Politics
Calls for State Probe into State Rep. Rita Harris’s Finances: Allegations of Negative Net Worth, $78,000 IRS Liability, and Suspicious $13,000 Campaign Loan
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The 2024 rematch election for Florida House District 44 is heating up as the Daisy Morales Campaign demands a state investigation into the background and financial dealings of incumbent State Representative Jennifer Rita Harris, according to a recent press release issued by the Daisy Morales Campaign.
The Florida Election Commission and the Office of State Attorney Andrew Bain are called upon to scrutinize potential election law violations, which could significantly impact the race, the press release stated.
The Daisy Morales campaign issued a press release regarding a formal complaint filed in early July concerning State Representative Jennifer Rita Harris’ questionable financial background. The complaint highlights Harris’ reported net worth of -$3,511.91 in her current State Finance Disclosure Report, questioning how she managed to loan nearly $13,000 to her 2022 campaign. Additionally, the Morales Campaign pointed out Harris’ history of unemployment, her unpaid role as CEO in her husband’s businesses for six years, and her claims of being solely a housewife on IRS tax returns.
Campaign Highlights Concealed Background
The Morales Campaign has uncovered troubling aspects of Harris’ background, positioning these findings as a liability for her high-profile endorsers, including US Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, US Congressman Maxwell Frost, and Florida State Senate candidates Shevrin Jones and Carmen Torres. Other notable endorsers include Florida State House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Florida State House Democratic Leader Designate Christine Hunschofsky, Florida State Representative candidate Johanna Lopez, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association PAC, Florida Professional Firefighters PAC, Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association PAC, United For Progress PAC, and former Florida State Representative candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago who’s also the current Chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party, and among others.
Call for Investigation
The Morales Campaign has formally requested an investigation into Harris’ potential campaign finance and election law violations. The latest financial disclosure report filed with the Florida Commission on Ethics reveals Harris’ net worth is negative $3,511.91, despite loaning her 2022 campaign approximately $13,000.
Questionable Background
The Morales Campaign highlights Harris’ questionable unemployment history, her unpaid role as CEO in her husband’s businesses for approximately six years, and her claims of being solely a housewife on IRS tax returns.
Employment and Business History
- Kronos Unlimited, LLC
2012 – 2015: Company Administratively Dissolved by the State
Jennifer R. Harris, Managing Member
John C. Harris, Managing Member - Salesforce.com Overflow Services, LLC
2013-2018: Company Administratively Dissolved by the State
John Harris, Managing Member - Harris Cloud Consultants
2016-2017: 2022 Company Reinstated by the State (Current)
Rita Harris, CEO, Sales Executive (LinkedIn profile)
John C. Harris, Owner (2021 Financial Disclosure) - Orlando County Democratic Party
2018-2022: Rita Harris, Events Chair (Volunteer) LinkedIn profile - Valeo Cloud Consulting, LLC
2021 (Current): John C. Harris, Owner
Raising Serious Questions About Harris’ Background
“Who was the real Jennifer Rita Harris before she moved to Florida and her allies’ disinformation campaign misled voters into electing her to the Florida House?” the Morales campaign asks. It alleges that endorsements from elected officials, community leaders, and PACs were given without proper vetting, leaving voters uninformed.
Harris’ Social Media Posts / Vulgar Comments
Source: The Daisy Morales Campaign
Harris’ Medium platform posts (2017-2022) display a pattern of using offensive language and engaging in race-baiting. Her posts show anger towards U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, elderly individuals, white men, and progressive supporters.
Key Issues Highlighted:
- Stereotyping: Based on age, race, and gender.
- Ageism: Prejudice against elderly men.
- Racism: Negative attitudes towards white individuals.
- Gender Bias: Hostility towards men.
- Offensive Language: Including 27 instances of the F-word and other offensive remarks.
**VIDEO WARNING: The language in this post is very graphic **
It’s not safe for work or around children.: https://www.facebook.com/DaisyForFlorida/videos/893343599501765
Source: The Daisy Morales Campaign
“Harris has demonstrated abusive, racist, and hateful behavior that has no place in our communities, county, or election process. In her postings, she made it clear that she’s also a part-time ‘asshole,’” the campaign asserts.
The Real Jennifer Rita Harris’ Background: A Disaster
Recent disclosures reveal:
- Negative Net Worth: Harris’ 2024 Finance Disclosure Report shows a net worth of negative $3,511.91.
- Lack of Paid Employment History: No paid employment history for over 25 years.
- Significant Federal Debt: $78,000 in federal debt owed to the IRS (2022 report).
- Struggling Businesses: Multiple struggling and revoked businesses listed under her name.
- Unpaid CEO: Admitted to being the CEO of her husband’s business without pay for six years.
- Educational Debt: Approximately $30,000 in educational debt owed without any completed certification or degree.
Deceptive Campaign Tactics
“Harris, her allies, and endorsers’ campaign to whitewash her background from District 44 voters and the public is coming to an end,” a Morales campaign declares. “Voters deserve transparency and honesty from their elected officials and candidates.”
Key Points:
- Endorsements Without Due Diligence: Endorsements in 2022 and 2024 without proper vetting.
- Financial Irregularities: Significant debt and business issues.
- Educational Discrepancies: Educational debt claims without corresponding credentials.
- Campaign Misrepresentation: Misleading voters about her qualifications.
Democrats: Florida State Representative Daisy Morales (2020-2022) and Florida State Representative Jennifer “Rita” Harris (2022-2024) Source: Florida House
Former Florida State Representative Daisy Morales has a proven track record as a bipartisan lawmaker who effectively passed sponsored and cosponsored legislation into law. She successfully cosponsored over $15 million in appropriation projects. Her campaign focuses on accountability, and tirelessly serving the constituents in the Florida House.
In Contrast
Jennifer Rita Harris’ legislative record is marked by numerous sponsored dead bills and unsuccessful record of over $20 million in appropriation projects in the Florida House. Sponsored bills and appropriation projects all dead in her first term.
This press release seeks to aggressively highlight the concerns and issues surrounding Jennifer Rita Harris’ background, overlooked by local media for years, while reinforcing Daisy Morales’ commitment to effective leadership, the press release stated.
Democrats, Independents and Republicans voters in Florida House District 44 will decide on August 20 whether to give incumbent Jennifer Rita Harris or former State Representative Daisy Morales a second term to represent them in the Florida House.
Florida
DeSantis’ New Florida Congressional Map Could Spark Lawsuits, Legislative Showdown, and Statewide Protests
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a proposed congressional redistricting map that could significantly reshape Florida’s representation in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The proposal, released Monday, outlines districts that could favor Republicans in 24 seats, compared to four Democratic-leaning districts. Currently, Florida’s congressional delegation includes 20 Republicans and seven Democrats, with one vacant seat.
REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL & POLITICAL IMPACT
The governor said the new map reflects Florida’s population changes and fulfills his commitment to mid-decade redistricting. Lawmakers have been called into a special legislative session to consider the proposal.
The map appears to eliminate four Democratic-held seats, including a Tampa-area district represented by U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, an Osceola County district held by U.S. Rep. Darren Soto—the first Puerto Rican elected to Congress from Florida—and a Palm Beach-Broward district that could displace U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz.
The proposal also affects a majority-Black voting district spanning Palm Beach and Broward counties, previously represented by former U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, raising concerns about the future of minority representation.
Supporters, including Evan Power, say the map could better align districts with voter distribution. Critics, including Nikki Fried, have called the proposal unconstitutional gerrymandering. Florida law prohibits partisan gerrymandering, setting up potential legal challenges.
Rep. Tray McCurdy, D-Orlando and Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville sit on the Florida Seal in protest as debate stops on Senate Bill 2-C: Establishing the Congressional Districts of the State in the House of Representatives Thursday, April 21, 2022 at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Rep. Daisy Morales, D-Orlando, joins the protest, holding a sign. The session was halted on the protest. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)
LOOKING BACK: 2022 PROTESTS OVER REDISTRICTING
The current debate mirrors tensions from 2022, when Democratic lawmakers staged a sit-in protest on the Florida House floor in opposition to a previous congressional map backed by DeSantis.
Lawmakers including Yvonne Hinson, Angie Nixon, Travaris McCurdy, Felicia Robinson, and Daisy Morales participated in the protest, temporarily halting legislative proceedings.
Morales, a member of the Congressional Redistricting Subcommittee and the only Hispanic lawmaker involved in the sit-in, strongly criticized the map at the time.
“Our democracy is being attacked. The governor eliminating two Black congressional seats is a power grab and it’s wrong,” Morales said in a written statement. “Stripping seats from Black representation is the same as saying the Black voice—the Black vote—doesn’t matter.”
She also warned about potential impacts on Hispanic representation:
“With this map passing, I’m deeply concerned it could target the only Puerto Rican representing Florida in Congress, Darren Soto, to benefit partisan interests. We don’t want to disenfranchise the 1.2 million Puerto Ricans in Florida.”
WHAT COMES NEXT IN 2026
As lawmakers prepare to debate the new proposal, Democrats are expected to push back through legal challenges, legislative opposition, and public advocacy.
The outcome of Florida’s redistricting battle could play a pivotal role in shaping control of the U.S. House and influence the national political landscape heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
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