Florida
LaVon Bracy Davis and RaShon Young Win Big in SD 15, HD 40 Democratic Primaries
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – In a decisive night for Central Florida politics, State Representative LaVon Bracy Davis and her longtime staffer RaShon Young secured victories in the Democratic special election primaries for Florida Senate District 15 and Florida House District 40. The two now advance to face their Republican challengers in the September 2025 special general election.
Senate District 15: Bracy Davis Defeats Brother in Family Showdown
In one of Florida’s most closely watched contests, four Democrats battled for the nomination to fill the Senate District 15 seat:
Current State Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis
Her brother, former State Senator Randolph Bracy
Former U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson
Attorney Coretta Anthony-Smith
In the end, LaVon Bracy Davis emerged victorious, defeating her brother and two high-profile candidates in a hard-fought race that had garnered statewide and national attention due to the rare sibling rivalry. Official vote totals will be certified later this week.
House District 40: RaShon Young Scores Breakout Win
In the race for House District 40, RaShon Young, a trusted staffer for Rep. Bracy Davis, won the Democratic primary with 55.43% of the vote (2,793 votes). He defeated former State Representative Travaris McCurdy, who earned 44.57% (2,246 votes).
A total of 5,039 votes were cast in the race, marking a competitive turnout for the special primary. Young’s victory positions him as the clear frontrunner heading into the September special general election, with backing from the Bracy political camp and key Democratic leaders in Orange County.
Next Stop: September Special General Election
Both Bracy Davis and Young now prepare to face their Republican opponents in the special general election this September, as the Democratic Party aims to hold on to these key legislative seats in one of Central Florida’s most diverse and influential voting districts.
Senate District 15 includes neighborhoods like Parramore, Pine Hills, Winter Garden, Ocoee, Dr. Phillips, International Drive, Apopka, Eatonville, and Washington Shores, while House District 40 serves much of west Orlando and parts of the surrounding region.
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J Willie David, III contribued to this article. He can be reached at News@FloridaNationalNews.com
Florida
Joe Strada Loans Campaign $5 Million, Launches $1 Million Ad Buy in Congressional District 11
The ad was produced by political strategist Brad Herold of Something Else Strategies and marks the first major media investment of the campaign.
$5 MILLION PERSONAL LOAN TO CAMPAIGN
Strada, founder of Strada Services, announced last week that he had loaned his congressional campaign $5 million, providing the campaign with substantial financial resources early in the election cycle.
Strada Services is one of the nation’s largest privately held, family-owned companies specializing in air conditioning, electrical, security, and plumbing services.
The campaign said the loan and advertising investment demonstrate Strada’s commitment to communicating directly with voters throughout Central Florida.
FIRST MAJOR MEDIA PUSH
The $1 million advertising effort is expected to reach voters across Florida’s 11th Congressional District through a combination of television, radio, and digital media platforms.
The campaign has positioned Strada as a conservative outsider and successful entrepreneur focused on bringing private-sector experience to Washington.
Additional details regarding future advertising and campaign events are expected in the coming weeks.
ABOUT FLORIDA’S 11TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Florida’s 11th Congressional District includes portions of Central Florida and is expected to be one of the state’s closely watched congressional races during the 2026 election cycle.
Crimes and Courts
Attorney General Uthmeier Announces Charges Against Six in South Florida Drug Trafficking Enterprise
Florida
Republican Rep. Paula Stark Disqualified From Ballot, Giving Democrats Opportunity to Flip House District 47
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Florida State Rep. Paula Stark has been disqualified from seeking reelection in Florida House District 47 after failing to satisfy candidate qualifying requirements before the noon Friday filing deadline.
According to state election records, Stark’s candidacy was disqualified due to a deficiency involving required financial disclosure filings, commonly referred to as Form 6. Florida law requires candidates for legislative office to timely submit all qualifying documents, including financial disclosure forms, to appear on the ballot.
Form 6 Financial Disclosure Requirement
Form 6 is a public financial disclosure document required for state elected officials and candidates. The form requires candidates to disclose assets, liabilities, sources of income, and other financial interests.
The disclosure includes a sworn certification stating: “Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing Form 6 and that the facts stated in it are true.”
Candidates are required to complete, sign and timely file the disclosure as part of Florida’s qualifying process. Failure to properly file required qualifying documents, including Form 6, by the statutory deadline can result in disqualification from the ballot.
Democrats Advance to Primary Election
With Stark removed from contention, Democrats now have an opportunity to capture the Republican-held seat in House District 47.
The only candidates remaining in the race are:
- Jorge Figueroa, President of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida
- Anthony Nieves, a state investigator
The two Democrats will compete in the Aug. 18 Democratic Primary, with the winner becoming Representative-Elect.
House District 47 covers portions of Osceola County and has been represented by Stark since her election to the Florida House.
The disqualification was among the most notable developments of Florida’s 2026 candidate qualifying period and significantly alters the political landscape in a district Republicans had hoped to retain.
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