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The Florida legislature has approved a bill that strengthens the rules about candidates swapping parties and a bill creating a remembrance day for political activist Charlie Kirk is one step closer to becoming law.
Bill clarifying party affiliation requirements for candidates passes both chambers
The Florida legislature has approved a bill that strengthens the rules about candidates swapping parties ahead of political races.
That measure passed with flying colors in both the Florida House and Senate.
In a nutshell, it requires some allegiance to a party before ever running as a partisan candidate.
“This ensures transparency for the voters to know who they are really voting for,” said State Sen. Kristen Arrington, D-Kissimmee.
House Bill 91 is now ready for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ final consideration.
It tightens a long-standing rule that requires party affiliation for at least 365 consecutive days prior to the candidate qualifying period.
“When we put a party ID on a ballot, it should mean that you’re a person who’s a member of that party, has been a committed member of that party,” said Florida Republican Party Chair Evan Power.
The bill is essentially designed to address two key issues.
“One — individuals who changed their party affiliation for convenience a few days before an election, and secondly… those who changed their name in order to disguise their background,” said State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Pensacola.
It creates a pathway for candidates to challenge someone in court if they fail to meet the requirement.
“That is an opportunity that we will have as a state party, to hold that individual accountable and make sure that the election process is done in a correct and fair manner,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried.
This bill will go into effect immediately if and when DeSantis signs it, meaning it could shape this year’s upcoming election.
Bill to create remembrance day for Charlie Kirk presses forward
The bill creating a remembrance day for political activist Charlie Kirk is one step closer to becoming law as the Florida House approved the measure 82 to 31.
If signed into law, the day of remembrance would fall on Oct. 14, Kirk’s birthday.
The bill sparked a lot of debate on the House floor.
Democratic State Rep. Ashley Viola Gantt argued Kirk had zero ties to Florida and offered a new take on how his assassination should be viewed.
“If we want to talk about free speech, let’s talk about being precise with our words. When we hear assassination, that’s typically related to a person and a political position. Charlie Kirk died from gun violence. We continuously advocate for gun policies, legislation that would ensure that people who probably shouldn’t have a gun, don’t have a gun,” Viola Gantt said. “So was his passing tragic for those who love him. Absolutely, there’s no denying that. But he was not assassinated and words being accurate matters. It was a death by gun violence, that is an issue here in the country that we should all be on the same page of addressing.”
Supporters argued Kirk should be honored for promoting respectful debate.
Republican State Rep. Chase Traymont said those against this measure simply don’t want it because Kirk did not validate their views.
“The refusal to embrace the true meaning of tolerance is what has led to so many people being intolerant of this particular man who not only refused to validate your ideas, but actually dared to challenge those ideas,” Traymont said. “Not through violence, not through protesting, not through boycotting, not through cancellation. He challenged it through civil conversation. Let’s have a conversation. Let’s talk it. That’s what he said, and that’s what he did. This day of remembrance isn’t about demanding agreement — it’s about defending that conversation, and that conversation should always trump confrontation.”
The Florida Senate companion bill is on its second reading.
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Spectrum News Staff
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