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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- Opinion
In Florida, Banks Choose LGBT Agenda Over Students’ Futures
What kind of people would kick needy kids out of good schools? Big business, that’s who. In Florida, companies such as Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank are dropping out of a scholarship program—all because some of the private schools have religious beliefs. Apparently, these CEOs think the LGBT agenda is more important than giving…Tony Perkins -
- Opinion
‘Bank’rupt Decision Jeopardizes Opportunity for Disadvantaged Children in Florida
Last week, Wells Fargo and Fifth Third Bank announced they no longer would donate to the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, which enables more than 108,000 low-income children and children in foster care to receive scholarships to attend a safe and effective school of choice. The move comes after the Orlando Sentinel published a piece…Lindsey Burke -
- News
In Florida, Ron DeSantis Accelerates Conservative Agenda
As his first legislative session winds down, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis—elected five months ago by the narrowest of margins—has soared in popularity while pursuing an aggressive reform agenda that includes reshaping the state’s judiciary, investigating school safety, and enforcing immigration laws. “He’s off to a fast start. He’s a trailblazer throughout the state,” Scott Parkinson,…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Florida Set to Follow Congress’ Lead on Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal justice reform in Florida is poised to follow in the footsteps of federal legislation signed into law by President Donald Trump in December. It’s an issue that has gained substantial traction at both the state and federal level. The Florida First Step Act, drafted by Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes, was passed unanimously by…Jacob Paolillo -
- News
Blue State Refugees Flock to Conservative Florida
While most attention has been focused on immigrants trying to enter the United States over America’s southern border, there is legal migration taking place that has been largely ignored, though it may have at least as much economic and political impact as the other. People are moving out of high-tax states to Florida and other…Cal Thomas -
- News
Florida Gov. DeSantis Issues 1-Year Deadline to Eliminate All ‘Vestiges’ of Common Core
The day before Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced his $91.3 billion budget request for fiscal year 2020, which includes $21.7 billion for education programs, he issued an executive order to do away with “vestiges” of Common Core standards, “streamline” standardized testing, and revise the state’s educational curriculum. In a Jan. 31 press conference at a…John Haughey -
- News
Florida Governor Sanctions Airbnb for West Bank Policy
Airbnb, which lists more 45,000 Florida properties on its vacation rentals website, has lobbied hard to remove its “home-sharing” offerings from hotel/motel regulations and unshackle the state’s $31 billion short-term rental industry from local regulations. Several bills, including last year’s Vacation Rental Act, gained momentum during the last two legislative sessions before falling short. If…John Haughey -
- News
Florida Newspaper Publishes Exhaustive Parkland Report: Sheriff’s Office ‘Cost Children Their Lives’
Authorities and school officials either failed to act or were unclear about procedures when confronting the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Feb. 14, 911 logs, surveillance videos, and interviews show. The South Florida Sun Sentinel released a minute-by-minute rundown of the Parkland, Florida, shooting in “Unprepared and Overwhelmed.” The Sentinel acknowledged many teachers and…Neetu Chandak -
- Opinion
A Lesson in Racial Politics From Florida
Now that, finally, the elections in Florida have reached a conclusion, there are lessons worth learning. One is on the subject of race. There was a fateful anomaly in racial voting in the governor’s race between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Rick DeSantis, now Florida’s governor-elect. Given that Gillum, formerly mayor of Tallahassee, was running…Star Parker -
- Opinion
The Florida Fiasco Ends
After two recounts—one by machine, the other by hand—after a concession speech by Andrew Gillum, the Democratic candidate for governor, which was withdrawn and then re-delivered; after hordes of lawyers descended on the state to argue that “every vote should be counted,” including mail-in ballots with faulty signatures that were rejected the first time around,…Cal Thomas -
- News
Judge Rejects Bill Nelson’s Push for Recount Deadline Extension, Calling Florida a ‘Laughingstock’
A federal judge rejected a push by Democratic Florida Sen. Bill Nelson to extend the machine recount deadline in a Thursday ruling and labelled Florida a “laughingstock” because of its election failures. “We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this,” U.S. District Judge Mark Walker said…Evie Fordham -
- Opinion
Podcast: What You Need to Know About Florida Recount, Georgia Vote Tallying
As recounts continue in Florida for the gubernatorial and Senate races, and Georgia continues tallying votes in its gubernatorial election, The Heritage Foundation’s Hans von Spakovsky, an expert on voter fraud, joins us to discuss what’s really going on—and causes for concern about shenanigans. Listen below or read the transcript a little bit further down….Katrina Trinko -
- Opinion
A Replay of 2000? Florida Recount Stirs Concerns.
MIAMI—Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., had the best line when it comes to the latest Florida election in which contests for governor and the U.S. Senate are still undecided. Rubio tweeted: “Bay County was hit by a Cat 4 Hurricane just 4 weeks ago, yet managed to count votes & submit timely results. Yet over 41…Cal Thomas -
- News
Trump Calls Out Embattled County Election Official in Florida Vote-Count Mess
President Donald Trump is scrutinizing the Florida election-recount process, and he isn’t the only one—largely because of Broward County. On election night, it appeared likely that Rick Scott, the outgoing Florida Republican governor, had defeated Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for his seat. It appeared even more likely that Republican ex-Rep. Ron DeSantis defeated Democrat Andrew…Fred Lucas -
- News
12 Times Florida County’s Elections Supervisor Has Been ‘Incompetent and Possibly Criminal’
As both parties scrutinize the vote count in Florida’s Broward County, with the state’s gubernatorial and senatorial races closing in on a tie, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said the county’s elections office has a history of malfeasance. “This is at a minimum a pattern of incompetence. Voters deserve better,” the Florida Republican said Thursday on “Tucker Carlson…Luke Rosiak -
- News
Rubio Says Democrat Lawyers Are Going to Florida to ‘Change the Results of Election’
Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is warning that the fate of his state’s governorship could hang in the hands of Florida’s Broward County Supervisor of Elections Brenda Snipes, whom he’s called incompetent for violating state and federal laws. A liberal candidate similarly painted her as incompetent and corrupt. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum initially conceded…Luke Rosiak -
- News
Florida Man Held, Van Searched in Case of 12 Suspicious Packages Sent to Public Figures
Law enforcement officials on Friday arrested a Florida man identified as Cesar Sayoc Jr. in connection with 12 suspected mail bombs sent to Democratic politicians and other public officials in the past few days. Sayoc, who resides in Aventura, Florida, north of Miami, is suspected of sending at least 12 potential explosive devices to Democrats…Chuck Ross -
- Opinion
Hurricane Michael Strengthening as It Approaches Florida Panhandle
Hurricane Michael, as of now, is a very strong Category 2 storm with 110 mph winds, and is expected to become a Category 3 before it makes landfall sometime Wednesday. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency for at least 35 counties, and mandatory evacuations are under way for 120,000 residents of…David Inserra -
- Opinion
Why a Florida Man’s 20-Year Sentence for Stealing Cigarettes Isn’t a Case for Criminal Justice Reform
Robert Spellman Jr. last week received a 20-year prison sentence after a jury convicted him on burglary and grand theft charges for stealing $600 worth of cigarettes from a Florida convenience store. It’s a sentence Spellman, of Pensacola, Florida, well deserves. Spellman’s sentence has become a national (and international) story in part because of robust…Jonathan Zalewski -
- Opinion
Podcast: Student Journalist From Florida’s Broward County Shares His Findings on School Safety
The school shooting in Parkland, Florida, rocked the nation. It also revealed incompetence and even corruption within the local school board. Kenneth Preston, a student journalist who helped expose some of these issues, joins us. Plus: A new poll shows Americans are split on whether they want to go to space.Katrina Trinko