Politics
Biden for President Florida is Strongly Positioned for Victory
Published
6 years agoon
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.
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Central Florida News
Rick Singh, Roberta Walton Johnson Face Off in Orange County Clerk Race After Maribel Gómez Cordero Withdraws
Published
2 days agoon
July 27, 2026ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — The race for Orange County Clerk of Courts has entered a new chapter following Orange County Commissioner Maribel Gómez Cordero’s withdrawal, leaving voters with a head-to-head contest between former Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh and Orange County Clerk of Courts General Counsel Roberta Walton Johnson.
With incumbent Clerk Tiffany Moore Russell running for Orange County mayor, voters will elect a new clerk for the first time in more than a decade. The race now presents a choice between two candidates with different backgrounds but significant public-sector experience.
While recent headlines have focused on lawsuits and campaign controversies, both candidates are expected to spend the final weeks making their case on qualifications, leadership and their vision for one of Orange County’s most important constitutional offices.
An Open Constitutional Office
The Orange County Clerk of Courts serves as clerk to the courts and County Commission, custodian of public records, county recorder and chief financial officer for numerous court-related functions. The office oversees billions of dollars in transactions annually while providing services to residents, businesses and the judicial system.
With the field narrowed to two candidates, voters will compare experience, leadership and each candidate’s ability to manage a large countywide office.
Rick Singh: Former Countywide Constitutional Officer
Rick Singh previously served as Orange County Property Appraiser, leading one of Florida’s largest property appraisal offices.
Throughout his tenure, Singh emphasized technological modernization, operational efficiency, transparency and customer service.
His campaign highlights:
- Executive leadership of a countywide constitutional office.
- Experience managing large budgets and personnel.
- Technology modernization initiatives.
- Increased public access to government services.
- Fiscal accountability and operational efficiency.
Singh argues his experience managing a constitutional office prepares him to immediately lead the Clerk’s Office.
Roberta Walton Johnson: Clerk’s Office Legal Leader
Roberta Walton Johnson serves as General Counsel for the Orange County Clerk of Courts, where she advises the office on legal matters, compliance, public records and government operations.
Her campaign emphasizes:
- Extensive institutional knowledge.
- Legal and administrative experience.
- Continuity of leadership.
- Public records compliance.
- Customer service and operational stability.
Johnson says her experience inside the Clerk’s Office positions her to continue serving residents with minimal disruption while building on existing operations.
Candidate Comparison
| Category | Rick Singh | Roberta Walton Johnson |
|---|---|---|
| Current/Public Position | Former Orange County Property Appraiser | General Counsel, Orange County Clerk of Courts |
| Executive Leadership | Led county constitutional office | Senior legal executive within Clerk’s Office |
| Countywide Election Experience | Yes | First countywide campaign |
| Government Experience | Constitutional office administration | Legal counsel and government compliance |
| Campaign Focus | Modernization, accountability, efficiency | Continuity, legal expertise, public service |
Campaign Priorities
Both candidates have emphasized many of the same core responsibilities expected of the next Clerk, including:
- Improving customer service.
- Modernizing technology.
- Protecting public records.
- Fiscal responsibility.
- Efficient court operations.
- Transparency and accountability.
- Expanding public access to Clerk services.
Their campaigns differ primarily in how they believe those goals should be achieved and which experiences best prepare them for the position.
Moving Beyond Campaign Controversies
Like several Orange County races this election cycle, the Clerk’s race has attracted attention beyond policy issues.
Singh has faced scrutiny over litigation and campaign disputes stemming from previous elections, while Walton Johnson has worked to address questions about a criminal case from more than 30 years ago.
During the campaign, Orange County sheriff candidate Bill Moore has repeatedly criticized Walton Johnson over her involvement as a young adult in a Georgia scheme involving stolen tax refund checks. Johnson did not serve prison time and has described the incident as a mistake she made as a naïve 20-year-old that carried lasting consequences. She says the experience changed the direction of her life, leading her to earn a law degree, build a successful legal career and ultimately serve as General Counsel for the Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Both candidates now appear focused on ensuring those controversies do not overshadow the central question facing voters: who is best prepared to manage one of Orange County’s largest constitutional offices.
Connecting With Voters Countywide
Unlike district races, candidates for Orange County Clerk of Courts must earn support from voters across the entire county.
Political observers say success will likely depend on each campaign’s ability to demonstrate:
- Leadership.
- Integrity.
- Administrative experience.
- Fiscal management.
- Transparency.
- Accessibility.
- A clear vision for improving public service.
Community forums, debates and voter outreach will provide opportunities for Singh and Walton Johnson to explain how their backgrounds prepare them to lead the Clerk’s Office.
Decision Before Voters
Following Gómez Cordero’s withdrawal, Orange County voters now face a clear choice between two candidates with different paths to public service.
Rick Singh brings executive experience leading a countywide constitutional office and has centered his campaign on modernization, efficiency and accountability.
Roberta Walton Johnson offers decades of legal experience within the Clerk’s Office, emphasizing continuity, institutional knowledge and her belief that personal redemption and professional achievement have prepared her for elected leadership.
As Election Day approaches, both candidates will seek to persuade voters that their experience, leadership and vision make them the best choice to succeed Tiffany Moore Russell as Orange County’s next Clerk of Courts.
Central Florida News
Commissioner Maribel Gómez Cordero Withdraws from Orange County Clerk of Courts Race Amid Legal Challenge
Published
2 days agoon
July 27, 2026Her decision comes after former Orange County Property Appraiser and fellow Clerk of Courts candidate Rick Singh filed a lawsuit seeking to remove her from the ballot, arguing that Florida’s resign-to-run law required Gómez Cordero to resign from her County Commission seat before running for the countywide constitutional office.
The withdrawal ends Gómez Cordero’s campaign and concludes her pursuit of another elected office as her nearly eight years of service on the Orange County Board of County Commissioners comes to a close.
Withdrawal Ends Legal Dispute
The lawsuit filed by Singh challenged Gómez Cordero’s eligibility under Florida’s resign-to-run law, raising questions about whether she could legally seek election as Clerk of Courts while continuing to serve as the District 4 commissioner until the end of her term.
Rather than continue the legal battle, Gómez Cordero announced she would withdraw from the race.
In comments to La Prensa Newspaper Orlando, she said the decision was based on personal reasons and her desire to avoid further litigation involving public resources.
“I don’t think it is in the public interest for me or the campaign to continue spending money litigating this issue,” Gómez Cordero told La Prensa Newspaper Orlando.
She added that ending her campaign was the appropriate decision under the circumstances.
Her withdrawal effectively ends the legal challenge over her candidacy and removes her name from the race for Orange County Clerk of Courts.
Term-Limited After Two Terms
Gómez Cordero sought the Clerk of Courts office after reaching the Orange County Charter’s limit of two consecutive four-year terms as a county commissioner.
First elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, she was ineligible to seek another consecutive term representing Orange County Commission District 4, making the Clerk of Courts race her next opportunity to continue serving in elected office.
Record of Service on the County Commission
During nearly eight years on the Board of County Commissioners, Gómez Cordero also served as Orange County Vice Mayor and built a record centered on community engagement and constituent services.
Her priorities included:
- Expanding mental health and behavioral health resources.
- Supporting affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.
- Investing in transportation and infrastructure improvements.
- Strengthening parks and recreational opportunities.
- Supporting small businesses and economic development.
- Improving public safety and emergency preparedness.
- Advocating for residents through active constituent outreach.
Known for maintaining a visible presence throughout District 4, Gómez Cordero regularly attended neighborhood meetings, cultural celebrations, nonprofit events, and community forums while advocating for county investments that benefited residents and businesses.
Impact on Orange County Commission District 4
Gómez Cordero’s departure marks the end of nearly eight years representing one of Orange County’s fastest-growing and most diverse districts.
Because she is term-limited, District 4 voters will elect a new commissioner in 2026 regardless of the outcome of the Clerk of Courts race.
Her successor will inherit responsibility for addressing continued residential growth, transportation improvements, housing affordability, economic development, public safety, and infrastructure needs across the district.
Impact on the Clerk of Courts Race
Her withdrawal reshapes the special election to succeed former Orange County Clerk of Courts Tiffany Moore Russell, who resigned to run for Orange County mayor.
The departure of a sitting county commissioner narrows the field leaving candidates Rick Singh and Roberta Walton Johnson seeking to lead one of Orange County’s largest constitutional offices. The Clerk of Courts oversees court records, marriage licenses, official records, jury administration, and financial services supporting the local court system.
With Gómez Cordero no longer in the race, the remaining candidates will continue campaigning ahead of the special election.
Why the Lawsuit Mattered
Singh’s lawsuit focused attention on Florida’s resign-to-run law, which governs when elected officials must resign before seeking another office.
The case highlighted how election law can significantly affect candidate eligibility and reshape local races before voters cast their ballots.
Although the court will no longer decide Gómez Cordero’s eligibility following her withdrawal, the dispute underscored the importance of understanding Florida’s election laws and the legal requirements governing candidates for public office.
Looking Ahead
While Gómez Cordero has not announced her future plans, her decision concludes both her campaign for Clerk of Courts and her tenure as a county commissioner.
Her statement emphasized that avoiding prolonged litigation and protecting taxpayer resources ultimately outweighed continuing her campaign.
As Orange County prepares to elect both a new Clerk of Courts and a new District 4 commissioner, Gómez Cordero leaves public office with a record of community engagement, constituent service, and county leadership.
Florida
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Randy Fine Endorse Joe Strada for Congress
Published
5 days agoon
July 24, 2026ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Republican congressional candidate Joe Strada announced endorsements Thursday from House Majority Leader Steve Scalise and U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Randy Fine of Florida, adding support from prominent conservative leaders to his campaign for Florida’s 11th Congressional District.
Strada, founder of Strada Services, said the endorsements reflect confidence in his business experience and commitment to advancing conservative priorities in Congress.
Conservative Leaders Rally Behind Strada
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise praised Strada’s private-sector leadership and pledged his support for the campaign.
“Joe Strada is a strong conservative Republican who will stand with President Trump to help us deliver on the America First agenda for hardworking families in Central Florida and across the country,” Scalise said. “Joe Strada has my full endorsement because, as a businessman, Joe knows firsthand what it takes to solve problems, create jobs and empower those who are willing to work for their piece of the American Dream.”
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan highlighted Strada’s workforce development efforts and business record.
“Joe Strada has built the American Dream for countless families in Florida and across this great nation,” Jordan said. “He’s tackled the skilled worker shortage by building his own training program and graduating students directly into the workforce. Now, more than ever, we need leaders like Joe Strada in Congress because he is a problem solver who will stand up for our shared conservative values and with President Trump.”
Florida Congressman Randy Fine also endorsed Strada, citing their shared business backgrounds and longtime friendship.
“Joe Strada doesn’t just talk about the American Dream—he’s helped thousands of Floridians live it,” Fine said. “While Washington created problems, Joe built solutions by creating his own workforce training program and putting graduates directly into good-paying jobs across Central Florida. President Trump needs fighters who know how to get things done, and I want Joe standing with President Trump and me in Congress.”
Business Background
Strada is the founder of Strada Services, which the campaign describes as the nation’s largest privately held, family-owned provider of air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and security services. His campaign has emphasized his experience as a self-made businessman and employer, arguing that his private-sector leadership prepares him to address workforce and economic challenges in Congress.
Campaign Message
According to the campaign, Strada is running on a conservative platform focused on supporting President Donald Trump’s America First agenda, strengthening workforce development, expanding job opportunities, and promoting pro-business policies.
The endorsements from Scalise, Jordan, and Fine are expected to bolster Strada’s campaign by highlighting support from influential Republican leaders with strong ties to the House Republican Conference and the conservative movement.
Looking Ahead
Florida’s 11th Congressional District is expected to draw significant attention during the 2026 election cycle. As the campaign progresses, endorsements from national and state Republican leaders are likely to remain an important part of candidates’ efforts to build support among primary voters.
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