Florida
Former Lawmaker Daisy Morales Calls for Florida Democratic Party Investigation of Ex-Chair Samuel Vilchez Santiago
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Former Florida State Representative and Democratic candidate for Florida House District 43 Daisy Morales is demanding an independent investigation by the Florida Democratic Party into the circumstances surrounding her removal from the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee. In a sharply worded press release issued Friday, Morales challenged allegations that she endorsed Republican Orange County Commission District 5 candidate Joel Montilla during the 2024 election cycle, arguing the claim should be independently reviewed.
Morales Campaign questions former Orange County Democratic Party chair Samuel Vilchez Santiago’s credibility, judgment, and statements to the Orlando Sentinel.
Morales said the investigation should examine whether party rules were applied fairly, consistently, and in accordance with established procedures, while also reviewing whether any actual or perceived conflicts of interest existed involving former Orange County Democratic Executive Committee Chair Samuel Vilchez Santiago, who is now her opponent in the Democratic primary for House District 43.
“I welcome a fair and impartial investigation. Democratic voters deserve confidence that party rules are applied equally to everyone, regardless of political position, personal relationships, or whether someone is running for office.”
— Daisy Morales
Request for Independent Investigation
Morales is asking the Florida Democratic Party to conduct an independent review rather than relying solely on local party officials.
According to Morales, the review should determine:
- Whether party rules were consistently enforced.
- Whether proper due process was followed.
- Whether any conflicts of interest existed during the disciplinary process.
- Whether official records support the actions taken.
Morales said an independent review would help ensure public confidence in the integrity of the party’s internal governance.
How the Issue Re-Emerged
Morales said she first learned the matter had resurfaced during the 2026 House District 43 campaign after receiving questions from an Orlando Sentinel reporter.
According to Morales, the reporter indicated that Samuel Vilchez Santiago cited an alleged endorsement of Republican candidate Joel Montilla as the basis for questions regarding her removal from the local Democratic Party.
Morales disputes that characterization.
Joel Montilla: “There Was No Endorsement”
Florida National News contacted attorney Joel Montilla, the 2024 Republican candidate for Orange County Commission District 5, requesting clarification.
According to Montilla:
“It wasn’t an endorsement, it was support as the President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association of Florida, Inc.”
When asked directly whether Daisy Morales endorsed his campaign, Montilla responded:
“She did not. She only agreed to be on my host committee as I launched my campaign.”
Montilla further stated:
“There was no endorsement, only support in running. Daisy and I worked on a number of initiatives within the Puerto Rican community. My goal was to have half Democrats and half Republicans support my kickoff to show the bipartisanship in a nonpartisan race. Daisy wasn’t the only local Democrat on my host committee. There were a few.”
Asked what documentation supports his statement, Montilla replied:
“The Host Committee flyer is the only material bearing her name.”
Morales said Montilla’s statements reinforce her request that the Florida Democratic Party review all relevant records before reaching any conclusions.
Campaign Finance Disclosure
Morales also noted that Samuel Vilchez Santiago’s January 30, 2026, campaign finance report disclosed a $100 contribution from Joel Montilla.
Morales said she believes the Florida Democratic Party should determine whether party rules have been applied consistently in light of publicly reported interactions involving Democratic candidates and Republican officeholders.
Source: winterparkvoice.com
Questions About Consistency
Morales is asking the state party to review whether similar situations involving Democratic officials received comparable treatment.
Among the examples she cited:
- Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s public endorsement of Republican Steve Leary during the 2024 Orange County Commission District 5 race.
- A Florida Politics report published in August 2025 stating that former Kissimmee Mayor and Democratic State Representative Jose Alvarez endorsed Republican State Representative Fabián Basabe.
Morales also noted that Alvarez later endorsed Samuel Vilchez Santiago’s House District 43 campaign.
Morales said these publicly reported examples should be reviewed to determine whether party rules were enforced consistently.
“If party rules are going to be enforced, they should be enforced fairly, consistently, and transparently. Equal treatment and due process should apply to every Democrat.”
— Daisy Morales
Request for Records
Morales is requesting preservation and production of records related to the disciplinary process, including:
- Executive Committee meeting minutes
- Official resolutions
- Voting records
- Disciplinary findings
- Party bylaws
- Correspondence
- Notices
- Investigative materials
- Supporting documentation
She said a complete documentary record is necessary for any independent review.
Campaign Impact
Morales said the circumstances surrounding her removal have become part of campaign messaging during the Democratic primary.
She is asking the Florida Democratic Party to determine whether the disciplinary process created either an actual or perceived campaign advantage and whether safeguards existed to prevent conflicts of interest during a contested primary.
Morales’ campaign also said it believes an independent investigation should determine whether there were any irregularities in the disciplinary process, including improper document handling, fabrication of evidence, misrepresentation of facts, or other procedural concerns. The campaign said these allegations warrant review by the state party, rather than solely by local officials, because some local officials may have participated in or possess knowledge of the events under review.
Public Confidence
Morales emphasized that her request is intended to strengthen confidence in the Democratic Party rather than undermine it.
“This investigation is bigger than one campaign. It is about protecting the integrity of the Democratic Party and ensuring that every member is treated fairly, consistently, and with due process.”
— Daisy Morales
The Morales campaign alleges that Samuel Vilchez Santiago weaponized the local Democratic Party and the media to further what it describes as a campaign of disinformation and misinformation against Morales.
She added:
“There should be no place for anyone to weaponize a political party’s disciplinary process for personal or political advantage. Democratic voters deserve transparency, accountability, and confidence that the rules apply equally to everyone.”
Requested Action
Morales is asking the Florida Democratic Party to:
- Conduct an independent investigation.
- Preserve all relevant records.
- Review whether local and state party rules were consistently applied.
- Examine any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
- Issue findings based on the complete documentary record.
Morales also said that if the investigation determines Samuel Vilchez Santiago engaged in conduct that violated party rules, ethical standards, or compromised the integrity of the disciplinary process, she believes the Florida Democratic Party should take whatever action it determines is appropriate under its rules, including requesting that he withdraw from the House District 43 race, if warranted by the investigation’s findings.
What’s Next for the Florida Democratic Party?
If the Florida Democratic Party chooses to review Morales’ request, the process could include:
- Determining whether an independent review is warranted.
- Preserving relevant records while any review is pending.
- Evaluating whether local party procedures complied with party bylaws.
- Reviewing whether similarly situated cases received comparable treatment.
- Determining whether any conflicts of interest existed.
- Deciding whether additional action is appropriate under party rules.
As of the information contained in Morales’ press release and the publication of this story, the Florida Democratic Party had not publicly announced whether it would open an investigation or otherwise respond to her request.
Central Florida News
Broadcaster Ray Cruz Santiago Criticizes Samuel Vilchez Santiago With Communist Graphics, Puerto Rican Identity Claims
The commentator’s video pairs the Democrat’s image with Soviet-style imagery and references his grandfather’s communist beliefs; Vilchez Santiago has publicly rejected socialism.
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Hispanic broadcaster Ray Cruz Santiago is targeting Florida House Democratic nominee Samuel Vilchez Santiago in a video that depicts the candidate in a Soviet-style military uniform and pairs his name with a hammer-and-sickle graphic.
The approximately two-minute video invokes Vilchez Santiago’s description of his grandfather as a communist while presenting images of the candidate, former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and Republican opponent Jorge Malavet.
In separate Facebook posts, Cruz Santiago also accuses the Venezuelan-born Democrat of misleading Puerto Rican voters about his heritage. The material reviewed does not substantiate that allegation, and Vilchez Santiago has publicly rejected the socialist label.
Video visually links candidate to communism
The uploaded video shows an apparent composite depicting Vilchez Santiago in a military uniform and peaked cap. Another graphic places the name “Samuel Vilchez” beneath a red flag bearing a hammer and sickle.
An on-screen caption describes him, translated from Spanish, as a “Democratic candidate in District 43 with a communist grandfather.”
The sequence also juxtaposes footage of Chávez with an image of Vilchez Santiago draped in a Venezuelan flag. Later frames display Malavet and Vilchez Santiago alongside Puerto Rican and Venezuelan flag symbols, respectively.
Together, those visual choices suggest an association between the Democratic candidate and communism. They do not independently establish his political beliefs, affiliations or support for Venezuela’s government. The uniform depiction should be understood as an apparent composite, rather than documentary evidence that he wore such a uniform.
Grandfather’s statement includes family opposition to Chavismo
The reference to Vilchez Santiago’s grandfather has a documented source.
“My grandfather was a communist,” Vilchez Santiago said in a 2019 Princeton University profile. In the same discussion, he described his parents as politically active opponents of Venezuela’s Chavista government and discussed his family’s departure because of political persecution. pace.princeton.edu
That account describes an ideological divide within his family. His grandfather’s beliefs do not establish the candidate’s own ideology.
Candidate has rejected socialist label
Cruz Santiago’s supplied posts describe Vilchez Santiago as a socialist or democratic socialist, a characterization the candidate has disputed.
“I am not a socialist. I have never been a socialist,” Vilchez Santiago said in Spanish in an interview published Sept. 29 by La Prensa Florida.
He argued that proposals involving health care, Social Security and lower household expenses should not automatically be labeled socialist. His stated priorities included easing property tax increases for first-time homebuyers, reducing toll expenses and simplifying small-business registration. laprensafl.com
Separate posts question Puerto Rican campaign imagery
Cruz Santiago’s heritage criticism appears in separate Facebook posts alleging that Vilchez Santiago is presenting himself as Puerto Rican to attract voters. www.facebook.com
A screenshot of a campaign advertisement supplied to FNN shows a photograph of Vilchez Santiago holding a Puerto Rican flag alongside two women, with his campaign branding displayed over the image.
The photograph places a recognizable symbol of Puerto Rican identity within the campaign’s presentation of his personal story. Viewers unfamiliar with his Venezuelan background could interpret it as suggesting Puerto Rican heritage. The materials reviewed do not establish whether viewers reached that conclusion or whether the campaign intended it.
The screenshot contains no explicit claim of Puerto Rican ancestry. Vilchez Santiago’s Venezuelan background is publicly documented in the Princeton profile and a Venezuelan-American Caucus biography. pace.princeton.edu
Why the presentation matters to voters
The criticism combines two distinct subjects: the candidate’s heritage and his political beliefs.
For voters evaluating the material, the central distinction is between documented statements and associations created through editing. The grandfather’s communist beliefs are supported by the candidate’s published account. The uniform, hammer-and-sickle graphic and Chávez juxtaposition are elements of the video’s presentation, rather than proof of the candidate’s ideology.
Likewise, the Puerto Rican flag photograph documents the campaign’s use of cultural imagery without establishing a false claim of ancestry.
Broadcaster brings criticism into District 43 contest
Cruz Santiago hosts El Escándalo del Día on Miami’s Radio Mambí 710 AM, according to his professional profile. Salsoul’s official website also lists him among its personalities. www.linkedin.com
Readers can review his commentary on Facebook and visit his website.
Vilchez Santiago and Malavet are the Democratic and Republican candidates, respectively, in the Nov. 3 election for Florida House District 43, according to state election records. dos.elections.myflorida.com
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