Florida's Latest News

Kathleen Passidomo shoots down proposed Special Session on condo safety

Senate President Kathleen Passidomo has heard the calls for a Special Session on condo safety and the arguments that urgent action is needed to curb the rising costs of complying with recent legislation to address the issue.

She thinks the matter should be taken up as lawmakers reconvene for the 2025 Legislative Session — no sooner.

“I am increasingly concerned by what I see as a growing narrative, ripe with misconceptions and inaccuracies, regarding the condo safety legislation passed in the years following the devastating collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside. Some have suggested a Special Session be called to address or alter existing safety and reserve funding requirements and other related issues,” she said in a memo to Senators.

“I do not agree, and … I have no intention at the present time of utilizing my authority as Senate President to convene a Special Session.”

DeSantis is on the cusp of reshaping Florida’s school boards — again

Ron DeSantis’ drive to remake Florida’s education system faces its latest test on Tuesday, with the governor and his GOP allies squaring off against Democrats and the state’s largest teachers union in school board elections across the state.

Although these campaigns are technically nonpartisan, distinct lines have been drawn. Florida’s Republican governor endorsed a slate of 23 candidates — targeting eight incumbents — as he seeks to reshape more school boards on the heels of big wins in 2022.

They “pledged to serve with a focus on student success, parental rights, and curriculum transparency,” DeSantis said last month of his endorsees on social media. “We want the best for our children and I’m confident all 23 candidates will build upon the success we’ve had here in Florida.”

The races this week serve as the opening salvo for the larger fight to come in November over the state’s educational future. Floridians will vote on a constitutional amendment proposed by legislative Republicans that would add party labels to school board races, stripping off the apolitical veneer and cementing future fights over education as another hotly contested partisan battleground.

Florida Republicans outraised Democrats 7-to-1

Over the last four and a half months, Florida Republicans have outraised Democrats by a considerable 7-to-1 margin. Division of Elections reports showed the state GOP collected more than $15.6 million between April 1 and Aug. 15. Meanwhile, state Democrats in the same period raised just under $2.25 million.

That leaves the Florida Democratic Party with just under $18 million in cash on hand heading into the Presidential Election. But the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) has close to $32.3 million in the bank.

The Republican Party slammed their Democratic counterparts for filing reports quietly without any public announcement.

“In the darkness of night, (FDP Chair) Nikki Fried filed a financial report that confirmed what we all knew: the Florida Democrats have been faking ‘momentum all along,” said RPOF Chair Evan Power. “Fundraising indicates support from small to large donors for leaders and public policy. Nikki Fried’s paltry outcome demonstrates that there are few buyers for what Fried and Florida Democrats are selling.

The Democratic National Convention is here. Here’s how to watch it

The Democratic National Convention kicks off Monday, with delegates and officials descending on Chicago after a wild few weeks that saw the party switch out its nominee, upending what had already been an unprecedented campaign year.

With the departure of President Joe Biden from the campaign, and Vice President Kamala Harris’ swift ascension to the top of the ticket, Democrats have essentially rejiggered the general election fight against the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, just months before the Nov. 5 election.

The campaign redesign has also required changes in the platform that party officials will adopt before proceedings in Chicago, as well as physical reconfigurations of the signage and other materials in and around the convention hall, to reflect Democrats’ new ticket.

Here’s how to watch the action at the DNC: