Politics
[OPINION] The GOP is Now the Party of Trump
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Good news for QAnon conspiracy theorists, bad news for democracy: Donald Trump isn’t going anywhere. By recent history’s standards, former president Donald J. Trump was one of the most destructive and dangerous leaders in the United States and he is here to stay. Trump and his compatriots transformed the GOP from what establishment Republicans have long likened to be “the party of Lincoln” to the party of Trump. A cult.
Before Trump stumbled his way onto Air Force One with unpopular first lady Melania Trump in her red bottom heels to the tune of “Y.M.C.A.,” he presented his farewell speech to the nation, breaking tradition and going back to his “home state” of Florida instead of attending the inauguration of his successor, Joseph R. Biden. During the speech, Trump said:
“…I do want to thank Congress and I do want to thank all of the great people of Washington D.C., all of the people that we worked with to put this miracle together.
So have a good life. We will see you soon. Thank you.”
Trump has a lot to thank Congress for, especially the 147 members who voted to overturn the “landslide” presidential election results, the members who brought their guns on Capitol grounds to “defend” second amendment rights, and members who put their colleagues’ lives in danger with their fierce support for such a dangerous president.
CHEYENNE, WYOMING – January 28: Matt Gaetz rails against Liz Cheney at a rally in her home state of Wyoming on January 28, 2021. Image taken by Michael Cummo/AP
The GOP has even turned their back on members who have been long-time leaders of the party, with the Trumpist Arizona GOP censuring Cindy McCain, the wife of late Senator John McCain (along with Governor Doug Ducey and former Senator Jeff Flake) and Florida’s own congressman Matt Gaetz (R – Fort Walton Beach) berating congresswoman Liz Cheney (R – Wy), Chair of the House Republican Conference and daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney for wisely voting in favor of President Trump’s impeachment for inciting an insurrection.
Just a year away from the start of a 2022 midterm that already looks shaky for the Republican Party, numerous Republican senators from swing states like Pennsylvania have announced their intentions to retire from congress and in the ruins of crushed dreams, popular GOP leaders like Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona have signaled that they will not run for Congress against Democratic incumbents. Instead, the party may not return to its traditionally conservative roots, it will instead go down the populist far-right reactionary position that President Trump has shifted it to. So long as President Trump continues to have his thumb on the party, it will represent the dark eras of American history.
The remnants of the failed Trump administration continue to dominate the Republican Party. On Monday, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former White House Press Secretary announced her candidacy for what was once held by her uber-conservative father Mike Huckabee, Governor of the ruby-red state of Arkansas. In its endorsement of Sanders, Trump’s Save America PAC called her “a warrior who will always fight for the people of Arkansas and do what is right, not what is politically correct.”
Sanders is not the only insider of the Trump administration running for office, rumors are circulating that a member of his own family, Ivanka Trump, might present a primary challenge against Senator Marco Rubio.
Undermining his own leadership, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also pilgrimaged down to South Florida to meet with Trump on Thursday, convincing Trump to help the Republican Party win back control of the house in 2022, as if Republicans will not help themselves do that by gerrymandering districts.
To demonstrate the gravity of how devastative Trump’s continued presence in the Republican Party is for democracy, numerous insurrectionists who have been arrested explicitly stated that their actions were a direct result of what Trump told them. Even worse is the fact that numerous Trumpist members of Congress have been placed in important committees by Republican leaders, including Georgia’s Marjory Taylor Greene (R – Rome), who has embraced fringe far-right conspiracy theories, harassed Marjory Stoneman Douglas survivor David Hogg, indicated support for executing Democratic members of Congress prior to her 2020 campaign, and much more.
Unfortunately, Rep. Greene increasingly looks like the future of the Republican Party and it is a direct result of Donald Trump’s tumultuous presidency. Many members of the Republican Party, people who once called themselves nationalists and patriots now appear to put their party ahead of their country. The party that once said “America first” is now putting their party first.
The ten Republican members of the House who voted to impeach the former president are now in physical danger and their congressional seats are at stake. Rep. Peter Meijer (R – MI), the son of billionaire Hank Meijer received numerous death threats from Republicans after voting to impeach Trump, prompting him to buy body armor. Meijer held a discussion about the future of the party with CNN Anchor Jake Tapper, stating that:
“We can’t be the party of winking and nodding at the worst impulses that we have seen in the darkest corners of the internet. That’s not how you’re going to have a party that is trusted to govern. That’s not how we’re going to win over moderate independent voters.” Meijer Later went on to say “If Liz Cheney is the person who suffers the most from the events of Jan. 6 politically, it will be a very sad day for my party, I have been impressed by her leadership.”
Although the 2022 race has not started yet, Meijer is already facing a primary challenger. Meijer hails from the 3rd congressional district in Michigan, where his predecessor former Rep. Justin Amash served five terms before voting to impeach Trump the first time and switching from the Republican Party to the Libertarian Party, exiting U.S. Congress.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 19: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorses 2020 democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders at a Bernie Sanders campaign rally in Queensbridge Park on October 19, 2019 in Queens, New York City. (Photo by Bauzen/GC Images)
To counteract the dangers that will result from Trump’s chokehold on the GOP, Democrats must embrace progressives like Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D – NY) and Cori Bush (D – MO), and Senators Bernie Sanders (D – VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D – MA), along with their other progressive colleagues in Congress. This means censuring Democratic Senator Joe Manchin for expressing ideas inconsistent with the Democratic Party and pushing back against Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D – AZ) and Jon Tester (D – MT) for their fierce refusal to get rid of the filibuster, which allows the minority Trumpist Republican Party to veto any legislation that Democrats bring to the table.
Democrats must not let Republicans obstruct any advancement of COVID relief aid, using every possible tool at their disposal to get bold legislation passed. Trumpist Republican Congress members have long pushed lies about the obstruction of COVID relief aid, it is time for Democrats to move on without compromising, by pushing for budget reconciliation, doing what Republicans have failed to do: the job that voters put them in for.
_____________________________________________________
Supervisor Nathaniel Douglas is the youngest ever elected to the Orange Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors in Orange County, Florida, and the youngest elected to public office during the 2020 election. He is a contributing political opinion writer for Florida National News. | info@floridanationalnews.com
Florida
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia Targets Orange County Over $300 Million in Alleged Wasteful Spending
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Blaise Ingoglia announced that more than $300 million in the 2025-2026 Orange County budget has been identified as “excessive and wasteful spending,” as part of an ongoing statewide review of local government finances.
According to the Florida Agency of Fiscal Oversight, Orange County’s General Fund Budget has increased by 66.06% since 2019. Last year, the CFO’s office identified nearly $200 million in what it described as excessive spending in the county’s 2024-2025 budget.
Ingoglia said the continued increase in spending highlights the need for property tax reform across Florida.
“Last September, my office revealed that Orange County’s local government officials were irresponsibly spending taxpayer dollars,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “Not only did they not heed our warning, but they doubled down on excessive spending. The taxpayers are suffering the consequences of their wasteful spending problem. The time for property tax reform is now.”
ORANGE COUNTY BUDGET GROWTH
State officials reported that Orange County’s General Fund Budget increased by $688,768,908 since 2020, while the county’s population grew by 131,538 residents during that same period.
According to the report, for every family of four that moved to Orange County, the budget increased by approximately $20,945.
The Florida Agency of Fiscal Oversight also stated that Orange County has spent an estimated $747.5 million in excessive or wasteful expenditures over the last six years.
PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PROPOSAL
The report claims Orange County could reduce its millage rate by 1.22 mills without disrupting essential county services. If implemented, homeowners could see annual savings based on taxable property values:
- A taxable home value of $300,000 could save approximately $365 annually.
- A taxable home value of $400,000 could save approximately $486 annually.
- A taxable home value of $500,000 could save approximately $608 annually.
The findings come as Florida leaders continue discussing broader statewide property tax reform initiatives focused on reducing the burden on homeowners.
STATEWIDE FISCAL OVERSIGHT EFFORT
Ingoglia said his office has now uncovered more than $2.4 billion in excessive and wasteful government spending statewide. He pledged to continue reviewing local government budgets and advocating for transparency and accountability in taxpayer spending.
Americans for Prosperity also voiced support for the effort.
“CFO Ingoglia continues to keep his foot on the gas when it comes to identifying wasteful spending within local governments,” said Greg Ungru of Americans for Prosperity. “Taxpayers deserve transparency, especially as Orange County has continued to throw away money over the last six years.”
Florida
Darren Soto Faces Toughest Re-Election Fight as Puerto Rican Political Influence Shifts in Central Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — A decade ago, Central Florida’s growing Puerto Rican population was widely viewed as a political force poised to reshape Florida politics for generations.
Today, that momentum faces growing uncertainty.
As congressional redistricting redraws political boundaries, voter turnout fluctuates, and internal political divisions deepen, Puerto Rican political representation in Central Florida is confronting one of its most significant challenges in modern Florida history.
At the center of the debate is Darren Soto, Florida’s first Puerto Rican member of Congress, who now faces a dramatically reshaped congressional district that political analysts say could strongly favor Republicans in 2026.
The battle over Soto’s political future has become symbolic of a larger question unfolding across Orange and Osceola counties: Can Puerto Rican political influence maintain its footing in a rapidly changing Central Florida electorate?
A Community That Once Redefined Florida Politics
Puerto Rican migration to Central Florida accelerated in the early 2000s and surged further following the economic downturn in Puerto Rico and the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The migration transformed communities throughout Orlando, Kissimmee and surrounding areas, creating one of the largest Puerto Rican populations in the continental United States.
The political impact soon followed.
Puerto Rican candidates increasingly won elections at both the state and federal levels, creating what many viewed as a rising pipeline of Hispanic leadership in Florida.
That rise included the elections of leaders such as:
US House of Representatives
- Darren Soto (D) — U.S. Congressman(2016) ; former State Senator (2012) and State Representative (2007)
Florida State Senate
- Victor Torres (D) — former State Senator (2016-2024) and State Representative (2012)
Florida House of Representatives
- Susan Plasencia (R) — State Representative (2022)
- Johanna López (D) — State Representative (2022) and former Orange County School Board Member
- Daisy Morales (D) — former State Representative (2020) and former Supervisor of Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District
- Amy Mercado (D) — former State Representative (2016)
- René Plasencia (R) — former State Representative (2014)
- John Cortes (D) — former State Representative (2014)
- Bob Cortes (R) — former State Representative (2014)
- Ricardo Rangel (D) — former State Representative 2012
- John Quiñones (R) — former State Representative (2002) and former Osceola County Commissioner
- Anthony Suarez (D) — former State Representative (1999)
Puerto Rican representation reached a high point during the mid-2010s.
In 2016, six Puerto Rican elected officials simultaneously held seats in Congress or the Florida Legislature, including Soto, Torres, Bob Cortes, John Cortes, Amy Mercado and Rene Plasencia.
Political strategists at the time predicted that Puerto Rican voters could eventually help Democrats establish long-term dominance in Florida.
That projection, however, has not materialized.
Redistricting Changed the Political Landscape
The congressional map approved by Ron DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature significantly altered Central Florida’s political boundaries following the 2020 Census.
The changes reshaped Soto’s congressional district by expanding it eastward and incorporating more conservative coastal and suburban voters.
Under the revised district:
- The Hispanic voting-age population declined substantially.
- Puerto Rican voter concentration dropped sharply.
- White voters became the district’s largest demographic group.
- Republican performance improved across multiple precincts added to the district.
Political analysts say the new map transformed what had been a Democratic-leaning Hispanic-majority district into a far more competitive seat.
The map also intensified concerns among civil rights advocates and Puerto Rican community leaders who argue the changes diluted Hispanic voting power.
Several legal challenges were filed against the congressional maps, though Florida courts have thus far allowed the districts to remain in place.
Election Results Raise Concerns
Recent election outcomes have further fueled debate over the future of Puerto Rican political representation.
In Senate District 25, Puerto Rican leadership ended after term limits forced the departure of Victor Torres.
His wife, Carmen Torres, sought to retain the seat in 2024 with support from Democratic leaders and Puerto Rican political organizations. She ultimately lost to a White candidate, Kristen Arrington.
In House Districts 35, 44 and 47 — districts with large Hispanic populations — White candidates also prevailed.
Meanwhile, former State Representative Daisy Morales lost her re-election bid after facing opposition supported by portions of the Democratic establishment. That opposition included, but not limited to Johanna López (Puerto Rican), who previously served as campaign manager for Samuel Vilchez Santiago during his unsuccessful 2020 challenge against Morales and later strongly supported a white candidate in Morales re-election race in 2022.
Some Puerto Rican community leaders argue these election outcomes reflect a growing disconnect between Central Florida’s expanding Hispanic population and the candidates ultimately elected to represent those communities.
Others point to changing coalition politics in Central Florida, where Venezuelan, Colombian, Brazilian and non-Hispanic voters increasingly shape election outcomes alongside Puerto Rican voters.
Internal Political Divisions Complicate the Picture
Political observers also note that internal divisions within Democratic and Puerto Rican political circles have contributed to leadership turnover.
Several recent races featured:
- Competing endorsements among Puerto Rican leaders.
- Financial support directed toward non-Puerto Rican candidates.
- Divisions between progressive and establishment Democratic factions.
- Low turnout in local and legislative elections.
The victories of candidates such as Rita Harris demonstrated how coalition-building among African American, White progressive and non-Puerto Rican Hispanic voters could overcome traditional Puerto Rican political bases.
Voter Turnout Remains a Major Challenge
Despite population growth, Puerto Rican voter turnout has remained inconsistent in nonpresidential elections.
Political strategists say turnout gaps continue to weaken electoral influence, particularly in:
- Midterm elections.
- Local legislative races.
- Municipal and county contests.
Lower participation rates among younger voters and newly relocated residents have also limited the community’s ability to fully translate population growth into political power.
Republicans, meanwhile, have made gains among Hispanic voters across Florida, particularly among working-class and socially conservative voters concerned about inflation, public safety and economic issues.
Soto Still Maintains Key Advantages
Despite the challenges, Darren Soto enters the next election cycle with several advantages.
Soto remains one of the most recognizable political figures in Central Florida and has built strong relationships throughout Osceola and Orange counties during his years in public office.
Supporters credit Soto with helping secure federal investments involving:
- Transportation infrastructure.
- SunRail expansion efforts.
- Airport development.
- Economic development initiatives.
- Hurricane recovery assistance for Puerto Rican families relocating to Florida.
Democrats also believe backlash against aggressive redistricting and growing concerns over immigration enforcement policies could energize Hispanic voter turnout.
Still, many political analysts acknowledge that the new district lines significantly complicate Soto’s path to reelection.
What Happens if Soto Loses?
If Soto is defeated, Florida could temporarily lose Puerto Rican representation in Congress entirely.
For many community leaders, the symbolic impact would be significant.
Puerto Rican advocates argue that representation matters not only legislatively, but culturally and politically, particularly for communities that spent decades building political infrastructure in Central Florida.
The concern extends beyond a single election cycle.
Currently, Johanna López and Susan Plasencia remain among the few Puerto Rican voices serving in the Florida House.
López has announced she will not seek reelection and instead is running for Orange County commissioner. She endorsed Samuel Vilchez Santiago, a Venezuelan American candidate, to succeed her.
If elected, Santiago would further reflect the political evolution of Central Florida’s Hispanic electorate, where multiple Latino communities increasingly share political influence once largely associated with Puerto Rican voters.
A Defining Election Cycle Ahead
As Central Florida continues to diversify politically and demographically, the 2026 election cycle is expected to test whether Puerto Rican political influence can regroup under new district boundaries and changing coalition dynamics.
For Soto and many longtime Puerto Rican leaders, the coming election may determine whether the political movement that transformed Central Florida over the last two decades can maintain its influence — or whether a new political era is already emerging.
