Kathleen Passidomo voted with the Senate majority in June to send the property tax measure to the Nov. 3 ballot. The vote was 30-9. She said she voted “yes” because voters should get to decide. She’s voting No.
Elections 2026
Byron Donalds Calls for Rick Scott’s Help as Poll Shows Tie with David Jolly
Rick Scott appeared Thursday with GOP gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds in Pinellas County. He urged the crowd to vote as soon as possible, just as a new public opinion survey showed Donalds in a dead heat with Democrat David Jolly.
Florida Association of Realtors Vastly Outspending Opponents of Amendment 3
A report shows that the campaign working to see Amendment 3 on the statewide ballot win approval in November raised $18 million through Sept. 25. All of that financial support came from the Florida Association of Realtors. The two political committees opposing Amendment 3, Floridians for Shared Prosperity and Vote No on 3 Florida, have raised a combined $537,357. That’s a ratio of more than 33:1.
Federal Judge Throws Out Illegal-Voting Prosecution as Unconstitutional
A federal Judge in Miami has dismissed an illegal-voting case after finding Congress overstepped its constitutional authority by setting voter eligibility requirements reserved for states. U.S. District Judge David Leibowitz threw out a charge against Chelsea Michelle Ann Cox, a Florida resident accused of voting despite lacking U.S. citizenship.
In Lakeland, JD Vance Says Florida Senate Candidate Angie Nixon ‘Doesn’t Belong in America’
“Get the hell out of here. You don’t belong in America,” J.D. Vance said of Florida Senate candidate Angie Nixon as he was campaigning for her opponent and for Byron Donalds against David Jolly in Lakeland Thursday.
Flagler Forum Exposes Deep Uncertainty and Evasions on Proposed Amendment 3 Homestead Exemptions
At a Flagler Tiger Bay Forum Wednesday evening, former Sen. Jeff Brandes warned of catastrophic local revenue losses and severe service cuts if Amendment 3, the proposal to raise the homestead exemption and sharply cut local tax revenue is approved in November. Constitutional officers voiced alarm as well, contrasting sharply with Palm Coast City Council member Theresa Pontieri, who defended the tax shift through user fees and dismissed opposition as “propaganda.”
As Governor, Donalds Might Retain Surgeon General Ladapo. Jolly Would Fire Him.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds reiterated Tuesday that he remains open to reappointing Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo if he wins the Nov. 3 election. That marks a clear distinction with Democrat David Jolly, who has vowed to fire Ladapo on his first day in office.
Angie Nixon Will Pay $250 Fine to Settle Charge of Sit-In at DeSantis’s Office
Florida Democratic Senate candidate Angie Nixon will pay a $250 fine and provide 15 hours of community service to settle her case with Leon County after she was charged with two misdemeanors for holding a sit-in at Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office in the Florida Capitol on May 15.
New Poll Shows Homestead Exemption Amendment 15 Points Short of Approval
A constitutional amendment that would increase the homestead exemption to $250,000 in 2028 has 45% support among likely voters, 15 points short of the 60% it needs to pass, according to a new St. Pete Polls survey conducted for Florida Politics. Another 30% oppose Amendment 3 and 25% are undecided with less than seven weeks until Election Day.
Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar Breaks with Trump Over Immigration
Miami-Dade County Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, who is battling for re-election, is airing a campaign ad in which she declares that President Trump’s immigration efforts have gone “too far.”
Sheriff Staly Was Set to Fire Ex-Chief Deputy Joe Barile: Documents Cast Harsh Light on Resignation
A pair of documents, a public one by former Flagler County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Joe Barile and an internal one by Sheriff Rick Staly, cast a much harsher but clearer light on what led to the sudden resignation of Barile last week after less than two years on the job. Barile was about to be fired. He chose the resignation route the sheriff offered, and has signaled his intention to be sheriff one day.
Why the Supreme Court Sunk Trump’s Ploy to Torpedo Mail-In Voting
The Supreme Court upheld a preliminary injunction blocking new Postal Service voting regulations for the upcoming midterm elections because the executive branch exceeded its constitutional authority to regulate federal elections, preserving current mail voting procedures for citizens across the nation.
Raymond Royer, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Raymond Royer is an independent–or no party affiliation–candidate for Flagler County Commission, District 2, facing Theresa Pontieri, the current Palm Coast City Council member and vice mayor. The District 2 seat has been held by Greg Hansen since his appointment to it in 2017, and subsequent elections. He opted not to run again.
Theresa Pontieri, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Theresa Carli Pontieri is the Republican candidate for Flagler County Commission, District 2, facing Raymond Royer, who has no party affiliation (NPA). Pontieri, , the current Palm Coast City Council member and vice mayor, defeated Greg Feldman in the Republican primary. The District 2 seat has been held by Greg Hansen since his appointment in 2017 and subsequent elections. He opted not to run again.
Economic Development Group Join Opposition to Amendment 3
The Florida Economic Development Council and the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP) both issued statements denouncing the November ballot measure that would raise the homestead exemption to $250,000 by 2028 and gut local government general fund revenue.
26-Year-Old Ohio Man Who Threatened U.S. Rep Randy Fine in Vile Screed Is Arrested
A 26-year-old Ohio man was in custody after threatening to kill U.S. Rep. Randy Fine and his family, according to the congressman and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Flagler County Is Not As Red As You Think
Last Tuesday’s primary in Flagler County clearly demonstrated that voters are exhausted by toxic political demagoguery, reactionary extremism and political theater. THat’s especially so on the School Board, where Will Furry was dispatched, Jill Woolbright was stopped from returning, and Christy Chong is hanging by a mumble.
Florida Tax Watch Rolls Out Amendment 3 Information Website
The Florida Property Tax Resource Center offers what Florida Tax Watch calls “independent, data-driven research to make informed decisions related to Amendment 3.”
Angie Nixon Dismisses Demonization by Ashley Moody Over DSA Ties
Angie Nixon’s reputation as one of the most liberal members of the Florida House far preceded any association with DSA, which she did join this summer. When asked if her link to the biggest socialist organization in the United States makes it harder to defeat Moody, she said it didn’t really matter.
Ashley Moody Previews ‘Anarchist Psychos’ Attack Line Against Angie Nixon In Senate Race
GOP Sen. Ashley Moody claims the media failed to scrutinize Democratic Senate nominee Angie Nixon during the primary campaign against Alex Vindman, alleging that aggressive reporting would have exposed Nixon and prevented her surprising victory. Republicans plan to leverage Nixon joining the Democratic Socialists of America to attack her general electability.
In Major Upset, DSA’s Nixon Defeats Vindman to Take on Moody for U.S. Senate
State Rep. Angie Nixon, a staunch progressive, defeated establishment favorite, Lt. Col. Alex Vindman in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate on Tuesday, overcoming a vast fundraising disadvantage. Nixon, who joined the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) during her campaign, will face incumbent U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Tampa, in the general election.
Kevin Guthrie Is Out as Emergency Managent Director After 2-Day Stint as Collins Running Mate
Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie resigned Tuesday, one day after becoming Lt. Gov. Jay Collins’ running mate in his run for governor. Guthrie’s stint as Collins’ running mate lasted less than 48 hours: Collins came in second, with 25 percent of the vote, to Byron Donalds’s 48 percent in the 11-way Republican primary race for governor.
Rob Wood and Cathy Moon Decisively Win School Board, Tucker and Chong in Runoff, Pennington and Pontieri Win
Rob Wood and Cathy Moon decisively beat Will Furry, a first-term incumbent, and Jill Woolbright, who was attempting a comeback, for Flagler County School Board, while former Board member Trevor Tucker will be in a runoff against incumbent Christy Chong. Incumbent County Commissioner Leann Pennington easily won, and Theresa Pontieri won her County Commission primary bid. Tony Amaral, Jeani Duarte, Dylana Gallery and Darlene Shelley are headed for runoffs in Palm Coast City Council races.
Despite District’s Red Tilt, 4 Democrats Raise Big Sums for Chance to Take On Randy Fine
Retail manager Eric Yonce, Marine Rob Cooper, brewery owner Steve Morgan and first responder Ronnie Murchinson-Rivera are fighting for the chance to challenge the controversial incumbent Randy Fine’s re-election. Even after Fine was significantly outspent in the Special Election to win his seat last year, he earned about 57% of the vote in a district that includes all of Flagler County.
Record Early Voting in Flagler Primary Marred by Illegal Text Smear in School Board Race
Flagler County saw a record early voting turnout in its primary election but also sharply declining mail-in ballots. An anonymous and illegal text message masquerading as a campaign advertisement targeted School Board candidates days before the election.
Toned Down Homestead Amendment Ballot Language Removes Ideological Claim of ‘Excessive Property Taxes’
In the new version, the title “Save our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” has been replaced by, “Increased Homestead exemption; Lower Cap on Increases in Non Homestead Property Assessment.” The ballot summary would now make clear the measure would increase the homestead exemption for all non-school taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028 and adjust for inflation thereafter.
Moving Past ‘Moms for Liberty,’ Groups Invest in Pro-Equality and Academic Freedom Candidates
Two organizations say they’re investing a quarter of a million dollars to support “pro-equality, pro-academic freedom” school board candidates this election season. The Equality Florida Political Action Committee and Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund announced Friday morning that the $250,000 will go toward 300,000 pieces of mail to reach more than 200,000 voters.
Mail Voting Declines Sharply in Flagler County and Florida, Reflecting GOP Rhetoric and Restrictions
Flagler County and Florida data shows a sharp decline in vote-by-mail requests for the August primary due to intense partisan rhetoric questioning ballot security and strict new legislative rules requiring citizens to frequently renew their requests. Some officials defend the new regulations as necessary measures to prevent voter fraud, though evidence of fraud has been scant to nonexistent.
Flagler County Early Voting Reaches Halfway Point With 11.3 percent Turnout
At the halfway point of an eight-day early-voting period in Flagler County, just over 11,000 voters had cast ballots out of 99,000 registered voters, a turnout of 11.3 percent.
Swastika Sprayed On Randy Fine Sign At Early Voting Site in Flagler Beach Sparks Sharp Backlash
A campaign sign for U.S. Rep. Randy Fine, who is running for reelection, was vandalized with a swastika at the Wickline Senior Center in Flagler Beach, an early-voting location. Local officials condemned the incident and Fine blamed opponent Dan Bilzerian for inciting hatred, citing his past antisemitic remarks amid a rise in hate crimes. Fine is not without his own history of bigoted, incendiary comments.
Florida’s Swampy, Undignified GOP Primary for Governor
The Republican primary for Florida governor has been dominated by scandalous behavior and vicious infighting, starting with frontrunner Byron Donalds, who faces criticism for embarrassing gaffes and confusing policy stances on data centers, among other issues. James Fishback battles residency questions and controversies involving his past. Diane Roberts sums up a chaotic and undignified race.
Byron Donalds Attacks Nonpartisan Revenue Estimating Conference
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds is questioning whether advertised impacts of this year’s property tax amendment are exaggerated.
Regime Change: The Banality of Evil in Trump 2.0
“Regime Change,” the new book by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, details the reality of Donald Trump’s second administration and a White House consumed by personal vengeance, vanity and strategic cluelessness. The administration ignores actual policy to focus on petty grievances and disastrous foreign conflicts. It is the chronicle of a rapidly decaying empire struggling to survive unprecedented corruption.
Eight Days of Early Voting Begin Saturday in Flagler County as 6,000 Have Already Cast Primary Ballots
Flagler County begins eight days of early voting Saturday with five polling locations available countywide. Nearly 6,000 ballots have already been cast by mail. Several local races, including School Board and Palm Coast City Council contests, could be decided in the primary. Election officials encourage voters to review sample ballots and bring proper identification before casting ballots.
Byron and Erika Donalds’ Gospel of ‘School Choice’ Would Turbocharge Vouchers and Privatization
Byron and Erika Donalds are leveraging their political influence and billionaire donations to drastically transform the public education system in Florida. The couple envisions a lucrative free-market educational economy prioritizing universal voucher programs and private charter schools. Critics argue their aggressive privatization agenda unconstitutionally drains essential taxpayer funds from struggling traditional public school districts.
Calling Homestead Amendment Ballot Measure Misleading Political Rhetoric, Judge Orders Rewrite
The title and summary of a property tax cut proposal to be placed on the November ballot contain political rhetoric and are misleading, and must be redrafted, a Leon Circuit Court judge ruled late Monday. “Voters are entitled to a fair, clear, accurate and non-misleading ballot statement to assist them in making their critical determination,” Judge David Frank wrote in his 18-page ruling.
Byron Donalds Says He’ll Reform Property Taxes Regardless of Amendment’s Fate
Likely Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds says Florida’s property tax system is getting a full rewrite next year, whether or not voters pass Amendment 3 in November.
Darlene Shelley, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Darlene Shelley is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. She faces Dylana Galery, John Kvederis and Ramon Marrero. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
A Desperate Renner Takes on Fauci and Donalds in Final Weeks of Primary
Former House Speaker Paul Renner is attempting to climb up the polls and drag down U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds in the Republican gubernatorial primary, but he’s also trained his sights at Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Ramon Marrero, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Ramon Marrero is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galry, John Kvederis and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
John Kvederis, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
John Kvederis is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. He faces Dylana Galery, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary. If none of the candidates get a majority of more than 50 percent, the top two vote-getters will go on to the runoff in the Nov. 3 general election, when again all registered voters in Palm Coast are eligible to vote.
Ethics Panel Dismisses Complaint Filed Against Flagler Commissioner Andy Dance by Candidate Jones
The Florida Ethics Commission found no probable cause that Flagler County Commission Chair Andy Dance misused his position regarding his wife’s employment under former Administrator Heidi Petito. County Commission Candidate Anna Jones filed the complaint in late December. The brief investigation concluded Dance followed proper procedures, maintained no obligation to notify commissioners on contract renewals, and exerted no influence over his wife’s job.
Judge Hears Challenge Claiming Proposed Property Tax Cut Ballot Title Is Misleading Political Rhetoric
A Leon County Circuit Court judge heard arguments regarding a challenge to Florida’s proposed property tax amendment as plaintiffs, who include former local government elected officials and a former Republican legislator, contend the ballot summary uses biased language to sway voters. A decision could force Attorney General James Uthmeier to revise the ballot text before mail printing begins.
School Board’s Will Furry Pushes Controversial Anti-Abortion ‘Olivia’ Video for Inclusion In Curriculum
Flagler County School Board member Will Furry requested the board review an anti-abortion fetal development video known as “Meet Baby Olivia” for local curriculum integration. Led by activist Andrew Shirvell, public commenters urged adoption despite state-level rejections. Board members are split, with concerns over medical inaccuracies, pending workshop discussions scheduled after the upcoming election.
Dylana Galery, Palm Coast City Council Candidate: The Live Interview
Dylana “Dee” Galery is one of four candidates for the Palm Coast City Council, District 4, an open seat. Galery faces John Kvederis, Ramon Marrero and Darlene Shelley. This is a non-partisan race. All registered voters in Palm Coast may cast a ballot in the Aug. 18 primary.
Palm Coast Council Members Push to Pause New Deputy Hirings Amid Budget Tensions Over Taxes
The Palm Coast City Council reached what looked suspiciously like a tense impasse over property tax rates, public safety funding, and municipal services at a workshop this morning. The administration outlined three budget options, but council members demanded revised scenarios setting rates at rollback or rollback plus inflation. Proposal discussions included a pause on hiring new sheriff’s deputies.
Anna Jones, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Anna Jones is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. She faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Drew Moss. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Ray Stevens Challenges Dave Sullivan Over Palm Coast City Council Seat Timing Dispute
Ray Stevens is challenging Council member Dave Sullivan over who should occupy the Palm Coast City Council District 3 seat before November. Stevens won the special election unopposed and is pursuing immediate seating under city charter provisions. Sullivan refuses to step down early, insisting appointed members must serve full terms. Stevens consulted state election officials to compel his seating, rejecting Sullivan’s assertions.
Drew Moss, Flagler County Commission Candidate: The Live Interview
Drew Moss is one of three Republican candidates for Flagler County Commission, District 4. He faces incumbent Leann Pennington and Anna Jones. Only registered Republicans may vote in the primary. The winner of the Republican Aug. 18 primary will still go on to the general because a write-in has filed, but the Republican who prevails is all but certain to win.
Poll Shows Homestead Amendment Can Pass–If Voters Are Kept in the Dark About Consequences
New polling from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab shows Amendment 3 has a narrow path to passage on Florida’s General Election ballot this November — but one contingent almost entirely on voters not knowing what the measure would do to local budgets.