3 Degrees Florida says it is not against property tax relief. Instead, the group is sounding the alarm that the amendment could make it harder for local governments to pay for essential services if it passes. The group’s branding draws heavily on the Titanic disaster.
Elections 2026
Birthright Citizenship Survives, Trans Athletes and Campaign Finance Limits Lose in Trio of Landmark Decisions
The U.S. Supreme Court issued three landmark rulings today: A 6-3 decision protects birthright citizenship, striking down a Trump administration executive order. The court ruled 6-3 that schools may ban transgender athletes from female sports under Title IX. And the justices invalidated limits on coordinated political party expenditures, a move deregulating campaign finance and benefiting major donors over grassroots contributors.
Miffed That He Didn’t Get His Way, DeSantis Won’t Campaign for Tax Amendment
Gov. Ron DeSantis has spent more than a year boosting a proposal to eliminate or substantially reduce property taxes for Floridians, but because the Legislature’s version doesn’t reach as far as his own plan, he now says he doesn’t intend to campaign for the proposal that will go before the voters in November.
1.5 Million Voter Advantage in 1-Party State and Still Scared: Florida GOP Ghost-Hunts Progressives at ‘Showdown’
Florida Republicans used the Sunshine State Showdown to energize their base by framing progressive Democratic victories in New York as a radical threat. Appointed statewide officials face their first major electoral tests this November. Concurrently, the gubernatorial primary features tension as leadership restricted debate access, positioning Byron Donalds as the frontrunner against Democrat David Jolly in a state where Republicans hold a highly significant voter registration advantage today.
Florida Property Tax Amendment Faces Growing Pushback From Local Government Advocacy Groups Campaign
A new political committee, Stop Unfair Tax Shifts PC, is raising funds to defeat Florida’s proposed Amendment 3 this November. The constitutional amendment would raise the primary homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028, a change that would drain $11.86 billion annually from local municipal budgets, forcing huge cuts.
Flawed Format Aside, Flagler Tiger Bay Club Forum Exposes Experience Gap Between Newcomers And Incumbents
The Flagler Tiger Bay Club candidate forum Thursday evening for County Commission and Palm Coast City Council candidates exposed a distinct experience gap between seasoned incumbents and ten political newcomers. Candidates faced poorly structured questions regarding development, taxation, and infrastructure. The restrictive format prevented meaningful debate or follow-up questions, forcing most candidates to rely on broad platitudes instead of offering concrete ideas for impending revenue shortages.
Flagler Tiger Bay Political Forum for Palm Coast Council and County Commission Candidates Live
The Flagler Tiger Bay Club is hosting a political forum this evening for the Palm Coast City Council and Flagler County Commission candidates in the August 18 primary. The two-hour forum is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center. It will be simulcast on WNZF and available live on YouTube here.
Five Democrats Running for Governor Are Challenging David Jolly for Nomination
With Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings dropping out of the race due to health problems, former Republican U.S. Rep. David Jolly would appear the clear frontrunner in the Democratic primary for governor taking place on Aug. 18. Democratic voters looking for an alternative will have five other choices. Here are their profiles.
Skepticism About Florida’s Homestead Tax Amendment Is Growing
Several municipal leaders, including some county tax collectors and property appraisers, are concerned that if the referendum is approved the reduction in revenues could complicate the repayment of municipal bonds. The concerns about the future of the stability of municipal bonds in Florida are getting so intense, daily trade newspaper The Bond Buyer has increased coverage the Sunshine State situation.
Sheriff Staly Blasts Proposed Homestead Property Tax Amendment as ‘Politics’ That ‘Screw Around With the Cities and the County’
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly publicly criticized a proposed Florida constitutional amendment increasing homestead exemptions to $250,000. While local officials fear election-year backlash for opposing tax cuts, Staly characterized the legislation as reckless politics that defunds municipalities. Addressing the Palm Coast City Council this morning, he urged leaders to launch public education campaigns, warning that vague legislative language threatens critical local government operations despite exemptions for public safety services.
Renner Bemoans Lack of Debates and State of Florida GOP
Former House Speaker Paul Renner says the Republican Party of Florida is cheating voters out of its opportunity to weigh the merits of candidate for Governor by refusing to stage a debate at the impending Sunshine Showdown event. He argues that the party is “tipping the scales” in favor of U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, the Donald Trump-endorsed front-runner in the race, after its assertion that only Donalds would have met criteria to qualify for a debate. The criteria: 10% support in the RPOF’s own poll; more than $10 million raised; and more than 10,000 donors
Ray Stevens Is Reelected to His Own Council Seat Without Opposition, and Suggests Sullivan Should Resign. Sullivan Says No.
Ray Stevens today was reelected to the Palm Coast City Council seat he resigned soon after his first election in November 2024, this time without opposition. Stevens suggested that Dave Sullivan, who was appointed to the seat when Stevens resigned it, should now himself resign and let Stevens pick up the responsibility. Sullivan said he will not do so.
Two Former Florida Mayors File Lawsuit Challenging Misleading Ballot Language On Property Tax Amendment
Two former Florida mayors and a nonprofit organization filed a lawsuit challenging a November property tax amendment that would sharply reduce homesteaded property taxes. The plaintiffs allege the ballot summary illegally advocates for the measure rather than explaining its actual impact. A House staff analysis indicates the proposed homestead exemptions could reduce local government revenues by $8.4 billion annually.
David Jolly Announces Gwen Graham as Gubernatorial Running Mate
David Jolly, the Democratic frontrunner in the Florida gubernatorial race, named former U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham as his running mate during a Tallahassee press conference Wednesday, feet from the Old Capitol. He emphasized their bipartisan relationship during their time in Congress, highlighting joint work on preventing offshore oil drilling, gun reform, and veterans’ rights. Jolly served in Congress from 2014 to 2017 as a Republican, became an independent for six years, and then switched to the Democratic Party in April 2025.
Ethics Commission Dismisses Yet One More ‘Legally Insufficient’ Complaint, This Time Against the Council’s Pontieri
In the last two years the Florida Ethics Commission has tossed out complaints against Flagler County Airport Director Roy Sieger, former Palm Coast City Manager Lauren Johnston, Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris, former Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, former Council member Ed Danko, Bunnell Planning Board member Lynn Lafferty, and Flagler Beach City Manager Dale Martin. It added one more name today: City Council member Theresa Pontieri.
Former Sen. Annette Taddeo and Miami Democrat Will Challenge Blaise Ingoglia for CFO
Former state Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami Democrat, is getting in the race for Chief Financial Officer she formally announced Monday. She’ll take on incumbent Republican Blaise Ingoglia, who was appointed to the role last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, replacing Jimmy Patronis, who left the seat for a successful U.S. House seat race.
County Commissioners Berate Some Constitutionals More Than Others Over Their Budgets as Austerity Era Begins
Flagler County constitutional officers such as the clerk of court, the sheriff and the property appraiser face a grueling budget cycle amid stalled revenues and a looming November ballot amendment to eliminate homesteaded property taxes. In an afternoon workshop today, county commissioners aggressively challenged proposed budget increases from the clerk of court and property appraiser. In response to future shortfalls, Commission Chair Leann Pennington directed the acting administrator to model sweeping 10 percent across-the-board budget cuts.
Byron Donalds Insists Iran War Matches Donald Trump’s Anti-War Platform
U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds says President Donald Trump is “right” when he argues that ongoing actions against Iran do not mean Trump is contradicting a campaign message that he would avoid starting foreign wars.
Jerry Demings Ends Campaign for Governor After Cancer Diagnosis
Orange County Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Demings announced Friday he is suspending his 2026 campaign after being diagnosed with a treatable form of prostate cancer. In a prepared release, Demings said that “continuing to run for governor would have likely led to injurious effects on my prognosis. I am a fighter through and through, and now is the time to fight cancer and be there for my loved ones.”
Florida’s Bathtub Hoax on Homesteaded Taxpayers
The Florida Legislature’s proposed constitutional amendment to expand the homestead tax exemption is a hoax that claims the homesteaded are overtaxed and local governments are wasteful. The proposal, if it passes, threatens to severely cripple local government budgets, starving infrastructure, emergency medical responses, social programs, and community safety initiatives. Homeowners will ultimately absorb higher out-of-pocket costs for neglected public services. The current system already unfairly shifts tax burdens onto local businesses and renters.
Commissioner Kim Carney Accuses CFO Ingoglia of Using Flagler as ‘Campaign Crutch’ as He Peddles Unproven Claims of Waste
The Flagler County Commission directed its administration to draft an official rebuttal countering claims by CFO Blaise Ingoglia, of $59 million in local government waste. The accusations rely on a misleading formula deployed statewide as a campaign tactic as Ingoglia uses counties like Flagler as a “crutch” in his campaign, Commissioner Kim Carney said. Flagler commissioners defended budget growth, citing necessary investments, including the restoration of required emergency cash reserves.
Flagler County and City Officials Warn of Severe Cuts to Government Services if Voters Approve Measure to Cut Homestead Taxes
The Florida Legislature approved a constitutional amendment ballot measure scaling back homesteaded property taxes and capping non-homesteaded property valuations. Flagler County faces a projected first-year loss of $35 million, climbing to $60 million in year two. Local administrators and elected officials warn that this shifting tax structure will trigger severe, programmatic budget cuts for essential municipal services, including parks, libraries, and animal control, and speak with dismay at lawmakers’ silence on alternative funding sources.
Deeply Buried in Forest of Candidates, Paul Renner Digs for a Blade of Grassroots
Former House Speaker Paul Renner is staring up at U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, James Fishback, and even Lt. Gov. Jay Collins in most polling of the race to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. But he’s confident that public opinion surveys don’t sync up with what he’s seeing as he travels the state making his case to Republican voters ahead of the August Primary.
GOP Gerrymandering Is Burying the South’s Black Voters
Republican state legislatures across the South, Florida included, are passing new congressional redistricting maps that systematically divide concentrated Black populations into multiple white-majority districts to neutralize minority voting power and limits political representation. It is a regression to Jim Crow-era electoral suppression.
Palm Coast Council Almost Finalizes Three Charter Amendments for November Ballot
The Palm Coast City Council today all but finalized language for three charter amendments that would appear on the November ballot. One proposal clarifies procedures for removing council members, another establishes an 18-month rule for holding special elections to fill vacancies, and a third increases the city debt limit to $30 million without requiring a referendum. The changes aim to resolve previous appointment controversies and modernize municipal financial governance.
Florida Democrats Are Getting Giddy. They Should Beware.
Florida Democrats are experiencing rare optimism following competitive polling and recent special election victories as Republican incumbents Byron Donalds and James Uthmeier face scrutiny over controversial statements and legal issues. But the GOP maintains a supermajority and control over the judiciary, and Democrats have a history of failing in critical statewide elections.
Paul Renner’s 2% Delusion
Paul Renner is at 2% in one from Fabrizio, Lee & Associates, which puts him 52 points behind U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds. He is also at 2% in a poll posted by The Floridian, the content of which appears to align with an internal survey referred to recently by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins. Yet he sees a path for victory in August’s Primary for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
With Democrat David Jolly’s Exception, Most Gubernatorial Candidates Oppose Legalizing Recreational Pot
The GOP’s Paul Renner, Byron Donalds and James Fishback all oppose legalizing recreational marijuana. Democrat David Jolly is one exception. He says the fact that a majority of Floridians voted to legalize cannabis in 2024 is why he supports making it legal.
Florida Redistricting Draws Second Lawsuit
The new congressional map signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday has attracted its second legal challenge in as many days. Equal Ground Education Fund, a voting rights group, and 18 Florida voters filed suit against the new map within hours of it becoming law.
Lawsuit Calls Florida’s New Congressional Map ‘One of the Most Extreme Gerrymanders’ in US History
A lawsuit has been filed against the Florida congressional redistricting map signed into law Monday by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Equal Ground Education Fund, a Black-led organization that works to increase Black political power in Florida, filed a 71-page lawsuit in the Second Judicial Circuit in Leon County on behalf of 18 individual plaintiffs who live throughout the state. The suit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to stop the new map from going into effect.
Educator and Business Owner Rob Wood Challenges Will Furry For School Board, Citing Civility and Experience
Robert Wood has entered the Flagler County School Board District 2 race to challenge incumbent Will Furry. A conservative educator Wood wants to restore prestige and functional civility to a board frequently defined by discord. He brings extensive leadership experience from Western Governors University and the Air Force, and as a local business owner. . He advocates for relationship-driven governance.
Florida Democrats and Civil Rights Organizations Prepare For Court Battle Over New Redistricting
DeSantis’ redrawn congressional maps sparked immediate threats of legal action from advocacy groups as critics argue the mid-decade changes violate the state’s Fair Districts Amendment. The governor claims a recent Supreme Court ruling justifies the move. Opponents describe the plan as a partisan power grab designed to dilute minority voting power and secure Republican seats before the 2026 elections.
Florida House Approves DeSantis’ Congressional Redistricting Map in 90 Minutes
The Florida House of Representatives on Wednesday morning passed the congressional redistricting map presented to them by Gov. Ron DeSantis, which could give Republicans up to four new congressional districts. DeSantis’s legal team argues that federal law overrides state Fair District Amendments regarding minority representation. Democrats allege illegal partisan gerrymandering designed to aid 2026 midterm goals. The Florida Supreme Court will likely decide the constitutionality of this race-neutral approach.
Florida Capitol Protesters Denounce Special Session’s Secret Congressional Redistricting Maps
Approximately 150 protesters gathered outside the Florida Capitol Tuesday as the House of Representatives convened inside, chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, rigged maps have got to go.” The gathering of protesters countered the Florida House’s quick floor session on the first day of a special session called to debate congressional redistricting. (The Senate convened later in the day.)
Proposed Charter Amendments Would Address Council Removals, Vacancy Appointments and Debt Limits
Palm Coast officials narrowed over a dozen charter proposals to three priority amendments for the November ballot. The measures establish formal procedures for removing council members, refine the process for filling vacancies, and double the city’s general fund debt limit to $30 million. Some proposals are closer to final language than others.
David Jolly and Jerry Demings Are Competitive with Byron Donalds, Stetson Poll Shows
The Stetson University’s Center for Public Opinion Research survey is the latest to show a potentially competitive General Election between Byron Donalds, David Jolly and Jerry Demings in a state national Democrats wrote off until recently.
Trump’s Vote by Mail Ban: ‘A Solution Looking for a Problem’
Former federal judge John E. Jones III argues that the recent executive order regarding mail-in voting is unconstitutional. Article 1, Section 4 of the Constitution grants states authority over election procedures. The order relies on false premises of widespread fraud and inaccurate voter rolls. Twenty-three states are currently suing to block this federal overreach. Jones asserts that the mandate will likely fail judicial scrutiny.
Democratic Challenger José Javier Rodríguez Accuses James Uthmeier Of Political Theater
A Democrat seeking to oust Attorney General James Uthmeier says Uthmeier has turned the statewide office into political theater instead of fighting for everyday Floridians. “My opponent is the most corrupt Attorney General we’ve ever had … and he’s the least independent we’ve had,” José Javier Rodríguez said in downtown Orlando at the Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida.
Birthright Citizenship Ruling Will Decide Whether America’s 250th Is Celebration or Curtains
A Supreme Court ruling against birthright citizenship is a dangerous stepping stone toward mass denaturalization and the erosion of individual sovereignty. That’s Trump’s endgame. Anything less than a decision demolishing the challenge would disgrace the sestercentennial anniversary we are about to celebrate.
Byron Donalds Claims Regime Change Is Imminent In Cuba
With tensions still high between Cuba and the U.S., gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday and openly called for a change of government in Cuba.
Back to DeFuture! Ron DeSantis Is the Only Authentic Choice in 2028
Be cool, Ron: Fox will sober up, come to its senses, and realize only you can save this nation from the Red Chinese, the whiny Ukrainians, vaccines, the powerful Palestinian lobby, crazed sociology majors, climate change radicals, feminists, soft-on-illegal-immigrants sheriffs, and anything else threatening Americans’ precious bodily fluids.
Snubbed By Big Donors, Paul Renner’s Fundraising Drops
Former House Speaker Paul Renner is finding it more difficult to raise money in 2026 than he did in 2025, suggesting that the Palm Coast Republican will need a lot of grassroots support if he intends to compete with front-runner Byron Donalds in the race for Governor.
Paul Renner Appropriates ‘Affordability’ as His Laggard Campaign Tours Florida
Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner took his “Affordability Now” tour to Tampa Bay Thursday, where the conversation focused on property insurance rates, property taxes, and growing discontent with condominium and homeowners’ associations.
GOP Rep. Ryan Chamberlin Launches Citizen Initiative To Eliminate Florida Property Taxes By 2028
Florida Republicans have struggled to pass property tax relief despite promises of a constitutional amendment for the November ballot. GOP Representative Ryan Chamberlin is now spearheading a 2028 citizen-led initiative to eliminate property taxes entirely as local officials express concern over lost revenue for essential services. Other states like Georgia and Ohio are similarly debating radical tax shifts.
CFO Blaise Ingoglia’s Disinformation Campaign at Local Governments’ Expense
Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is touring the state to accuse local governments of reckless overspending, but his claims rely on a simplistic formula ignoring critical economic factors like property value increases and essential service needs. Flagler County faced his unsubstantiated attacks last week. Actual budget data reveals that Ingoglia’s claims collapse under the weight of even feathery scrutiny.
Thousands Of No Kings Protesters Gathered In Red Florida Counties To Challenge Autocracy and War
Thousands of protesters gathered across Florida cities to demonstrate against Donald Trump during the third No Kings event even in Republican strongholds, including Pensacola, Jacksonville, Lakeland and Flagler County. Veterans joined diverse crowds to criticize foreign policy decisions and domestic immigration enforcement. Participants expressed concern regarding government lawlessness and executive overreach.
Over 1,300 ‘No Kings’ Protesters at 3 Locations in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast Proclaim Diversity of Opposition to Trump
Demonstrators gathered in Flagler Beach and two locations in Palm Coast Saturday to participate in the third set of anti-authoritarian “No Kings” protests, part of some 3,100 such protests across the country. More than 1,300 people voiced opposition to the Trump administration through signs and chants. A small counter-protest emerged at Palm Coast Parkway. Participants expressed concerns ranging from civil rights to immigration issues, but the movement’s political effectiveness ahead of the November election is unclear.
As War and ICE Fuel Momentum, Throngs Expected at No Kings Rallies in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach Saturday
Organizers in Flagler County scheduled three separate No Kings rallies in Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, joining millions expected to participate in over 3,000 demonstrations across the nation and beyond Saturday. The non-hierarchical protests draw on thematic opposition to recent foreign and domestic policies and the president’s authoritarianism.
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia Brings Campaign-Style Attacks on Local Government Spending to Flagler County
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia visited Flagler County today to accuse local officials of wasteful spending. Using a methodology based on inflation and population growth, Ingoglia claimed the county overspent by 59 million dollars over six years. Local leaders remained silent during the aggressive presentation and some later spoke approvingly of the CFO’s criticism.
Florida Democrats See 2 Election Victories as Signal of Shift Ahead, GOP Shrugs Them Off as Nothing Special
Florida Democrats secured two significant legislative flips in Tuesday’s special elections, defeating Republican opponents in Hillsborough and Palm Beach counties. State party leaders attribute the victories to improved infrastructure and local engagement while Republican leaders dismiss the results as isolated incidents typical of special election cycles. The flips might attract national funding back to the state as both parties prepare for the 2026 general elections.