Florida
Former Florida State Representative Daisy Morales Closes Out FNN’s 2025 National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Florida National News is honored to close out National Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing the achievements and contributions of The Honorable Daisy Morales, former Florida State Representative. Her impact in state lawmaking, conservation, advocacy, and bipartisanship continues today through her nonprofit work—ensuring her legacy of service to Floridians and Puerto Rican communities endures for generations to come.
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The Honorable Daisy Morales: A Legacy of Service, Leadership & Impact
The Honorable Daisy Morales is more than a former Florida State Representative — she is a bold and principled public servant whose distinguished career spans federal, local, and state roles, always rooted in her Puerto Rican heritage and unwavering commitment to bipartisanship.
Born in The Bronx, New York, Morales earned an Associate’s Degree in criminology and administration and has devoted over 30 years to public service — including 24 years in U.S. federal government roles with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State.
Today, she continues her mission as Founder and President of the Puerto Rican Heritage Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving and advancing Puerto Rican culture, education, and empowerment throughout Florida.
Bipartisan Leadership and Getting Things Done
Throughout her career, Morales has earned a reputation as a soft-spoken yet determined leader who works across party lines to deliver real results for her constituents. In the Florida House, she was known not just as a Democrat, but as a pragmatic problem-solver willing to collaborate to get meaningful legislation passed.
Her legislative record includes sponsoring and co-sponsoring over 100 bipartisan bills that became law. One of her signature legislative successes, CS/HB 45 – Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans, was introduced with Rep. Christopher Benjamin. The law provides tuition and fee waivers for disabled veterans attending Florida’s state universities, career centers, and colleges—closing the gap left by the federal GI Bill.
Morales’ bipartisan approach exemplified her belief that effective leadership means putting people before politics.
Trailblazer in Hispanic and Minority Representation
During her tenure, Morales made history multiple times. She became the first Hispanic state lawmaker to join Black colleagues in a sit-in protest on the Florida House floor, taking a powerful stand against the Governor’s congressional redistricting map that threatened to weaken minority representation. Holding a sign that read, “Legislators serve the people. Not your party,” Morales stood in solidarity with lawmakers defending Black and Hispanic congressional districts across Florida.
State Rep. Daisy Morales talks with Florida Division of Emergency Management staff at an event in January 2021. Photo: Florida Representative Daisy Morales (Facebook).
Leadership in Crisis Response
Florida State Representative Daisy Morales distinguished herself as a proven leader during some of Florida’s most challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple hurricane emergencies. Her hands-on approach and decisive actions demonstrated her deep commitment to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Floridians.
During the height of the COVID-19 crisis, Rep. Morales was the first state lawmaker to call on Governor Ron DeSantis to establish a 24-hour mass vaccination site—a proactive measure aimed at expanding vaccine access, especially in underserved communities within her district. Her leadership helped accelerate local vaccination efforts and ensured that critical resources reached residents most in need.
Morales also played a visible and responsive role during hurricane emergencies, coordinating with state and local officials to deliver aid, share vital information, and connect affected families with recovery resources. Her consistent engagement in times of crisis reflected her commitment to effective governance, rapid response, and community resilience at the state level.
She was also the first elected official in Orange County to be sworn in by Mayor Jerry Demings, the county’s first African American mayor, during her re-election as District 2 Supervisor for the Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District in 2018. In 2014, she made history again as the first Orange County official sworn in by a member of Congress, U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson.
Thanks to the leadership of Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor Daisy Morales, drivers entering Orange County from Osceola County now know they’re crossing into a designated Soil & Water Conservation District—this time in District 4.
Supervisor Daisy Morales and Orange County Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero joined forces to install two new conservation awareness signs in Commissioner Cordero’s district. The new signs are located on Narcoossee Road near Boggy Creek Road and South Orange Avenue near Mary Louis Lane, each positioned at the Osceola County line. The signs inform motorists that they are entering both Orange County and a Soil & Water Conservation District, highlighting the county’s ongoing commitment to natural resource conservation and environmental stewardship.
This initiative builds on Supervisor Morales’s earlier success in promoting conservation awareness. In 2018, Morales made history by partnering with District 5 Commissioner Emily Bonilla to erect the first two Soil & Water Conservation District signs in Orange County. Those signs were installed along the Orange–Seminole County line, one on Chuluota Road and another on Dean Road, marking the start of a broader countywide effort to educate the public about conservation district boundaries and their role in protecting natural resources.
These signs serve as more than simple markers—they are visual reminders of the importance of conserving soil and water resources and of the role local government plays in promoting sustainability. By raising public awareness through visible, everyday engagement, Morales continues to advance her mission of community education and environmental protection across Central Florida.
Her leadership and representation have served as an inspiration to Puerto Ricans and Latinos seeking a voice in Florida government.
Key Legislative Wins with Lasting Impact
Rep. Morales’ tenure in the Florida Legislature was marked by people-centered policymaking that directly improved the lives of veterans, families, and vulnerable residents. Her legislative achievements include:
- House Bill 45 — Provides educational opportunities for disabled veterans. This bill became a national model, inspiring similar legislation in other states. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a bill-signing ceremony for six Military bills, including HB 45.
- House Bill 213 — Created a Down Syndrome Awareness specialty license plate, generating both funding and awareness for Down Syndrome initiatives.
- House Bill 13 — Increased property tax exemptions for widows, widowers, blind persons, and persons who are totally disabled from $500 to $5,000. This legislation provided significant financial relief to vulnerable Floridians.
- House Bill 857 (Amended into HB 1347 / SB 1120) — Strengthened regulations on commercial telephone solicitation, protecting consumers from predatory telemarketing practices.
- House Bill 855 — Deregulated barber services, creating a streamlined process for barber certification and expanding access to professional licensing opportunities. The law authorizes licensed barbers to operate mobile services, allowing them to shampoo, cut, and style hair outside traditional barbershops, including in clients’ homes or other approved locations.
- Representative Daisy Morales introduced House Resolution (8069) designating April 2 as Puerto Rican Heritage Day in Florida. The resolution received support through Proclamations from Governor Ron DeSantis, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
Through these efforts, Morales consistently prioritized service, dignity, and opportunity for all Floridians.
Looking Forward: Heritage, Service, and Continuing Advocacy
Today, as the Founder and President of the Puerto Rican Heritage Network, Morales continues to serve her community with the same vision and heart that defined her public office. Her organization promotes education, cultural pride, leadership, and civic engagement among Puerto Ricans in Florida and beyond.
Her legacy is not only legislative—it’s symbolic. Daisy Morales represents unity, humility, and perseverance in the face of division. As Florida and the nation celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, her story stands as a reminder that leadership built on integrity and community service transcends politics.
Through its spotlight on Representative Daisy Morales, Florida National News proudly honors her Puerto Rican heritage and her significant impact as a Latina leader in public service, conservation, and advocacy.
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J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
Florida
Orange County Mayor Launches Obama-Style Campaign for Florida Governor, Calling for Unity, Leadership, and Change
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Before a packed ballroom of cheering supporters at the Rosen Centre on Orlando’s International Drive Thursday evening, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings officially launched his campaign for Governor of Florida in 2026, declaring that it’s time to “turn the page” on division and usher in a “new style of leadership.”
The 66-year-old former Orlando Police Chief and Orange County Sheriff — now serving his second term as mayor — delivered a powerful, hopeful message reminiscent of President Barack Obama’s campaign themes of unity and renewal, rallying voters with the promise that “the power of the people is greater than the people in power.”
A Message of Unity and Renewal
“This is not a right or left moment, but a right or wrong moment in our history,” Demings told the energized crowd. “We’re tired of toxic and divisive politics. If you vote for me, it’s a vote for a new style of leadership. It’s a vote for change. It’s a vote for democracy.”
The crowd erupted as Demings leaned into his record of public service and crisis management, drawing a sharp contrast with political partisanship in Tallahassee. He pledged to restore local control, raise wages, stabilize housing costs, and improve access to mental health care through public-private partnerships.
“They call me woke,” Demings said, pausing as the audience laughed. “I don’t know what they mean — but after four and a half decades of public service, they woke me up.”
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings’ wife, former U.S. Congresswoman Val Demings, tells a standing-room-only crowd, “Help is on the way,” during her husband’s campaign kickoff rally for Florida governor at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Photo by J. Willie David, III / Florida National News
Val Demings: ‘Help Is on the Way’
Demings’ wife, former Congresswoman Val Demings, introduced him to thunderous applause. “Through all of the darkness,” she told the audience, “help is on the way.”
Her remarks framed her husband’s candidacy as a call to hope and action, positioning him as a pragmatic problem-solver rooted in Florida values.
Demings, who has long clashed with Governor Ron DeSantis over COVID-19 restrictions, immigration, and state control of local budgets, promised to bring people together across party lines. “My goal is to engage the private sector in working with the public sector to solve the issues that affect us all,” he said.
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings held a press conference to answer questions from the media following his historic campaign kickoff rally for Florida governor at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida, on Thursday, November 6, 2025. Photo by J. Willie David, III / Florida National News
A Campaign to Make History
If elected, Demings would become Florida’s first Black governor — a milestone both Republicans and Democrats acknowledge as a turning point in the state’s history.
He faces a crowded field, but his reputation as a steady crisis manager — having led Central Florida through mass shootings, hurricanes, and the pandemic — has made him a formidable contender.
Asked to contrast himself with likely Republican opponent Rep. Byron Donalds, Demings didn’t hesitate: “He’s never been a crisis manager or leader. I’ve led through storms, tragedies, and rebuilding — not from the sidelines, but in the arena.”
‘A New Sheriff in Town’
Demings’ closing line drew roaring applause: “If you vote for me, it’s a vote for the right person at the right time,” he said. Then, echoing a phrase once used by DeSantis himself, Demings smiled and declared, “It’s time for a new sheriff in town.”
With a listening tour planned across the state, Demings aims to build a grassroots movement that transcends party lines — one he hopes will awaken Florida’s independent voters and redefine what leadership looks like in the Sunshine State.
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J Willie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
TAMPA BAY, Fla. (FNN) – The David Jolly for Governor campaign has extended a warm welcome to Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who officially entered the 2026 Democratic primary for Florida Governor. The campaign emphasized the importance of a respectful and substantive primary race that strengthens the Democratic Party and enhances its chances in the general election.
“I welcome Mayor Demings to this important race,” said former U.S. Representative David Jolly, Democratic candidate for Governor. “All of Florida—Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike—deserves a spirited Democratic Party primary that puts voters first, one rooted in real solutions for the affordability of housing and healthcare, the future of public education, protecting personal freedoms, and restoring trust and competence in government.”
Jolly’s remarks signal a collaborative tone within the Democratic field, focusing on unity and shared goals amid growing anticipation for a competitive 2026 gubernatorial race.
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J Wilie David, III | News@FloridaNationalNews.com
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