Politics
Biden for President Florida is Strongly Positioned for Victory
With less than 6 weeks left until Election Day, Biden for President Florida is in a strong position to win the Sunshine State and send Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the White House.
As President, Joe Biden will restore the soul of our nation, rebuild the backbone of our economy — the middle class — and unite our country. President Trump has failed Floridians. From his mismanagement of the COVID-19 crisis and its economic fallout, to his efforts to defund Social Security, President Trump has made Floridians’ lives worse.
Florida is ready for a real leader — and Joe Biden is the right candidate with the right message for voters and the right vision for the future. He cares about issues important to voters, like stopping the spread of COVID, the economy, and health care.
Across the state, our campaign is running a voter contact program focused on quality conversations with voters across Florida to meet voters where they are and earn every vote.
Joe Biden is the leader Florida needs, and we’re strongly positioned for victory
- Joe Biden is the clear choice to lead Floridians forward. Florida’s economy — particularly in Central Florida and coastal communities that depend on tourism — cannot recover until the pandemic is under control and only Joe Biden has a plan to beat COVID-19 and build our economy back better. Joe Biden has an ambitious plan to create millions of good-paying jobs for working class Floridians by investing in a clean energy future that will also build climate resilient infrastructure that can withstand rising seas and more frequent extreme weather events.
- President Trump won Florida by just over 1% in 2016, but he’s facing strong headwinds in 2020. In 2018, Florida Democrats picked up 2 Congressional seats and won one statewide election, while ceding the gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races by less than 1% each. Demoratic wins were made possible by increased turnout and support among suburban voters.
- Democrats won these races by campaigning against key elements of the Trump agenda like his attacks on health care. Joe Biden is in a strong position to build off Democrats’ growing strength in the Florida suburbs, particularly in localities like Duval and Seminole Counties that flipped blue in 2018. Biden is also uniquely situated to narrow margins in traditional Republican strongholds like Sumter County, home to the Villages, thanks to his strong support with Florida seniors. These trends combined with strong turnout in Florida’s reliably blue and more urban counties will chart Biden’s path to victory in the Sunshine State.
- More than 14,000 Floridians have died from COVID-19 and the unemployment rate has surged to double-digits, peaking at a devastating 24.7% and 37% in places like Orange and Osceola counties respectively, because President Trump failed to act. Floridians know Joe Biden has a plan to get the virus under control and build our economy back better than before.
We aren’t taking a single Floridian for granted
- Floridians know that Vice President Biden is the right choice. Biden’s polling average is +1.8 according to 538 and Biden is currently +1.3 according to Real Clear Politics. Barack Obama won in 2012 by less than 1% and Donald Trump won in 2016 by a little more than 1%. Elections in Florida are always close, but Biden continues to lead with Florida voters.
- Vice President Biden, Senator Harris, Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff have held virtual and in-person meetings with Florida voters, including veterans, seniors, educators, African Americans, and Hispanics.
- During Biden’s first visit to the Sunshine State since being chosen as the Democratic nominee for president, he held a roundtable with local veterans at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, where he underscored his commitment to our nation’s veterans, service members, families, and caregivers. Then, he visited Kissimmee to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with Hispanic celebrities Ricky Martin, Eva Longoria, and Luis Fonsi. Biden’s visit came just hours after his campaign rolled out the most comprehensive policy for Puerto Rico’s recovery by any presidential candidate in history.
- During Senator Harris’ first visit to Florida, she hosted a community conversation with Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, Miami Shores Mayor Crystal Wagar, and Black community leaders at Florida Memorial University where they discussed the challenges facing the Black South Floridians. Before the conversation, Harris stopped for arepas in “Doral-zuela” with Ana Navarro and State Senator Annette Taddeo.
- The campaign has organized a robust and comprehensive direct voter contact program, resulting in more than 944,700 actual engagements or meaningful conversations with voters through phone calls and text messages and is prepared to scale its outreach over the coming weeks, with tens of thousands of volunteers already mobilized through virtual events, phonebanks, textbanks, trainings, and meetings. Since the Democratic Convention, the campaign has seen a 336% increase in people signing up to volunteer and help flip Florida blue. These efforts have culminated in an unprecedented 750,000 vote by mail enrollment advantage over Republicans.
- The campaign’s groundbreaking digital first organizing approach has allowed us to reach voters in new and creative ways, creating digital organizing hubs on Slack, speaking with voters on every platform, and hosting daily virtual events in every part of Florida like last week’s Charla on the housing crisis that followed Hurricane Maria, the campaign’s Sister to Sister mobilization event, or this week’s Turn Up and Turn Out the Vote CBC Bus Tour stop.
Sister to Sister Kickoff: Hats and Tea event with Congresswoman Val Demings, a statewide virtual event to engage and mobilize the Black community
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Virtual Bus Tour to Stop in Florida to Talk Housing Ahead of Hurricane Maria Anniversary with Darren Soto, Julián Castro, and Tom Perez
We are building a strong and diverse coalition
- Our coalition includes Floridians from every part of our state: seniors from the Villages, Black families in Duval, Puerto Ricans in Kissimmee, suburban families in the I-4 corridor, Haitians and Cubans in Miami, Jewish retirees in West Palm Beach, and Republicans in Fort Myers. Our campaign is aggressively pursuing the Hispanic vote, maximizing Black turnout, and increasing support with seniors — and we are successfully executing on all three of these strategic imperatives in 2020.
- This approach is strengthened by constituency specific outreach that reflects the diverse makeup of Florida. Our campaign has built out the largest coalitions outreach team of any Democratic campaign in Florida, bringing onboard coalition directors to engage and activate Hispanic voters (from Cubans to Puerto Ricans, Venezualans, Colombians, and Nicaraguans), Black voters (African American, Haitian, English speaking Black Caribbean), Florida seniors, women, union workers, veterans, Jewish Floridians, and other key constituencies.
- Engaging Florida’s diverse communities requires a diverse and multi-pronged approach. That’s why we’ve launched specific grassroots organizations like Caribbean Americans for Biden and Todos Con Biden groups like: Cubanos con Biden, Venezolanos con Biden, Dominicanos con Biden, Colombianos con Biden, and Boricuas con Biden. These grassroots powered groups have a powerful reach through digital organizing on platforms like WhatsApp and socially distanced in-person events like recent caravans. Over the next two months, you will see our campaign continue to engage these constituencies in real and meaningful ways.
We are meeting the moment with effective organizing
- Mobilizing and engaging supporters during a global pandemic is an unprecedented situation, but it has also provided us an opportunity to meet voters where they are. Our phone contact rates are higher than they have ever been, voters are more willing to engage and meet virtually, and we are having more meaningful conversations.
- Our campaign has made a historic and early investment in the state: blanketing the airwaves on TV and radio in all 10 of Florida’s media markets since June, while leveraging targeted digital efforts and direct mail to boost turnout and bolster our persuasion efforts. Through September 21, the Biden campaign alone has outspent the Trump campaign on English and Spanish-language TV and radio advertising in Florida.
- Of note, the Biden campaign has launched the most robust — and culturally competent — Hispanic media buy of any modern Democratic campaign in Florida, with a heavy focus on the Miami, Orlando, and Tampa markets and competing in less traditional Hispanic media markets like Ft. Myers and West Palm Beach.
- The campaign has also launched the largest paid targeted African American media program in history, with specific emphasis on Black-owned TV, radio, and print, and targeted outreach in both English and Haitian Creole to reach Florida’s diverse Black population.
- We are targeting every key constituency through every platform in a multi-layered approach: TV, radio, digital, print, mail, and direct voter contact. Whether it’s Hispanic media that incorporates regional-specific accents and touches on culturally relevant themes (ex: Puerto Rican narrators in Central Florida and Venezuelan or Cuban narrators in Miami), or localized content that features testimonials of real Floridians who are supporting Joe, the campaign’s paid media program speaks directly to voters from every community.
“Prohibido Olvidar,” meaning Forgetting is Forbidden, is a digital ad airing in Florida in both English and Spanish that features a heartfelt narration and original music by Marc Anthony. The ad pays homage to the survivors of Hurricane Maria and the strength of the people of Puerto Rico
“Donna” features a couple from the Villages who illustrate the frustration so many Florida seniors feel at Donald Trump’s mismanagement of the COVID-19 response and fundamental failure to lead.
We are helping voters understand how to cast their ballot
- Biden for President Florida has assembled the largest and best-resourced voter protection program in history, with more than 4,000 lawyers mobilized and thousands of volunteers working to ensure that every eligible voter can vote and have their vote count. Our voter protection program is also equipped to communicate with voters in English, Spanish, and Haitian creole.
- We are also engaging in a large-scale voter education campaign to ensure that Floridians know how and when to cast their ballot. IWillVote.com/FL includes new resources to walk voters through the process of casting their ballot, and we’ll be launching a robust digital program featuring voters and elected officials highlighting the easy and convenient ways to vote early. Voters can also contact our information hotline, with English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole language options, at 833-VOTE-FLA (833-868-3352).
Where we go from here
- While our campaign has built a historic advantage in vote-by-mail, we will continue to mobilize significant resources to encourage Floridians to vote early through whatever option they choose — whether that’s through mail or in person voting.
- Biden for President Florida is standing up Community Victory Centers across the state, where supporters can pick up campaign supplies and literature, to ensure voters can get the information they need about our campaign no matter where in Florida they live.
- And you will see our campaign continue to meet voters where they are. We will use all of the tools at our disposal — including our expansive surrogate program, local media engagement, paid media, and more — to persuade and mobilize every eligible voter to cast their ballot for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
There are 36 days until November 3rd and Biden for President Florida is going to use every single one of them to persuade and mobilize Floridians to cast their ballot for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Florida
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia Targets Orange County Over $300 Million in Alleged Wasteful Spending
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Blaise Ingoglia announced that more than $300 million in the 2025-2026 Orange County budget has been identified as “excessive and wasteful spending,” as part of an ongoing statewide review of local government finances.
According to the Florida Agency of Fiscal Oversight, Orange County’s General Fund Budget has increased by 66.06% since 2019. Last year, the CFO’s office identified nearly $200 million in what it described as excessive spending in the county’s 2024-2025 budget.
Ingoglia said the continued increase in spending highlights the need for property tax reform across Florida.
“Last September, my office revealed that Orange County’s local government officials were irresponsibly spending taxpayer dollars,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “Not only did they not heed our warning, but they doubled down on excessive spending. The taxpayers are suffering the consequences of their wasteful spending problem. The time for property tax reform is now.”
ORANGE COUNTY BUDGET GROWTH
State officials reported that Orange County’s General Fund Budget increased by $688,768,908 since 2020, while the county’s population grew by 131,538 residents during that same period.
According to the report, for every family of four that moved to Orange County, the budget increased by approximately $20,945.
The Florida Agency of Fiscal Oversight also stated that Orange County has spent an estimated $747.5 million in excessive or wasteful expenditures over the last six years.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROPOSAL
The report claims Orange County could reduce its millage rate by 1.22 mills without disrupting essential county services. If implemented, homeowners could see annual savings based on taxable property values:
- A taxable home value of $300,000 could save approximately $365 annually.
- A taxable home value of $400,000 could save approximately $486 annually.
- A taxable home value of $500,000 could save approximately $608 annually.
The findings come as Florida leaders continue discussing broader statewide property tax reform initiatives focused on reducing the burden on homeowners.
STATEWIDE FISCAL OVERSIGHT EFFORT
Ingoglia said his office has now uncovered more than $2.4 billion in excessive and wasteful government spending statewide. He pledged to continue reviewing local government budgets and advocating for transparency and accountability in taxpayer spending.
Americans for Prosperity also voiced support for the effort.
“CFO Ingoglia continues to keep his foot on the gas when it comes to identifying wasteful spending within local governments,” said Greg Ungru of Americans for Prosperity. “Taxpayers deserve transparency, especially as Orange County has continued to throw away money over the last six years.”
Florida
Darren Soto Faces Toughest Re-Election Fight as Puerto Rican Political Influence Shifts in Central Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — A decade ago, Central Florida’s growing Puerto Rican population was widely viewed as a political force poised to reshape Florida politics for generations.
Today, that momentum faces growing uncertainty.
As congressional redistricting redraws political boundaries, voter turnout fluctuates, and internal political divisions deepen, Puerto Rican political representation in Central Florida is confronting one of its most significant challenges in modern Florida history.
At the center of the debate is Darren Soto, Florida’s first Puerto Rican member of Congress, who now faces a dramatically reshaped congressional district that political analysts say could strongly favor Republicans in 2026.
The battle over Soto’s political future has become symbolic of a larger question unfolding across Orange and Osceola counties: Can Puerto Rican political influence maintain its footing in a rapidly changing Central Florida electorate?
A Community That Once Redefined Florida Politics
Puerto Rican migration to Central Florida accelerated in the early 2000s and surged further following the economic downturn in Puerto Rico and the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The migration transformed communities throughout Orlando, Kissimmee and surrounding areas, creating one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the continental United States.
The political impact soon followed.
Puerto Rican candidates increasingly won elections at both the state and federal levels, creating what many viewed as a rising pipeline of Hispanic leadership in Florida.
That rise included the elections of leaders such as:
US House of Representatives
- Darren Soto (D) — U.S. Congressman(2016) ; former State Senator (2012) and State Representative (2007)
Florida State Senate
- Victor Torres (D) — former State Senator (2016-2024) and State Representative (2012)
Florida House of Representatives
- Susan Plasencia (R) — State Representative (2022)
- Johanna López (D) — State Representative (2022) and former Orange County School Board Member
- Daisy Morales (D) — former State Representative (2020) and former Supervisor of Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Amy Mercado (D) — former State Representative (2016)
- René Plasencia (R) — former State Representative (2014)
- John Cortes (D) — former State Representative (2014)
- Bob Cortes (R) — former State Representative (2014)
- Ricardo Rangel (D) — former State Representative 2012
- John Quiñones (R) — former State Representative (2002) and former Osceola County Commissioner
- Anthony Suarez (D) — former State Representative (1999)
Puerto Rican representation reached a high point during the mid-2010s.
In 2016, six Puerto Rican elected officials simultaneously held seats in Congress or the Florida Legislature, including Soto, Torres, Bob Cortes, John Cortes, Amy Mercado and Rene Plasencia.
Political strategists at the time predicted that Puerto Rican voters could eventually help Democrats establish long-term dominance in Florida.
That projection, however, has not materialized.
Redistricting Changed the Political Landscape
The congressional map approved by Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature significantly altered Central Florida’s political boundaries following the 2020 Census.
The changes reshaped Soto’s congressional district by expanding it eastward and incorporating more conservative coastal and suburban voters.
Under the revised district:
- The Hispanic voting-age population declined substantially.
- Puerto Rican voter concentration dropped sharply.
- White voters became the district’s largest demographic group.
- Republican performance improved across multiple precincts added to the district.
Political analysts say the new map transformed what had been a Democratic-leaning Hispanic-majority district into a far more competitive seat.
The map also intensified concerns among civil rights advocates and Puerto Rican community leaders who argue the changes diluted Hispanic voting power.
Several legal challenges were filed against the congressional maps, though Florida courts have thus far allowed the districts to remain in place.
Election Results Raise Concerns
Recent election outcomes have further fueled debate over the future of Puerto Rican political representation.
In Senate District 25, Puerto Rican leadership ended after term limits forced the departure of Victor Torres.
His wife, Carmen Torres, sought to retain the seat in 2024 with support from Democratic leaders and Puerto Rican political organizations. She ultimately lost to a White candidate, Kristen Arrington.
In House Districts 35, 44 and 47 — districts with large Hispanic populations — White candidates also prevailed.
Meanwhile, former State Representative Daisy Morales lost her re-election bid after facing opposition supported by portions of the Democratic establishment. That opposition included, but not limited to Johanna López (Puerto Rican), who previously served as campaign manager for Samuel Vilchez Santiago during his unsuccessful 2020 challenge against Morales and later strongly supported a white candidate in Morales re-election race in 2022.
Some Puerto Rican community leaders argue these election outcomes reflect a growing disconnect between Central Florida’s expanding Hispanic population and the candidates ultimately elected to represent those communities.
Others point to changing coalition politics in Central Florida, where Venezuelan, Colombian, Brazilian and non-Hispanic voters increasingly shape election outcomes alongside Puerto Rican voters.
Internal Political Divisions Complicate the Picture
Political observers also note that internal divisions within Democratic and Puerto Rican political circles have contributed to leadership turnover.
Several recent races featured:
- Competing endorsements among Puerto Rican leaders.
- Financial support directed toward non-Puerto Rican candidates.
- Divisions between progressive and establishment Democratic factions.
- Low turnout in local and legislative elections.
The victories of candidates such as Rita Harris demonstrated how coalition-building among African American, White progressive and non-Puerto Rican Hispanic voters could overcome traditional Puerto Rican political bases.
Voter Turnout Remains a Major Challenge
Despite population growth, Puerto Rican voter turnout has remained inconsistent in nonpresidential elections.
Political strategists say turnout gaps continue to weaken electoral influence, particularly in:
- Midterm elections.
- Local legislative races.
- Municipal and county contests.
Lower participation rates among younger voters and newly relocated residents have also limited the community’s ability to fully translate population growth into political power.
Republicans, meanwhile, have made gains among Hispanic voters across Florida, particularly among working-class and socially conservative voters concerned about inflation, public safety and economic issues.
Soto Still Maintains Key Advantages
Despite the challenges, Darren Soto enters the next election cycle with several advantages.
Soto remains one of the most recognizable political figures in Central Florida and has built strong relationships throughout Osceola and Orange counties during his years in public office.
Supporters credit Soto with helping secure federal investments involving:
- Transportation infrastructure.
- SunRail expansion efforts.
- Airport development.
- Economic development initiatives.
- Hurricane recovery assistance for Puerto Rican families relocating to Florida.
Democrats also believe backlash against aggressive redistricting and growing concerns over immigration enforcement policies could energize Hispanic voter turnout.
Still, many political analysts acknowledge that the new district lines significantly complicate Soto’s path to reelection.
What Happens if Soto Loses?
If Soto is defeated, Florida could temporarily lose Puerto Rican representation in Congress entirely.
For many community leaders, the symbolic impact would be significant.
Puerto Rican advocates argue that representation matters not only legislatively, but culturally and politically, particularly for communities that spent decades building political infrastructure in Central Florida.
The concern extends beyond a single election cycle.
Currently, Johanna López and Susan Plasencia remain among the few Puerto Rican voices serving in the Florida House.
López has announced she will not seek reelection and instead is running for Orange County commissioner. She endorsed Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a Venezuelan American candidate, to succeed her.
If elected, Santiago would further reflect the political evolution of Central Florida’s Hispanic electorate, where multiple Latino communities increasingly share political influence once largely associated with Puerto Rican voters.
A Defining Election Cycle Ahead
As Central Florida continues to diversify politically and demographically, the 2026 election cycle is expected to test whether Puerto Rican political influence can regroup under new district boundaries and changing coalition dynamics.
For Soto and many longtime Puerto Rican leaders, the coming election may determine whether the political movement that transformed Central Florida over the last two decades can maintain its influence — or whether a new political era is already emerging.
