FNN review finds key claims about former state Rep. Daisy Morales’ alleged Republican endorsements, Democratic Party removal and legislative record are contradicted, unsupported or missing significant context

FNN FACT CHECK RATING: 🔴 MOSTLY FALSE

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — A political mailer paid for by the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee and urging Democratic primary voters to support Samuel Vilchez Santiago in Florida House District 43 attacks former state Rep. Daisy Morales over alleged Republican endorsements, her Democratic Party status and her legislative record.

A Florida National News review of the mailer, campaign materials, correspondence involving Orlando Sentinel reporter Silas Morgan, legislative records, contemporaneous Democratic Party statements and a written response from 2024 Orange County Commission candidate Joel Montilla found that several of the advertisement’s central factual claims are contradicted by available evidence, unsupported by the record or presented without significant context.

FNN rates the mailer’s overall factual message MOSTLY FALSE.

The rating does not mean every statement in the advertisement is false. Some statements have a factual basis, while others constitute political rhetoric or opinion that cannot reasonably be assigned a truth rating.

But several of the mailer’s most consequential factual assertions — including that Morales endorsed Republican candidates and was an “original cosponsor” of legislation associated with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Stop WOKE initiative — are not supported by the evidence reviewed by FNN.

The advertisement also presents a broader characterization of Morales’ Democratic Party status than the documentation reviewed by FNN establishes.

And while the mailer portrays Morales as having worked with or helped DeSantis-aligned Republicans, contemporaneous evidence provides substantial contrary context. Orange Democrats publicly praised Morales for fighting for their values in Tallahassee, she joined Democratic lawmakers protesting DeSantis-backed congressional maps on the Florida House floor, and she received a 97% score on the 2022 People First Report Card.

Because those assertions are central to the mailer’s portrayal of Morales as politically aligned with Republicans, FNN determined they carry substantial weight in evaluating the advertisement as a whole.

FNN FACT CHECK SCALE: True | Mostly True | Half True | Half False | Mostly False | False | Super Fire

What the Mailer Tells House District 43 Voters

The disclaimer identifies the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee, or FHDC, as the organization that paid for the political mailer.

The advertisement explicitly advocates Vilchez Santiago’s election, stating:

“SAMUEL VILCHEZ SANTIAGO IS THE DEMOCRAT WE NEED.”

It also tells voters:

“VOTE DEMOCRAT SAMUEL VILCHEZ SANTIAGO FOR FLORIDA STATE HOUSE ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 18TH.”

The mailer’s central political message is that Morales supported Republicans and therefore should not receive the support of Democratic primary voters.

Among the factual assertions used to support that message, the mailer says Morales:

“endorsed Republican candidates and was expelled from the Orange County Democratic Party (DEC).”

It also states:

“And, she was an original cosponsor of DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act.”

Another section states:

“She praised Ron DeSantis.”

The advertisement summarizes its attack with the statement:

“DAISY MORALES DIDN’T JUST WORK WITH MAGA EXTREMISTS. SHE HELPED THEM.”

FNN examined the factual basis and context underlying those claims.

CLAIM: ‘She Endorsed Republican Candidates’

FNN RATING: 🔴 MOSTLY FALSE

The assertion that Morales endorsed Republican candidates is one of the mailer’s central factual claims.

The use of the plural “candidates” communicates that Morales endorsed more than one Republican.

The evidence reviewed by FNN primarily centers on Republican Joel Montilla, who ran for Orange County Commission District 5 in 2024.

Montilla told FNN that Morales did not endorse his campaign.

Montilla: ‘She Did Not’ Endorse Me

Florida National News directly asked Montilla whether Morales endorsed his campaign.

His response was unequivocal:

“She did not.”

Montilla said Morales agreed only to serve on the host committee for his campaign kickoff.

“She only agreed to be on my host committee as I launched my campaign,” Montilla wrote. “My endorsements were published as they were given on an individual basis.”

He added:

“There was no endorsement, only support in running.”

Montilla said the Orange County Commission election was nonpartisan and that his kickoff was designed to include Democrats and Republicans.

“Daisy wasn’t the only local Democrat on my host committee,” Montilla wrote.

Asked what campaign documentation connected Morales to his candidacy, Montilla responded:

“The Host Committee flyer is the only material bearing her name.”

That statement is significant because the Republican candidate at the center of the allegation directly disputes the assertion that Morales endorsed him.

Campaign Materials Distinguish Hosting From Endorsing

Campaign materials reviewed by FNN list Morales among numerous individuals under the heading “Host Committee” for Montilla’s campaign kickoff.

The invitation does not identify Morales as endorsing Montilla.

Other Democrats also appeared on the host committee.

Montilla’s campaign separately distributed materials announcing formal endorsements, including an advertisement prominently labeled “ENDORSEMENT ALERT.”

Those separate campaign materials demonstrate that Montilla’s campaign distinguished between participating on its kickoff host committee and publicly endorsing his candidacy.

Based on the materials reviewed, FNN has not identified a public statement from Morales endorsing Montilla.

FNN also has not identified evidence supporting the broader assertion that Morales endorsed additional Republican candidates.

For those reasons, FNN rates the claim Mostly False.

If FHDC or Vilchez Santiago provides documentation establishing other Republican endorsements, FNN will review that evidence and update the rating if warranted.

Vilchez Santiago Previously Made the Montilla Allegation

The allegation involving Montilla did not first appear in the FHDC mailer.

Correspondence reviewed by FNN shows Orlando Sentinel reporter Silas Morgan previously attributed a similar allegation directly to Vilchez Santiago.

Morgan wrote:

“Vilchez Santiago said you endorsed Montilla in that first round of voting in August.”

Morgan also said Vilchez Santiago linked the alleged endorsement to Morales’ status within the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee.

The correspondence is relevant because the FHDC advertisement later promoted Vilchez Santiago while making a substantially similar assertion that Morales “endorsed Republican candidates.”

However, the similarity does not establish that Vilchez Santiago authored, supplied, reviewed or approved the FHDC mailer or caused the committee to publish the allegation.

It establishes that Vilchez Santiago previously made the underlying Montilla endorsement allegation to a newspaper reporter.

CLAIM: Morales Was Expelled From the Democratic Party for Supporting Republicans

FNN RATING: 🟠 HALF FALSE

The English-language portion of the mailer states that Morales:

“was expelled from the Orange County Democratic Party (DEC).”

The Spanish-language portion goes further:

“FUE EXPULSADA DEL PARTIDO DEMÓCRATA POR APOYAR A REPUBLICANOS.”

That statement tells Spanish-speaking voters that Morales was expelled from the Democratic Party for supporting Republicans.

The documentation described to FNN is narrower.

Morgan told Morales that a 2024 Orange County Democratic Executive Committee membership report showed Morales’ position as:

“Vacant.”

The stated reason was:

“Oath Loyalty Violation.”

That provides a factual basis for saying a party membership action involving an alleged loyalty violation occurred.

But the record does not independently establish the complete narrative presented in the mailer:

That Morales endorsed Republican candidates, that those endorsements constituted the alleged loyalty violation and that she was expelled from the Democratic Party because she supported Republicans.

The first part of that factual chain is itself disputed by Montilla.

There is also a meaningful distinction between losing membership or a position on a county Democratic executive committee and being expelled from the Democratic Party itself.

That distinction makes the Spanish-language wording particularly significant.

FNN therefore rates the broader claim Half False.

CLAIM: Morales Was an ‘Original Cosponsor’ of DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act

FNN RATING: 🔴 FALSE BASED ON THE PUBLISHED RECORD REVIEWED

The mailer states:

“And, she was an original cosponsor of DeSantis’ Stop WOKE Act.”

The allegation has been associated with HB 57, Racial and Sexual Discrimination, filed during Florida’s 2022 legislative session.

The published legislative record reviewed by FNN identifies other lawmakers as sponsors and co-introducers.

Morales does not appear in that sponsorship listing.

The official legislative history also shows that HB 57 did not become law. The measure died in committee during the 2022 legislative session.

A related measure, CS/HB 7, ultimately passed.

Based on the published legislative record reviewed, FNN found no support for the categorical assertion that Morales was an “original cosponsor” of HB 57.

FNN therefore rates that specific assertion False based on the published record reviewed.

That finding does not establish that Morales never supported, voted for or expressed a position on related legislation.

Those are separate factual questions from whether she was an original cosponsor.

If FHDC provides an archived official legislative record showing Morales held that designation at some point not reflected in the published record reviewed by FNN, the newsroom will review the documentation and update its finding if warranted.

Morales’ 2022 Legislative Record Provides Broader Context

The mailer’s characterization of Morales as working with or helping DeSantis-aligned Republicans omits significant context from her broader legislative record.

A People First Report Card for the 2022 legislative session gave Morales a 97% score.

The scorecard shows Morales opposing several measures the organization criticized, including legislation involving academic freedom, school curriculum, LGBTQ-related education policy, books in schools and restrictions affecting schools and workplaces.

A legislative scorecard reflects the methodology and policy priorities of the organization issuing it and should not, by itself, be treated as an objective measure of a lawmaker’s ideology.

It does, however, provide relevant evidence of Morales’ broader voting record when evaluating the mailer’s sweeping suggestion that she consistently worked with Republican political interests.

Orange Democrats Praised Morales for ‘Fighting for Our Values’

Contemporaneous statements from Orange Democrats provide additional context.

In a 2022 social media post reviewed by FNN, Orange Democrats publicly thanked Morales for her legislative work.

The post stated:

“Thank you @StateRepMorales for all of your hard work on behalf of Orange County!”

The organization added:

“We appreciate everything you have done to fight for our values in Tallahassee this year.”

The accompanying photograph shows Morales with local Democratic Party leaders.

At the time, Wes Hodge served as chairman of the Orange County Democratic Party and Rita Harris served as vice chair.

The statement is significant because the local Democratic organization itself publicly characterized Morales’ legislative work as fighting for Democratic values.

The post does not establish that Morales agreed with Democrats on every issue or never voted with Republicans.

It does, however, provide contemporaneous evidence that Orange Democrats publicly praised her legislative record — context not reflected in the FHDC mailer’s portrayal of Morales as helping Republican political interests.

Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, Rep. Daisy Morales, D-Orlando, Rep. Tray McCurdy, D-Orlando (in front) and Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, protest on the Florida Seal as debate is halted in the House of Representatives Thursday, April 21, 2022, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. The session was halted by the protest, but continued after a brief recess. Phil Sears AP

Morales Joined Democrats in Protest of DeSantis Congressional Maps

Morales also publicly opposed DeSantis during one of the most consequential political disputes of Florida’s 2022 legislative session.

She joined Democratic lawmakers in protesting congressional redistricting maps backed by DeSantis on the Florida House floor.

Florida House Democrats protest against the congressional map proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and approved by the Florida Senate. The protest in the Florida House chamber prompted a recess in the consideration of the bill by the House on Thursday, April 21, 2022, in Tallahassee. Ana Ceballos aceballos@miamiherald.com Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article260624722.html#storylink=cpy

The confrontation came as Democratic lawmakers objected to the governor’s congressional redistricting proposal and gathered in the House chamber in protest.

Morales’ participation provides documented context showing that she publicly opposed a significant DeSantis political priority while serving in the Legislature.

It would be too broad to conclude from that episode that Morales opposed DeSantis on every issue.

But it would likewise provide an incomplete picture to characterize her legislative relationship with the governor solely through issues on which she may have agreed with Republicans while omitting documented instances in which she joined Democrats in directly opposing DeSantis.

Taken together, Morales’ 97% People First score, Orange Democrats’ public praise and her participation in the House-floor redistricting protest provide significant context absent from the mailer’s broader portrayal of her political record.

CLAIM: ‘She Praised Ron DeSantis’

FNN RATING: ⚪ UNSUPPORTED BY THE PHOTOGRAPH — ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE REQUIRED

The mailer states:

“She praised Ron DeSantis.”

It prominently displays a photograph of Morales with DeSantis, potentially suggesting a political relationship or alignment between the two.

The circumstances surrounding the photograph provide important context not apparent from the image alone.

The photograph was taken Feb. 7, 2019, at the Florida State Fair in Tampa, about a month after DeSantis was sworn in as governor.

At the time, Morales had recently been re-elected as an Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor.

She was not yet a member of the Florida Legislature and would not be elected to the Florida House until November 2020.

Morales was attending the State Fair in connection with a soil and water conservation exhibit alongside representatives of the Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District.

During the event, Morales met with newly elected DeSantis and members of the Florida Cabinet, including Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.

The photograph therefore documents Morales attending a public agricultural event and meeting state officials from both political parties while serving as a local elected conservation district official.

The photograph, standing alone, does not establish that Morales endorsed DeSantis, supported his political agenda or formed a political alliance with him. Nor does the photograph itself establish the mailer’s specific assertion that Morales “praised” DeSantis.

To substantiate the assertion, the relevant evidence would be the actual statement attributed to Morales, including when and where it was made and its complete context.

Unless such evidence is produced, the photograph itself cannot substantiate the specific claim that Morales “praised Ron DeSantis.”

The timing is also significant. The photograph was taken nearly two years before Morales was elected to the Florida House.

FNN therefore finds the mailer’s “praised Ron DeSantis” assertion unsupported by the photograph alone and requiring additional evidence to substantiate the specific claim.

CLAIM: ‘Daisy Morales Didn’t Just Work With MAGA Extremists. She Helped Them.’

FNN RATING: ⚪ OPINION — NOT RATEABLE

The mailer states:

“DAISY MORALES DIDN’T JUST WORK WITH MAGA EXTREMISTS. SHE HELPED THEM.”

The phrase “MAGA extremists” is political rhetoric, and the broader statement is not sufficiently precise to assign a straightforward True or False rating.

FNN therefore does not assign a truth rating to the characterization itself.

The underlying factual record, however, can be examined.

The evidence reviewed by FNN presents a more complicated picture than the mailer’s sweeping statement.

In 2022:

• Orange Democrats publicly thanked Morales for fighting for their values in Tallahassee.
• Morales received a 97% People First Report Card score.
• Morales joined Democratic lawmakers protesting DeSantis-backed congressional maps on the Florida House floor.

Those facts do not establish that Morales never worked with Republicans, never supported bipartisan legislation or never voted for legislation also supported by DeSantis.

They do provide substantial context absent from the mailer’s broad portrayal of Morales as someone who simply worked with and helped DeSantis-aligned Republicans.

Why the Mailer’s Overall Message Is Mostly False

FNN did not determine its overall rating by simply counting individual true and false statements.

The significance of the claims and the overall factual impression conveyed to voters matter.

The advertisement’s central narrative is that Morales crossed party lines to help Republicans and therefore should not receive the support of Democratic primary voters.

Several factual assertions underpin that narrative.

First, the mailer says Morales “endorsed Republican candidates.”

Montilla, the Republican candidate at the center of the allegation, told FNN directly that Morales did not endorse him.

Campaign materials reviewed by FNN distinguish between participating on his kickoff host committee and formally endorsing his candidacy.

FNN also has not identified evidence supporting the plural assertion that Morales endorsed multiple Republican candidates.

Second, the mailer connects alleged Republican support to Morales’ Democratic Party status.

Although a membership report described to FNN provides evidence of a vacancy associated with an “Oath Loyalty Violation,” that record does not independently establish the complete assertion that Morales endorsed Republicans and was expelled because of those endorsements.

Third, the mailer describes Morales as an “original cosponsor” of legislation associated with DeSantis’ Stop WOKE initiative.

The published sponsorship record reviewed by FNN does not identify Morales as an original cosponsor of HB 57.

Fourth, the mailer displays a photograph of Morales with DeSantis while asserting that she “praised” him.

The photograph documents a February 2019 public encounter at the Florida State Fair.

It does not establish that Morales praised, endorsed or politically aligned herself with DeSantis.

Finally, the mailer’s sweeping suggestion that Morales worked with or helped DeSantis-aligned Republicans omits substantial contrary context from her legislative record, including her 97% People First score, public praise from Orange Democrats and participation with Democratic lawmakers protesting DeSantis-backed congressional maps.

Taken together, the mailer presents voters with a substantially stronger impression of Morales’ Republican political alignment than the evidence reviewed by FNN supports.

Why FNN Did Not Rate the Mailer ‘False’

The advertisement contains some verifiable factual elements.

There is evidence of a Democratic Executive Committee membership action involving an “Oath Loyalty Violation.”

Morales did appear with DeSantis at the 2019 Florida State Fair.

And portions of the advertisement constitute political opinion rather than objectively verifiable factual propositions.

The mailer therefore combines factual elements, disputed assertions, unsupported claims, omitted context and political rhetoric.

That combination supports a Mostly False rating rather than a blanket False rating.

Could the Mailer Mislead House District 43 Voters?

The disputed claims concern matters Democratic primary voters could reasonably consider when deciding between candidates, including party loyalty, political endorsements and legislative history.

Political advertisements routinely use selective information, sharp contrasts and partisan rhetoric.

But there is an important distinction between political opinion and presenting specific historical events as facts.

Whether Morales endorsed Republican candidates is a factual question.

Whether she was expelled because she supported Republicans is a factual question.

Whether she was an original cosponsor of legislation is a factual question.

Whether she actually made a statement praising DeSantis is a factual question.

When such assertions are inaccurate, unsupported or presented without material context, voters can receive a substantially different impression of a candidate’s record.

FNN’s review does not establish that FHDC, Vilchez Santiago or another person intentionally deceived voters. Determining intent would require evidence beyond the advertisement and records reviewed for this fact-check.

The evidence does, however, support FNN’s finding that several significant factual assertions used to construct the mailer’s central political message are unsupported, disputed or materially incomplete.

Why It Matters to House District 43 Voters

Political advertising is intended to influence voters.

Factual accuracy therefore matters when an advertisement makes specific claims about a candidate’s political affiliations, party status and legislative history.

Several distinctions are critical:

Serving on a campaign kickoff host committee is not necessarily the same as endorsing a candidate.

Losing membership or a position on a county Democratic executive committee is not necessarily the same as being expelled from the Democratic Party.

Supporting or voting for legislation is not the same factual proposition as being an original cosponsor.

Appearing with an elected official at a public event is not, by itself, evidence of endorsement, political alliance or praise.

And isolating selected moments from a legislative record without acknowledging substantial contrary votes and actions can produce an incomplete picture of a lawmaker’s political record.

Those distinctions can materially affect how voters understand the events described in an advertisement.

Voters should be able to distinguish documented facts, missing context and political characterization before deciding whom to support.

FNN FINAL VERDICT: 🔴 MOSTLY FALSE

Florida National News rates the overall factual message of the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee mailer supporting Samuel Vilchez Santiago MOSTLY FALSE.

The rating is based on the significance of the factual assertions supporting the advertisement’s central narrative, rather than simply counting individual statements.

The mailer says Morales “endorsed Republican candidates.” Yet Joel Montilla, the Republican candidate at the center of the allegation, told FNN directly that Morales did not endorse him.

Campaign materials reviewed by FNN support Montilla’s distinction between appearing on his campaign kickoff host committee and formally endorsing his candidacy.

FNN also has not identified evidence establishing the broader assertion that Morales endorsed multiple Republican candidates.

The mailer connects alleged Republican support to Morales’ removal from the local Democratic organization. A membership record described to FNN shows her position as vacant because of an “Oath Loyalty Violation,” but that record does not, by itself, establish the complete endorsement-and-expulsion narrative presented to voters.

The published legislative record reviewed by FNN does not identify Morales as an “original cosponsor” of HB 57, contrary to another categorical assertion in the advertisement.

The mailer also displays a photograph of Morales with DeSantis while asserting that she “praised Ron DeSantis.” The photograph was taken at the Feb. 7, 2019 Florida State Fair, when Morales was serving as an Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor and attending an agricultural event involving state officials from both political parties.

The photograph establishes the public encounter. It does not establish the mailer’s separate assertion that Morales praised DeSantis.

The broader record also contains substantial context absent from the advertisement.

Orange Democrats publicly thanked Morales in 2022 for “fight[ing] for our values in Tallahassee.” She received a 97% People First Report Card score and joined Democratic lawmakers protesting DeSantis-backed congressional maps on the Florida House floor.

Those facts do not mean Morales opposed Republicans on every issue.

They do demonstrate that her broader legislative record is substantially more complex than the advertisement’s portrayal suggests.

Other portions of the mailer have some factual basis or constitute political opinion, preventing the advertisement as a whole from appropriately being rated simply False.

But because multiple significant factual assertions supporting the mailer’s central message are contradicted, unsupported or materially incomplete, FNN rates its overall factual message MOSTLY FALSE.

Chris Godwin Jr. is healthier, Ted Hurst III continues to impress and Tampa Bay prepares to test its revamped roster against New York

TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles says the combination of veteran and rookie additions has brought a noticeable change in leadership, attitude and toughness to the team as Tampa Bay prepares for joint practices with the New York Jets.

Following Sunday’s training camp practice, Bowles praised the impact of the Buccaneers’ offseason additions and said the difference has been significant.

“It’s huge. I mean, it’s night and day with the veterans that came in and with the rookies that have come in, just from a leadership standpoint, an attitude standpoint, a mentality and study habits,” Bowles said.

Bowles specifically mentioned Kenny Gainwell, Alex Anzalone, A’Shawn Robinson, Josiah Trotter, Rueben Bain Jr. and Rakeem Nuñez-Roches among players helping shape the team’s mentality.

“It’s been a breath of fresh air to see, and everybody gravitates toward them,” Bowles said.

Bowles: Chris Godwin Jr. ‘Peaking at the Right Time’

One of the more encouraging developments for Tampa Bay has been the condition of veteran wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr.

Bowles said Godwin enters this stage of camp healthier than he has been in recent years.

“I think he’s healthier right now,” Bowles said. “Years past he’s been hurt the last two [training camps], but he’s a lot healthier right now.”

Bowles praised Godwin’s mental sharpness, toughness and leadership while emphasizing that the veteran remains an important playmaker in both the passing and blocking games.

“I think right now he’s peaking at the right time,” Bowles said.

Ted Hurst III Making His Case

Wide receiver Ted Hurst III also drew attention during Sunday’s practice, particularly for his ability to make contested catches.

“He can go up and get the ball,” Bowles said. “You see it on his college tape as well, and those are good things to see.”

Hurst said he is trying to establish that ability as a defining part of his game.

“[I’m] just trying to be myself and exploit and show that that’s my game, going up, attacking the ball,” Hurst said.

Cornerback Jacob Parrish also singled out Hurst when asked which receivers have challenged him during camp.

“I’ll say Ted Hurst [III] — he had a very good catch on me today, actually,” Parrish said. “He’s a rookie, very tall, good at running, very fast.”

Hurst said his first NFL training camp has reinforced how much attention to detail is required at the professional level.

“These are the best athletes in the world and everything’s detailed,” Hurst said.

Buccaneers Defense Showing New Energy

Parrish said Tampa Bay’s defensive additions have brought a different attitude to the unit.

“I would say it’s just the energy and the guys we brought in,” Parrish said. “They got an edge to them.”

Bowles also praised Parrish’s development, describing him as one of Tampa Bay’s best coverage defenders alongside Zyon McCollum.

“He’s very quick,” Bowles said. “He’s right up there with Zyon as one of our best cover guys, and he can play inside as well, so that makes him very versatile.”

Bowles said Parrish’s improved understanding of the defensive scheme has allowed him to rely on more than his athletic ability entering his second season.

Josiah Trotter Brings Old-School Physicality

Bowles offered a colorful assessment of linebacker Josiah Trotter when asked what distinguishes him from other linebackers he has coached.

“He’s almost like a new-school linebacker in an old-school body,” Bowles said.

The coach said Trotter combines size and athleticism with an aggressive downhill playing style.

“He really knows how to play the game, and he really plays with intent to do serious harm,” Bowles said.

Parrish similarly praised Trotter’s intensity while discussing Tampa Bay’s young defensive players.

Rueben Bain Jr. Impresses Nuñez-Roches

Veteran defensive lineman Rakeem Nuñez-Roches, back with Tampa Bay after spending time with the New York Giants, said he has been impressed with rookie outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr.’s approach.

“Rueben is impressive,” Nuñez-Roches said. “Just to see him with his poise, the way that he stacks his rushes, his approach to the game, even just the way he watches his film on the sideline in between plays.”

Nuñez-Roches said Bain actively seeks advice on ways to improve between plays.

“I can’t wait to see what he does this season,” Nuñez-Roches said.

Ayden Garnes Continues Development

Bowles also highlighted cornerback Ayden Garnes as a young player showing significant improvement since offseason workouts.

Bowles said Garnes appears to have developed a better understanding of Tampa Bay’s defensive scheme, allowing him to play faster and more consistently.

Hurst also praised Garnes’ preparation and film study.

“Every time I walk around, I see him looking at film or I just see him studying this game and taking it to the field,” Hurst said. “He’s definitely a great competitor.”

Buccaneers Turn Attention to Jets

Tampa Bay’s next test comes against unfamiliar competition as the Buccaneers prepare for joint practices with the New York Jets in New Jersey.

Bowles said practicing against another organization provides an opportunity to evaluate whether Tampa Bay’s players can execute their assignments against a different system.

“Here, it can get a little mundane when you go against the same guy every day,” Bowles said.

The joint practices will also give Tampa Bay coaches an opportunity to evaluate players such as David Walker against outside competition.

Bowles emphasized that the objective is productive football work — not fighting.

“That’s not what we’re going up there for,” Bowles said. “We’re going up there to practice and get better.”

With Tampa Bay moving deeper into its preseason preparations, Bowles said Sunday’s practice provided another sign that the offense and defense are beginning to operate more cohesively.

“We’re functioning better as a unit,” Bowles said, “so that’s the overall picture for both sides of the football going into next week.”

Two ActBlue employees hold key roles in a Florida House campaign and supporting PAC that raised about $217,000 combined, raising questions about what endorsers knew before recommending the candidate to voters

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Continuing national scrutiny surrounding Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue is intersecting with a Florida House race, raising questions about candidate vetting, endorsement due diligence and what voters should know before casting their ballots.

Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a Democratic candidate for Florida House District 43, identifies himself as a PACs and nonprofits senior manager at ActBlue. His campaign treasurer, José Gamboa, also works for ActBlue as an account management specialist while simultaneously serving in leadership and financial roles with Central Floridians for Change, a political committee supporting Vilchez Santiago.

Together, Vilchez Santiago’s campaign and the supporting PAC have raised approximately $217,000 — about $155,000 by the campaign and $62,000 by Central Floridians for Change, according to campaign-finance records reviewed by Florida National News.

Central Floridians for Change contributed $50,000 to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee in July. The House Democratic committee subsequently participated in political advertising supporting Vilchez Santiago, according to a mailer distributed to District 43 voters and reviewed by FNN. The mailer’s disclaimer states that it was approved by Vilchez Santiago.

At the same time, Vilchez Santiago’s campaign website displays an extensive endorsement network of political and advocacy organizations, labor unions and current and former elected officials.

Those relationships do not establish wrongdoing by Vilchez Santiago, Gamboa, ActBlue or either political committee.

But against the backdrop of continuing congressional and federal scrutiny involving ActBlue, they raise legitimate questions about transparency, political fundraising and the level of due diligence conducted before influential organizations and public officials recommended Vilchez Santiago to voters.

FNN News Graphic

Why Vetting and Due Diligence Matter to Voters

Political endorsements are intended to influence elections.

When members of Congress, mayors, state legislators, constitutional officers, labor unions and national advocacy organizations publicly recommend a candidate, they put their names and reputations behind that recommendation.

That makes the process preceding an endorsement relevant to voters.

A comprehensive vetting process can examine a candidate’s professional history, financial relationships, campaign-finance records, potential conflicts, public statements and other information relevant to holding public office.

But an endorsement alone does not establish that such a review occurred.

An endorsement tells voters whom an organization or political leader supports. Due diligence tells voters how carefully that recommendation was made.

That distinction takes on greater significance when a candidate’s employer is simultaneously facing federal and congressional investigations.

ActBlue Faces Continuing National Scrutiny

ActBlue has faced extensive congressional scrutiny involving its online political fundraising operations.

Republican-led investigations by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Committee on House Administration and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform have examined allegations involving fraud prevention, donor verification, potentially prohibited foreign contributions and internal compliance practices.

Congressional investigators have subpoenaed ActBlue records and sought testimony from current and former employees.

Federal scrutiny expanded after President Donald Trump’s April 24, 2025, presidential memorandum directed the attorney general to investigate allegations involving online fundraising platforms and potentially unlawful political contributions.

The existence of congressional or federal investigations does not establish that allegations against ActBlue have been proven.

ActBlue has disputed allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that it complies with federal campaign-finance laws.

Congressional Investigators Have Examined ActBlue Employees

The role and knowledge of ActBlue employees have become part of the congressional investigation.

House investigators have subpoenaed current and former employees for depositions based on their responsibilities and potential knowledge of ActBlue’s internal operations.

In April 2026, three House committees released a second joint interim staff report addressing ActBlue. Congressional investigators reported that five current or former ActBlue employees invoked their Fifth Amendment rights a combined 146 times during depositions.

Invoking the Fifth Amendment is a constitutional right and does not establish guilt.

There is also an important distinction involving the two ActBlue employees connected to the Florida House race.

Florida National News has identified no public evidence that Vilchez Santiago or Gamboa has been charged with wrongdoing, publicly identified as a target or subject of a federal criminal investigation, or publicly named as subjects of the congressional ActBlue investigations.

Their employment at ActBlue does not establish wrongdoing.

But because investigators have focused on what certain ActBlue employees knew and what responsibilities they held, the professional roles of Vilchez Santiago and Gamboa become relevant to understanding the Florida connection to the national story.

ActBlue PACs and Nonprofits Senior Manager Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a former Orange County Democratic Party chair and candidate for Florida House District 43. Photo Credit: Samuel Vilchez Santiago

Vilchez Santiago Says He Helps ‘Thousands’ Through ActBlue

Vilchez Santiago openly promotes his ActBlue employment as part of his professional qualifications.

His campaign website states:

“As a Senior Nonprofit Manager at ActBlue, he helps thousands of nonprofits and grassroots movements across the country build people-powered fundraising programs that shift political influence away from corporations and toward communities.”

The statement portrays a broad professional role involving fundraising programs for organizations across the country.

It does not establish that Vilchez Santiago works in ActBlue’s fraud-prevention, donor-verification, legal or compliance operations.

But because Vilchez Santiago himself emphasizes the scale of his responsibilities, the precise nature of that work is relevant to understanding whether his duties overlap with areas receiving congressional or federal scrutiny.

José Gamboa, an ActBlue account management specialist, serves as Vilchez Santiago’s campaign treasurer. He is also Central Floridians for Change’s chairman and treasurer, while records list him as its registered agent. Photo Credit: Jose Gamboa

Second ActBlue Employee Holds Key Campaign and PAC Roles

The ActBlue connection extends beyond Vilchez Santiago.

José Gamboa, an ActBlue account management specialist, serves as Vilchez Santiago’s campaign treasurer.

Gamboa also holds multiple positions with Central Floridians for Change, the political committee supporting Vilchez Santiago.

Campaign-finance records identify Gamboa as the committee’s chairman and treasurer, while records also list him as its registered agent.

That places two ActBlue employees in significant positions surrounding the same Florida House race:

Vilchez Santiago — ActBlue senior nonprofit manager and Florida House candidate.

Gamboa — ActBlue account management specialist, Vilchez Santiago campaign treasurer and chairman, treasurer and registered agent of Central Floridians for Change.

The overlapping roles are not evidence of misconduct.

They are, however, relevant facts for organizations and elected officials conducting candidate due diligence.

Campaign and Supporting PAC Raised About $217,000

Campaign-finance records reviewed by FNN show:

Vilchez Santiago campaign: approximately $155,000

Central Floridians for Change: approximately $62,000

Combined: approximately $217,000

The campaign and political committee are legally separate entities. The combined figure is used to illustrate the financial scale surrounding the candidate campaign and PAC supporting him.

Gamboa holds key financial positions involving both entities.

PAC Sent $50,000 to Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee

Central Floridians for Change contributed $50,000 to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee in July 2026, according to campaign-finance records reviewed by FNN.

The money was reported through three contributions:

$25,000

$15,000

$10,000

The contributions totaled $50,000.

Compared with the approximately $62,000 raised by Central Floridians for Change, the transfer represents roughly 81% of the PAC’s fundraising.

The contribution does not establish an improper transaction.

It does establish a substantial financial relationship between the Vilchez Santiago-supporting political committee and the Democratic political committee responsible for helping elect candidates to the Florida House.

House Democratic Committee Subsequently Supported Vilchez Santiago

The financial relationship was followed by political activity in House District 43.

A mailer distributed to District 43 voters and reviewed by FNN identifies the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee in its political-advertisement disclaimer and communicates support for Vilchez Santiago and other Democratic candidates.

The disclaimer states that the advertisement was approved by Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Democrat, for state representative.

The documented sequence is significant:

Central Floridians for Change raised approximately $62,000 → transferred $50,000 to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee → the House Democratic committee subsequently participated in political advertising supporting Vilchez Santiago → the mailer states it was approved by Vilchez Santiago.

That sequence does not establish a quid pro quo, illegal coordination or campaign-finance violation.

It does establish a financial and political relationship that is relevant to understanding the network surrounding the District 43 campaign.

FNN Fact-Check Rated Mailer Claim ‘Mostly False’

Florida National News separately fact-checked a specific claim contained in the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee mailer and rated that claim “Mostly False.”

The rating applies only to the specific statement examined by FNN and should not be interpreted as a finding that every statement contained in the mailer was false.

Because the advertisement’s disclaimer states that it was approved by Vilchez Santiago, the accuracy of its claims is relevant to voters evaluating both the advertisement and the candidate.

FNN’s separate fact-check details the evidence supporting the rating.

Photo Credit: Samuel Vilchez Santiago

Extensive Endorsements Put Due Diligence in Focus

Vilchez Santiago’s campaign website displays dozens of endorsements from political and advocacy organizations, labor unions and current and former elected officials.

The campaign lists support from organizations including Equality Florida Action PAC, Latino Victory Fund, SEIU Florida, Orange County Fire Fighters Association, Florida NOW, Giffords PAC, Run for Something, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, Florida Rising, Florida AFL-CIO, Central Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Education Association and United Auto Workers, among others.

Federal political figures listed by the campaign include U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Maxwell Frost and former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Florida political figures listed include Democratic legislative leaders, state senators and representatives, along with Central Florida officials including Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

The number and prominence of those endorsements demonstrate substantial institutional political support.

They do not, by themselves, reveal the extent of the vetting conducted before those endorsements were issued.

What Did Endorsers Know?

The national ActBlue scrutiny and the Florida campaign-finance relationships create several basic due-diligence questions.

Were endorsers aware that Vilchez Santiago worked as a senior manager for ActBlue?

Did they examine the scope of his responsibilities?

Did they know his campaign treasurer also worked for ActBlue and simultaneously controlled key financial functions for Central Floridians for Change?

Did they review the approximately $217,000 raised by the campaign and supporting PAC?

Were they aware of the $50,000 transfer to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee and the subsequent political advertising supporting Vilchez Santiago?

And were they aware of the congressional and federal scrutiny involving ActBlue before lending their names to his candidacy?

Those questions do not presume that an endorsement was improper.

They address something voters cannot determine simply by looking at a campaign endorsement page:

What due diligence occurred before the endorsement?

Why It Matters to Florida Voters

The national ActBlue controversy may appear removed from a Florida House primary.

In District 43, the connections are direct.

An ActBlue senior manager is seeking election to the Florida Legislature.

Another ActBlue employee manages his campaign finances while simultaneously holding leadership and financial positions with a PAC supporting him.

The campaign and PAC raised approximately $217,000 combined.

The PAC transferred $50,000 to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee.

That committee subsequently participated in political advertising supporting the ActBlue-employed candidate.

Meanwhile, dozens of organizations and current and former elected officials are asking voters to support Vilchez Santiago.

None of those facts establishes wrongdoing.

But voters are entitled to understand not only who endorsed a candidate, but what those endorsers knew before they made that recommendation.

Vetting matters. Due diligence matters. And when influential political figures and organizations use their credibility to influence voters, the process behind their endorsements matters, too.

Florida House District 43 Democratic Race Plagued by Controversies Ahead of 2026 Primary Election

What Comes Next: FNN Will Seek Answers

Florida National News will continue examining the intersection between ActBlue, its employees, the Vilchez Santiago campaign, Central Floridians for Change and the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee.

As part of a follow-up report, FNN plans to seek responses from ActBlue, Samuel Vilchez Santiago, José Gamboa and the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee, as well as political organizations and current and former elected officials who endorsed Vilchez Santiago.

FNN will ask ActBlue to clarify the professional responsibilities of Vilchez Santiago and Gamboa, including whether their positions involve nonprofit organizations, PACs, political committees or accounts connected with Florida political activity.

Vilchez Santiago and Gamboa will be asked about their overlapping ActBlue, campaign and political committee roles and whether ActBlue maintains policies governing employees who simultaneously participate in campaigns or political committees.

The Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee will be asked about the $50,000 received from Central Floridians for Change, its subsequent political advertising supporting Vilchez Santiago and the process surrounding the mailer approved by the candidate.

FNN will also ask major endorsers what vetting and due diligence they conducted before recommending Vilchez Santiago to District 43 voters and whether they reviewed his ActBlue employment and the campaign-finance relationships documented in this report.

The responses — including which organizations and officials respond, what they say they reviewed and how they explain their decisions — will be examined in a subsequent Florida National News report.

For voters, that follow-up could help answer the central question raised by the extensive endorsement network:

What did endorsers know, what did they review and how much due diligence occurred before they asked District 43 voters to trust their recommendation?