The federal government has yet to cover the at-minimum $245 million price tag for ‘Alligator Alcatraz’

    The homemade tandem bike creativity was strong





    Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix
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  • Floridians Worried About Governor Leaking Health Info

    Floridians Worried About Governor Leaking Health Info

    In a shocking surprise…medical marijuana patients, including veterans, may have had their information leaked thanks to the Governor.

    Florida voters have overwhelmingly approved of marijuana use in the sunshine state.  In the first election for medical marijuana, over 60% of citizens voted yes. Governor DeSantis said too bad. In the second vote, the approve vote was 71% and the Governor said the public didn’t understand and he slow rolled it out. Now he is working on trying to block a third vote for recreational. But the latest action has left citizens stunned, now Floridans worried about governor leaking health info for an email campaign.

    RELATED: Study Reinforces Marijuana’s Power To Treat PTSD

    Science, the American Medical Association and the federal Health and Human Services department all agree cannabis can benefit patients with a variety of ailments. Medical marijuana is recognized as a treatment for  PTSD, chronic pain, cancer and more. More research will unlock additional information about the plant, but it is a good start and is one of the basis for rescheduling. HIPAA is law passed in 1996 aimed to alter the transfer of healthcare information, stipulated the guidelines by which personally identifiable information maintained by the healthcare and healthcare insurance industries should be protected from fraud and theft.  Somewhere it slipped in Florida.

    Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

    Florida’s Department of Health recently emailed nearly 700,000 medical marijuana patients, praising Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. The email promoted achievements of the governor and how it helps them. This is despite is overwhelming opposition not to just  recreational cannabis use and legalization, but also the original law which allowed them be prescribed medical marijuana.

    The email also praised a cancer research program promoted by first lady Casey DeSantis, listed health issues like HIV, hepatitis and syphilis that are in the spending plan and gave a message from Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that he and DeSantis are “advancing public health and personal responsibility in Florida.”

    RELATED: California or New York, Which Has The Biggest Marijuana Mess

    Medical marijuana patients and advocates say the DeSantis administration violated their privacy by using the patient list to promote policy.

    “That is revolting. That is really such a misuse of power and information,” said state Rep. Kelly Skidmore, the ranking Democrat on the House Health Policy Committee.

    The Department of Health said it didn’t single out medical marijuana patients, but rather sent the budget statement to everyone in its email databases apparently to promote the Governor and First Lady.

    Terry Hacienda

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  • DeSantis Bans AP Psychology Out Of Fear People Will Figure Out What’s Wrong With Him

    DeSantis Bans AP Psychology Out Of Fear People Will Figure Out What’s Wrong With Him

    TALLAHASSEE, FL—Explaining that the course would teach thousands of high schoolers harmful information about identifying psychological disorders, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that the state would ban AP Psychology out of fear that people might figure out what precisely is wrong with him. “If students come to understand ideas, theories, and terminology associated with mental disorders like, say, narcissistic personality disorder, it could get them that much closer to understanding why exactly I behave the way I do,” said DeSantis, adding that such Advanced Placement classes would only indoctrinate the state’s students into recognizing the many mental health issues that manifest in his behavior on a daily basis. “These courses will make teens look critically at why I act so strangely in seemingly normal human situations and, frankly, allow them to work out that something in my brain is probably abnormal. Floridians know that should never happen. If I don’t know why I seem to be in pain every time I smile, our high school students certainly shouldn’t.” DeSantis went on to announce that he would also be banning couples counseling in the state after advisors suggested his wife Casey DeSantis might use the dangerous practice against him some day.

    Ron DeSantis Introduces New Son Barron Trump

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  • Financial Problems Force Ron DeSantis Campaign To Fire Wife

    Financial Problems Force Ron DeSantis Campaign To Fire Wife

    TALLAHASSEE, FL—Faced with declining contributions as the Florida Republican competes to win his party’s nomination for the White House, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign announced Monday that financial problems had forced it to fire his wife, former television host Casey DeSantis. “In order to remain competitive as we prepare for next year’s primaries, we had to make some tough decisions, and unfortunately Mrs. DeSantis will no longer be a part of our team,” said campaign manager Generra Peck, explaining that, ultimately, her job was to get Ron DeSantis to the finish line, and Casey DeSantis was an unnecessary luxury. “We’re in a period of tightening our belts, so all her responsibilities of being a supportive spouse who champions her husband will be divided among the remaining campaign staffers. Once the financial situation improves, we could possibly hire her back as a part-time spousal contractor to pose for photos as DeSantis’ wife every now and then, but right now her role is not economically feasible.” Peck added that the campaign was already looking to replace DeSantis’ children with cheaper migrant labor.

    Ron DeSantis Introduces New Son Barron Trump

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