Florida Politics & News
Florida news featured in The Daily Signal with reporting, analysis, and commentary on conservative governance, education reform, and the Sunshine State’s leadership in policy innovation.
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Democrat Elected Miami Mayor for First Time in Nearly Three Decades
REUTERS—Democrat Eileen Higgins became the first member of her party in nearly three decades elected mayor of Miami on Tuesday, defeating a Republican backed by President Donald Trump in a Hispanic-majority city in the heart of his Florida stronghold. CNN and the Associated Press called the election for Higgins less than an hour after polls… -
news
Florida Bill Will Prevent Government Money Going to Media ‘Bias Monitors’
A law preventing government collusion with media gatekeepers will go to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. The Florida Legislature approved its 2025-2026 budget on Tuesday, which included a provision prohibiting state agencies from using funds “to contract with an advertising agency or other contractor who acts as or uses the services of media reliability and… -
news
Here’s Why DeSantis Isn’t Opposing University of Florida President Candidate Who Made ‘Woke’ Statements
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday explained why he is allowing University of Michigan President Santa Ono to proceed in the confirmation process to lead the University of Florida, despite Ono’s previous statements that DeSantis admitted make him “cringe.” Ono published an op-ed earlier this month explaining that his ideas on the Left’s ideology—often referred… -
opinion
Florida Appeals Court Puts Parental Rights Where They Belong
School districts across the country require parental notice or consent before minors may go on a field trip or even receive a cough drop. But for years, the Supreme Court said that those same minors have a constitutional right to get an abortion with minimal, if any, parental involvement. Now, the legal tables may have… -
news
Randy Fine Wants America to Look More Like Florida
Rep. Randy Fine was sworn into office a month ago Friday, but he already has an idea of what Republicans need to do while they control Congress and the White House. “We need to show we can govern,” Fine, 51, told The Daily Signal. Fine, R-Fla., was elected in Florida’s 6th Congressional District on April… -
opinion
How Ron DeSantis Turned Florida Red—and Why It Will Remain That Way
In 2022, the state famous for deciding the presidential election in 2000 dramatically shifted to the right, catching Democrats and Republicans by surprise. The only person not surprised was Gov. Ron DeSantis, who brought the state from purple to bright red, and he plans to ensure that Florida remains that way. As a Floridian, I… -
news
DeSantis Cracks Down on Colleges Repackaging DEI Despite Florida Ban
Some college administrators have “repurposed DEI under a different banner” and “think they can get away with it” despite anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion laws Florida passed in May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday. “We’re making sure, yes, we don’t have DEI, but you can’t just rename it and do it,” DeSantis told Fox News’… -
news
DeSantis Slams Rep. Randy Fine for ‘Underperformance’ in Florida Elections
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called out newly elected Rep. Randy Fine for “an underperformance by more than 50%” despite Florida Republicans winning two key special elections for the U.S. House Tuesday. During a Wednesday interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” DeSantis said he thinks Fine “was in dire straits a few weeks ago” due to… -
news
Republicans Fend Off Democrat Bid to Seize Florida House Seat
Republican Randy Fine emerged triumphant Tuesday in a special election in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, The Associated Press projects, putting an end to speculation that the district could flip and hand Democrats a seat in Congress. The race received national attention and millions from Democrat donors who sought to send a message about their party’s… -
news
Florida Special Elections for House Seen as Barometer on Trump Policies
Two special elections Tuesday for House seats from Florida will be a test of the popularity of the first 70 days of President Donald Trump’s second term and will decide whether or not Republicans can maintain their already slender margin of control in the House of Representatives. The stakes are high. With four seats currently… -
news
Byron Donalds Confirms Run for Florida Governor
DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—Republican Florida Rep. Byron Donalds announced Tuesday evening on Fox News that he will be running for governor next year. With current Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis approaching the end of his second term, potential candidates for the position have begun to emerge. President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to offer… -
news
At CPAC, Byron Donalds Hints of Bid for Florida Governor
Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., teased a possible run for governor of Florida in his remarks at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday, as he touted the Sunshine State as a model for conservative governance. Donalds’ speech to the annual gathering, held just outside Washington, came the day after President Donald Trump endorsed his likely… -
news
Rick Scott Faced Lawfare as Florida Governor. Here’s His Advice to Trump Today.
OXON HILL, Md.—Rick Scott served as governor of Florida for eight years, cutting regulations as the Sunshine State became an economic powerhouse. He faced lawsuits from leftist groups then, and he gave advice for President Donald Trump—who faces lawsuits seeking to block his policies—today. “That’s what happens,” Scott, now a U.S. senator from Florida, told… -
news
Defying DeSantis, Florida Legislature Gavels Out of Special Session, Then Reconvenes
THE CENTER SQUARE—The Florida Legislature responded Monday to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a special session by gaveling out of his and convening its own. Lawmakers will only take up an immigration-related bill and will not tackle the other issues called for in DeSantis’ proclamation, which included condominium regulations, electoral security reforms, and modifying the… -
news
Call Your Governor: Florida College Shows How to Reform Woke Public Universities
A new book out this week gives a blueprint for freedom-loving governors to fight back and stop the waste of taxpayer money subsidizing public universities that are cesspools of Marxism and propaganda undermining Western civilization. This book, which supplies a path out, is titled “Storming the Ivory Tower: How a Florida College Became Ground Zero… -
news
Florida Sues FEMA Officials Over Hurricane Helene, Milton Failures
THE CENTER SQUARE—The state of Florida is suing current and former federal employees personally for allegedly ignoring storm victim households solely because of their political affiliation. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody sued current and former Federal Emergency Management Agency officials for “conspiracy to discriminate” against Florida hurricane victims because they expressed support for President-elect Donald… -
news
Florida Woman to Become White House Chief of Staff in Second Trump Admin
President-elect Donald Trump tapped Susie Wiles, his reelection campaign co-chair, as White House chief of staff Thursday as his transition team prepares to launch the second Trump administration. Wiles will be the first woman in history to hold that role. “Susie Wiles just helped me achieve one of the greatest political victories in American history,… -
news
Florida, South Dakota, and Nebraska Voters Reject Abortion Amendments: Results From 10 Ballot Initiatives on Life
Voters in 10 states decided Tuesday either to protect life or to enshrine abortion up to birth in their constitutions, with pro-life advocates prevailing in Florida, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Five largely pro-abortion states—Colorado, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, and New York—and five largely pro-life states—Arizona, Florida, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota—voted in the weeks leading up… -
news
Scenes From Trump’s Florida Election Night Party
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—A room full of MAGA hat-wearing Americans cheered loudly at 1:47 a.m. Wednesday when Fox News announced that former President Donald Trump had enough electoral votes to win back the White House. The news came shortly after pollsters called multiple swing states for the former president, including North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania…. -
news
Florida Sues DHS for Refusing to Verify Voter Registration Citizenship Information
THE CENTER SQUARE—After requesting citizenship status information about registered voters in Florida, and not receiving it from federal agencies as required by law, Florida sued. In September, Florida requested information from the Department of Homeland Security and its subagencies about citizenship status of a subset of registered voters it identified and its request was denied….