President Obama Grants 79 More Commutations, Including Nine Florida Inmates

Published

10 years ago

November 22, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FNN NEWS) – Today, the President granted commutation of sentence to the following 79 individuals: (including nine inmates from Florida)

Lawrence Daro Adams – Houston, TX
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, aiding and abetting; Southern District of Texas
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $5,000 fine (July 20, 2001)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Tyrone Allen – Lubbock, TX
Offense: Aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 25, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Anthony Arthur – Killeen, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of “crack cocaine”; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 210 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (August 3, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Lisa Woods Ball – Sugar Grove, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 3, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.

Curtis A. Beasley – Greer, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five grams or more but less than 50 grams of crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 408 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (August 16, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Efrem Berry – Americus, GA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of 3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine, aka MDMA; Middle District of Georgia
Sentence: 235 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (November 9, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 151 months’ imprisonment.

Albert Betemit – New York, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute in excess of five kilograms of powder cocaine and 50 grams of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine (three counts); distribution of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base (two counts); distribution in excess of 50 grams of cocaine base (two counts); unlawful use of a communication facility; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; four years’ supervised release (September 25, 1996)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months’ imprisonment.

Carroll Edgar Blevins, Jr. – Abingdon, VA
Offense:
1. Distribution of methamphetamine (two counts); Western District of Virginia
2. Supervised release violation (possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (two counts)); Western District of VirginiaSentence:
1. 188 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (November 3, 2006)
2. 51 months’ imprisonment (consecutive); one year’s supervised release (November 3, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Kerwin Blount – New Haven, CT
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; District of Connecticut
Sentence: 292 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 18, 2000)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Tramiere Broughton – Clinton, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (“crack”); Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 3, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Thomas Brown – Miami, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute at least five kilograms of cocaine; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 24, 1989)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2017.

Christopher Carlton Bryson – Davenport, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and marijuana, each a schedule I controlled substance, and cocaine and cocaine base (“crack”), each a schedule II controlled substance; money laundering; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 9, 2001)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Earl Cain – Springfield, MA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; District of Massachusetts
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 15, 2001)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Christopher Michael Calloway – Hampton, VA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: 181 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (June 18, 2007); amended to 180 months’ imprisonment (June 9, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Jermaine Lewis Carter – Davenport, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute at least 50 grams of cocaine base; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 24, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Jimmy Carter, Jr. – Montgomery, AL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride (two counts); possession of cocaine hydrochloride; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; Middle District of Alabama
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 23, 2003)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Mark Clifton – Brooklyn, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack) and aiding and abetting; Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $7,500 fine (May 28, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, and unpaid balance of $7,500 fine remitted, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Dewayne Damper – Fontana, CA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine base; Southern District of Mississippi
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release; $4,500 fine (April 20, 1999); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release; $4,500 fine (May 12, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Johnny Davis – Florence, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 4, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Roy Edward Detreville, Jr. – Winter Garden, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 8, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Luis Diaz – Winter Park, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride; Middle District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (July 25, 1996); amended to 360 months’ imprisonment (July 1, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

William Henry Dudley – Atlanta, GA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing cocaine base; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $1,000 fine (April 27, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Reginald Leon Edwards – Chatham, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 181 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $400 fine (August 3, 2007); amended to 180 months’ imprisonment (October 22, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Timothy John Ehrmann – Minneapolis, MN
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and ecstasy; aiding and abetting to distribute ecstasy (two counts); aiding and abetting to distribute methamphetamine (three counts); possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; District of Minnesota
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 5, 2004); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (September 12, 2016)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 228 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

P.W. Ferguson – Columbia, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a quantity of cocaine base, aiding and abetting; District of South Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 31, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Darryl D. Fields – Harvey, IL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (June 8, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Timothy Fields – Mesquite, TX
Offense: Conspiracy; possession with intent to distribute controlled substance, aiding and abetting (three counts); use and carry firearm during drug trafficking crime; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 16, 1994)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 465 months’ imprisonment.

Tyris Ford – Philadelphia, PA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (“crack”); distribution of cocaine base (“crack”) or possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack”); carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 5, 2001)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Eric Cornell Foster – Bladensburg, MD
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: Life imprisonment (December 11, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 175 months’ imprisonment.

Osvaldo Richard Gonzalez – Sylmar, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 7, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Jamere Ireadus Hall – Kissimmee, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; felon in possession of firearm; District of Maryland
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (August 1, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment.

Avery Hardy – Smithville, GA
Offense: Possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine; Middle District of Georgia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 12, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Donikki Hardy – Pacolet, SC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 480 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 26, 2002); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (October 28, 2008); amended to 299 months’ imprisonment (February 5, 2014)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

William Crawford Hardy, III – Roanoke, VA
Offense: Distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 7, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Robert Jeffrey Harris – Fort Walton Beach, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 12, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment.

Jeff Hendricks – Seagoville, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine; conspiracy to possess a List I chemical to manufacture methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (May 9, 2002); amended to 324 months’ imprisonment (April 1, 2016)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Warren Lavell Jackson – Port St. Lucie, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (March 7, 2000)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months’ imprisonment.

Timothy Johnson – Georgetown, SC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base; using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime; District of South Carolina
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 28, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Paul Kinney – Anaheim, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute in excess of 500 grams of methamphetamine; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 235 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (April 19, 2006); amended to 210 months’ imprisonment (December 19, 2014)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Daniel Lee Larsen – West Valley City, UT
Offense: Possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; conspiracy or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine (two counts); establishment of a manufacture operation; possession of a listed chemical (two counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; District of Utah
Sentence: 384 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $2,000 restitution (January 7, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 270 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Darrius Lewis – McComb, MS
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base; Southern District of Mississippi
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (May 20, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.

Robert Lum – Waimanalo, HI
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute in excess of 50 grams of methamphetamine; District of Hawaii
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 28, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Karliss Lyttle – St. Louis, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base; distribution of less than five grams of cocaine base (two counts); Southern District of Illinois
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release; $500 fine (April 22, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Ryan W. Magro – Dunstable, MA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; District of Massachusetts
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (May 22, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Orlando Keith McCord – Flint, MI
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (April 19, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Donna Sue McDaniel – Boyd, TX
Offense: Distribution of 219.6 grams of methamphetamine; Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (September 27, 1996)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

John E. McNeill – Washington, DC
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP; conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP; District of Kansas
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 23, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Frantz Michel – Brooklyn, NY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, cocaine, and cocaine base; Eastern District of Virginia
Sentence: Life imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (January 31, 2003); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (November 1, 2011); amended to 235 months’ imprisonment (November 2, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Vernard Mitchell – Washington, DC
Offense: Unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; unlawful possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; unlawful possession with intent to distribute heroin; unlawful possession with intent to distribute cannabis; District of Columbia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (March 30, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 210 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Robert L. Moffitt – Fort Worth, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine base; distribution of cocaine base; maintaining a drug-involved premises (two counts); Northern District of Texas
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (April 10, 2006); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (January 12, 2012)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 180 months’ imprisonment.

Ward Everette Mohler – Linville, VA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine; distribution of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (three counts); carry firearm during drug trafficking (two counts); possession of firearm by a convicted felon (two counts); distribution of methamphetamine (nine counts); Western District of Virginia
Sentence: 469 months’ imprisonment; three years’ supervised release (April 23, 1992); amended to 436 months’ imprisonment (March 18, 2016)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on December 22, 2016.

Michael Toriano Morris – Charlotte, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of North Carolina
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (August 19, 2004); amended to 292 months’ imprisonment (November 23, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Jerry Lee Mutchler – Riverton, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine; Southern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (February 4, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Victor Robert Nava, Sr. – Billings, MT
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana; distribution of marijuana; possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute; distribution of hydrocodone; possession of morphine with intent to distribute; possession of codeine with intent to distribute; District of Montana
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (May 22, 2002)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 270 months’ imprisonment.

Cathy Lea Neal – Council Bluffs, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised (September 24, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 21, 2017.

Jose Otero – Worcester, MA
Offense: Possession of cocaine with intent to distribute; District of Massachusetts
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (June 29, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Tilman Rufus Partin – Frakes, KY
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine, aiding and abetting; Eastern District of Kentucky
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (October 10, 1997)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 324 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Mario A. Powell – Kansas City, MO
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of “crack” cocaine; Western District of Missouri
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (April 16, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Roosevelt Terence Jerome Rayford – Sherman, TX
Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, possess, or dispense cocaine base (crack) or marijuana; Eastern District of Texas
Sentence: 326 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $2,000 fine (July 1, 2003); amended to 300 months’ imprisonment (April 29, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment.

Eddie James Reed – Albany, GA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base; Middle District of Georgia
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 28, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Jose Rodriguez – Camden, NJ
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin and more than 50 grams of cocaine base; District of New Jersey
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $10,000 fine (April 27, 2006); amended to 235 months’ imprisonment (August 28, 2015)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017 and unpaid balance of the $10,000 fine remitted.

Cynthia Valdez Shank – Lansing, MI
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than five kilograms of powder cocaine, 50 grams of cocaine base, and/or 1,000 kilograms of marijuana; possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine); possession with intent to distribute 40 pounds of marijuana; Western District of Michigan
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release; $10,000 fine (February 29, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017, and unpaid balance of the $10,000 fine remitted.

Artis Sherman – Allen, TX
Offense: Conspiracy in the possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine; Western District of Texas
Sentence: 300 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (November 30, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Carnell Smith – Hazel Crest, IL
Offense:
1. Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute mixtures containing cocaine; Northern District of Illinois
2. Possession of a prohibited object by a prison inmate; Eastern District of Arkansas
Sentence:
1. 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (February 11, 2001)
2. Seven months’ imprisonment (consecutive) (January 5, 2012)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Marco Strickland – Detroit, MI
Offense: Attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: Life imprisonment (October 24, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to 168 months’ imprisonment.

Tony Taylor – Dunn, NC
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base (crack); distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of cocaine base (crack) (five counts); distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine base (crack); Eastern District of North Carolina
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (December 4, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 293 months’ imprisonment.

Deborah Theeler – Sioux City, IA
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture and 50 grams or more of actual (pure) methamphetamine following two prior felony convictions; Northern District of Iowa
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 18, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Damarlon Cenaka Thomas – Saginaw, MI
Offense: Distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Michigan
Sentence: 230 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (November 20, 2008)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Dexter Bert Tyson – Orlando, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a mixture containing cocaine base and a mixture containing cocaine; possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing cocaine base and cocaine, aiding and abetting; possession with intent to distribute a mixture containing cocaine, aiding and abetting (two counts); possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, aiding and abetting; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, aiding and abetting, felon in possession of a firearm; felon in possession of ammunition; District of Maryland
Sentence: Life plus 60 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 13, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 300 months’ imprisonment.

Lavan Maurice Walker – Miami, FL
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute a detectable amount of heroin (two counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Southern District of Florida
Sentence: 420 months’ imprisonment; six years’ supervised release (March 9, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Jamie Warfield – Cape Girardeau, MO
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; Eastern District of Missouri
Sentence: 180 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 20, 2005)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 21, 2017

Lamar Webster – Concord, CA
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; money laundering conspiracy; money laundering; District of Montana
Sentence: Life imprisonment (April 17, 2009)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Sterling Kenneth Westberry – Pensacola, FL
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Northern District of Florida
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (September 15, 1998)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Travis L. Wilken – Midvale, UT
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of actual methamphetamine; District of Utah
Sentence: 235 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (February 2, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on November 22, 2018, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Derrick Maurice Williams – Durham, NC
Offense: Possessed with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; five years’ supervised release (November 2, 2000)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on May 21, 2017.

Jacobi Lamont Williams – Greensboro, NC
Offense: Distributed cocaine base (crack); Middle District of North Carolina
Sentence: 262 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (August 24, 2006)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 188 months’ imprisonment, conditioned upon enrollment in residential drug treatment.

Nelson Williams – Hammond, LA
Offense: Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); distribution of cocaine base; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; Eastern District of Louisiana
Sentence: 240 months’ imprisonment; eight years’ supervised release (July 21, 2004)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to expire on March 22, 2017.

Darvell D. York – Chicago, IL
Offense: Delivery of a controlled substance; Northern District of Illinois
Sentence: 360 months’ imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (January 8, 2007)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.

Myron Young – Louisville, KY
Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base; Western District of Kentucky
Sentence: Life imprisonment; 10 years’ supervised release (July 20, 2010)

Commutation Grant: Prison sentence commuted to a term of 240 months’ imprisonment.

Republicans for Jolly Launches as GOP Supporters Back Democrat David Jolly for Florida Governor

Published

5 days ago

September 15, 2026

FNN NEWS

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Williams, left, speaks during the launch of Republicans for Jolly at Williams Park in St. Petersburg on Sept. 14, 2026, as Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly looks on. The coalition was formed to organize Republican and independent support for the Jolly-Graham ticket. Photo courtesy: David Jolly for Governor.

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Williams joins GOP officials and voters supporting Jolly as the Democratic nominee seeks crossover support ahead of November

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (FNN)— A coalition of Florida Republicans supporting Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly launched “Republicans for Jolly” on Monday in St. Petersburg, with former Republican gubernatorial candidate Bobby Williams among those publicly backing Jolly in the 2026 governor’s race.

According to the Jolly campaign, the coalition will work with the Jolly-Graham campaign to organize events, conduct outreach and engage Republicans and independent voters who are willing to cross party lines in the Nov. 3 general election.

The campaign launched the effort under the message “Principles Over Party,” arguing that voters should place governing principles ahead of party affiliation. The coalition has also launched an online organizing effort through the Republicans for Jolly campaign page.

Bobby Williams Backs Jolly

Williams, who sought the Republican nomination for governor earlier this year, appeared at the St. Petersburg announcement and said his support for Jolly was based on the candidate rather than party affiliation.

“My message hasn’t changed; it’s back to ‘We the People’ instead of ‘We the Lobbyists’ and ‘We the Big Corporations,’” Williams said, according to the campaign. “It’s person over party.”

Williams added: “What person is going to best represent Floridians? … We want someone who is going to fight for Floridians.”

The event was held at Williams Park, where Ronald Reagan campaigned during his successful 1980 presidential campaign.

Republican Leaders Join Coalition

The organization is co-chaired by Greg Wilson, who served as a deputy assistant secretary in the U.S. Treasury Department during the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, and George Kruse, a Republican Manatee County commissioner.

“David is a man of character, competency, and ethical values,” Wilson said in the campaign release. “His policy positions pass a common-sense test and are achievable even in a divided state government.”

Kruse said the coalition believes Republicans should consider candidates based on their governing principles rather than solely their party registration.

“In this election, we believe that tested and trusted principles, rooted in local control, affordability, and basic common sense, are on the ballot in Florida,” Kruse said.

Those assessments represent the views of Wilson, Kruse and the coalition supporting Jolly.

Jolly Courts Republicans and Independents

Jolly represented Florida in Congress as a Republican before leaving the GOP and becoming an independent. He later joined the Democratic Party and is now the party’s 2026 nominee for governor.

His previous Republican affiliation has become part of his campaign’s effort to attract voters outside the Democratic Party.

“This campaign has room for all Floridians, regardless of their political background,” Jolly said. “If you want a candidate who will work hard to improve housing, healthcare, and education, and stop data centers, I’d be honored to earn your vote.”

According to Jolly’s campaign, his “principles over party” platform emphasizes local control, private-sector leadership, personal freedom and government intervention in areas where he believes markets are failing to produce adequate results. The campaign identifies housing, property insurance, health care, education and affordability among its major policy areas.

Jolly has described his approach as accepting policy ideas from either side of the political spectrum based on whether he believes they will work, rather than their partisan origins.

Republicans Respond to Jolly’s Crossover Effort

The effort comes as Jolly faces Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds in the general election.

Republicans have disputed Jolly’s characterization of himself and his agenda. Following the coalition announcement, Donalds campaign communications director Gates McGavick criticized Jolly’s policy positions and characterized his agenda as liberal.

Jolly, meanwhile, rejected several claims being made about his positions by the Donalds campaign during questions following the St. Petersburg announcement.

The competing statements underscore the broader campaign fight over Jolly’s political identity: his campaign is highlighting his Republican background and crossover supporters, while Republican opponents are emphasizing his current affiliation and positions as the Democratic nominee.

Cross-Party Support Emerges on Both Sides

The Republicans for Jolly announcement also comes amid crossover endorsements elsewhere in the governor’s race.

Independent reporting noted that the announcement followed Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut, a Democrat, publicly supporting Donalds, providing an example of cross-party support moving in the opposite direction.

For Jolly, the new coalition creates an organized vehicle for Republican supporters to participate directly in his campaign through voter outreach, events and public testimonials.

“We’re just building a bigger table,” Jolly said during the St. Petersburg event, according to reporting on the announcement.

Florida

FNN ANALYSIS: After 2024 Defections, Florida Democrats Face 2026 Election Test: Can They Rebuild as Republicans Expand Their Advantage?

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2026

FNN NEWS

Wide view of the Florida House of Representatives chamber in Tallahassee with lawmakers seated at their desks during a legislative session.

Members of the Florida House of Representatives conduct legislative business inside the House chamber at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee. The chamber is at the center of Florida’s changing political landscape as Republicans hold a supermajority and Democrats seek to rebuild their legislative representation ahead of the 2026 general election. Photo: Florida House of Representatives

Republicans built a legislative supermajority through elections before two House Democrats switched parties and the Senate Democratic leader became unaffiliated. Now Democrats are trying to rebuild amid a GOP voter-registration advantage exceeding 1.54 million — and signs that some Republican-held districts remain competitive.

By Florida National News

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Six years ago, Florida Democrats held enough seats in the state House to prevent Republicans from reaching a two-thirds supermajority.

Today, the political landscape looks dramatically different.

Republicans emerged from the 2020 election with 78 of the Florida House’s 120 seats, two short of the 80 required for a two-thirds majority. Democrats held 42.

By the end of the 2024 election, Republicans had 85 seats and Democrats 35. Then two newly reelected Democratic representatives — Susan Valdés of Tampa and Hillary Cassel of Broward County — switched to the Republican Party, expanding the GOP advantage to 87-33.

Four months later, another high-profile departure came in the Senate. Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo left his party and became unaffiliated.

Those defections attracted significant attention, but they can obscure the larger story of Florida’s political transformation.

Party switching did not create Republican control of Tallahassee. Elections did.

The subsequent defections widened an advantage Republicans had already established at the ballot box.

Now, with the Nov. 3, 2026, general election approaching, Democrats face a more complicated test than simply winning several competitive races. They are attempting to rebuild legislative representation while confronting a Republican voter-registration advantage of more than 1.54 million active voters.

At the same time, Democratic victories in several 2026 legislative contests suggest the statewide numbers do not necessarily determine what happens district by district.

That creates three questions heading into November: Can Democrats win back legislative seats? Can Republicans protect the districts underlying their supermajority? And can both parties retain the lawmakers voters elect under their banners?

From 42 House Democrats to Republican Supermajority

The clearest starting point is 2020.

Republicans won 78 House seats, compared with 42 for Democrats. With 80 seats needed for a two-thirds majority, Democrats retained enough representation to keep Republicans below that threshold.

Former Democratic Reps. Daisy Morales of Orange County and James Bush III of Miami-Dade County were among the lawmakers elected as part of that 42-member Democratic delegation.

The balance changed decisively two years later.

Republicans expanded their House majority to 85 seats in the 2022 election, crossing the two-thirds threshold. The 2024 election again produced an 85-35 Republican advantage.

That chronology is important because it separates two different political developments.

Republicans gained the supermajority through elections. The Democratic defections came afterward.

The distinction also provides a clearer measurement of Democratic decline: from 42 House seats after the 2020 election to 35 after the 2024 election — a net reduction of seven seats before either Valdés or Cassel changed parties.

Two House Democrats Switch Parties

The first post-election departure came quickly.

On Dec. 9, 2024, Valdés announced she was leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican Party, just weeks after voters reelected her as a Democrat.

Her switch moved the House from 85 Republicans and 35 Democrats to 86-34.

Less than three weeks later, Cassel followed.

On Dec. 27, Cassel announced she also was leaving the Democratic Party for the GOP.

The House moved to 87 Republicans and 33 Democrats.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried criticized Cassel’s decision at the time while acknowledging the difficult political environment facing Democrats.

The significance went beyond losing two caucus members.

A direct switch from Democrat to Republican changes the partisan margin by two: Democrats lose one seat while Republicans simultaneously gain one.

The two defections therefore transformed an 85-35 House into an 87-33 chamber without another general election being held.

Senate Democratic Leader Becomes Unaffiliated

The next departure was politically significant but fundamentally different.

On April 24, 2025, Pizzo announced he was leaving the Democratic Party while serving as Senate Democratic leader. His voter registration became No Party Affiliation the following day.

He did not become a Republican.

That distinction matters when measuring party switching. Valdés and Cassel directly increased the Republican House caucus. Pizzo’s departure did not add a Republican senator.

It nevertheless cost Democrats a sitting senator and their caucus leader. Sen. Lori Berman subsequently became Senate Democratic leader.

An FNN review of these high-profile departures from 2020 through 2026 therefore identifies three sitting Democratic state lawmakers leaving the party:

Valdés: Democrat → Republican

Cassel: Democrat → Republican

Pizzo: Democrat → No Party Affiliation

FNN’s review did not identify a comparable sitting Republican Florida legislator who switched directly to the Democratic Party during the same period.

But the numbers reinforce the larger point: the movement of individual lawmakers accelerated a political shift that had already occurred through elections.

The Bigger Transformation Is Outside the Capitol

The change in Florida’s voter-registration balance has been even more dramatic than the movement inside the Legislature.

In 2020, Florida reported 5,315,954 active registered Democrats and 5,218,739 Republicans.

Democrats held an advantage of 97,215 voters.

As of July 31, 2026, Florida reported:

Party affiliation	Active voters
Republican	5,607,836
Democratic	4,066,503
No Party Affiliation	3,327,656
Minor parties	497,679
Total	13,499,674

Republicans now lead Democrats by 1,541,333 active registered voters, according to the Florida Division of Elections.

Measured from the Democratic advantage in 2020 to the Republican advantage in July 2026, the Republican-Democratic registration margin shifted by approximately 1.64 million voters.

That is one of the most important numbers for understanding Florida politics entering the 2026 general election.

But it also requires careful interpretation.

A decline in active Democratic registration cannot automatically be described as more than a million Democrats becoming Republicans.

Voter rolls change for multiple reasons, including deaths, people moving into or out of Florida, new registrations, inactive classifications, list maintenance and voters changing party affiliation.

The more defensible conclusion is narrower but still consequential:

Florida moved from a slight Democratic registration advantage in 2020 to a Republican advantage exceeding 1.5 million active voters by mid-2026.

That is a structural change extending far beyond a handful of lawmakers changing parties.

More Than 3.3 Million Voters Belong to Neither Major Party

There is another number that complicates any attempt to translate registration totals directly into election outcomes.

Florida had more than 3.32 million active voters registered with no party affiliation as of July 31.

That electorate is larger than the population of many states.

Those voters do not form a single ideological bloc, and their existence does not erase the GOP registration advantage. But they reinforce why statewide party registration alone cannot determine the outcome of individual legislative races.

Florida legislative elections are decided district by district.

Candidate quality, fundraising, turnout, district boundaries, local demographics, campaign organization and voter enthusiasm can produce outcomes that differ from statewide trends.

That distinction has become especially relevant in 2026.

Democrats Have Shown They Can Still Flip Republican-Held Seats

For Democrats, the strongest counterargument to the state’s broader Republican trend has come from actual election results.

Democrat Emily Gregory flipped House District 87 in a March 2026 special election, defeating Republican Jon Maples.

The result drew attention because Republican Mike Caruso had carried the district by roughly 19 percentage points in 2024.

Democrat Brian Nathan also flipped Senate District 14, defeating Republican Josie Tomkow by just over 400 votes.

Those results demonstrated that at least some Republican-held legislative districts remain competitive under the right electoral conditions.

Florida Democrats have also expanded year-round organizing and made breaking the Republican legislative supermajority a central objective of the 2026 cycle.

But special elections come with an important warning.

They typically involve smaller and sometimes substantially different electorates than November general elections.

Republicans have pointed to House District 35 as evidence of that difference. Democrat Tom Keen won the Orlando-area seat in a January 2024 special election, only for Republicans to reclaim it during the November general election.

The 2026 Democratic flips therefore provide evidence of competitiveness, not proof of a statewide reversal.

November will provide the larger test.

Republicans Have a Structural Advantage — But Still Must Defend It

The challenge facing Republicans is different.

They do not need to rebuild a legislative majority. They already possess one.

They enter the election with a House supermajority and a statewide registration advantage that would have been difficult to envision when Democrats still led voter registration in 2020.

The question is whether those structural advantages continue translating into legislative victories across Florida.

A statewide registration lead does not make every Republican-held district equally secure.

The Gregory and Nathan victories demonstrate that Democrats can still win Republican-held territory, particularly when turnout, candidate performance and district conditions align.

For Republicans, November therefore becomes a test of durability.

Can the party maintain the legislative gains it accumulated over multiple election cycles while defending districts Democrats now view as opportunities?

The Democratic Challenge Is Now Twofold: Win Seats and Keep Them

For Democrats, the experience following the 2024 election introduces another issue that cannot be measured solely on election night.

Political parties invest substantial resources recruiting candidates, raising money, organizing voters and winning legislative seats.

But caucus strength ultimately depends on keeping those lawmakers after they take office.

The Valdés and Cassel switches demonstrated how quickly that calculation can change.

Democrats won 35 House seats in November 2024. Weeks later, they had 33 members because two lawmakers elected as Democrats joined Republicans.

Pizzo’s departure presented a different version of the same organizational problem: Democrats lost their Senate leader even though he did not join the Republican Party.

That creates two separate measurements for Democratic rebuilding:

Electoral growth: Can Democrats increase the number of legislative seats they win?

Caucus stability: Can they retain the lawmakers elected as Democrats?

Winning without retention can limit rebuilding. Retention without winning additional districts leaves the party’s minority position largely unchanged.

Democrats need both if their objective is to reduce Republican legislative dominance.

Former Lawmakers Add Another Dimension to the Rebuilding Debate

The 2026 cycle also raises questions about how a minority party decides where to invest limited political resources.

Morales and Bush were members of the 42-seat Democratic House delegation elected in 2020. Both later left the Legislature and subsequently sought returns through Democratic primaries.

Their races, districts and political circumstances are different and should be evaluated separately.

But their candidacies illustrate a broader strategic issue facing any party attempting to rebuild:

How should resources be divided among defending incumbents, supporting challengers in opposition-held districts, recruiting newcomers and considering former lawmakers seeking a return to office?

There is no single formula.

A former legislator may bring name recognition, fundraising relationships and legislative experience. A newcomer may offer stronger district appeal or represent a changing electorate. An incumbent may require significant resources simply to prevent the party from losing another seat.

The effectiveness of those decisions ultimately can be measured by outcomes.

Does the party gain seats?

Does it protect vulnerable seats?

Does it expand into territory previously controlled by the opposition?

And does it retain the lawmakers it helped elect?

Those questions become particularly important when one party is operating from a substantial numerical disadvantage.

What Has Actually Changed Since 2024?

For Democrats, there are identifiable changes since the immediate aftermath of the 2024 election.

The Florida Democratic Party retained Nikki Fried as chair in 2025, expanded its year-round organizing operation and increased regional staffing ahead of the 2026 cycle.

The party has continued its Take Back Local initiative aimed at municipal and local races while placing greater emphasis on legislative contests.

And Democrats have produced tangible 2026 victories, including Republican-held legislative seats.

Those developments provide evidence of organizational activity and some electoral progress.

They have not, however, erased the larger structural imbalance.

Republicans still hold the legislative supermajority.

Republicans still lead statewide active voter registration by more than 1.54 million.

Democrats still must gain substantially more legislative ground before control of either chamber becomes competitive.

The most accurate description of the Democratic position heading toward November is therefore neither collapse nor comeback.

It is a rebuilding test whose results remain unresolved.

Why It Matters to Florida Voters

The significance extends beyond the internal fortunes of either political party.

A legislative supermajority can affect the balance of power in Tallahassee because it gives the majority party sufficient numbers to take actions that require more than a simple majority.

The size of the minority caucus also affects committee representation, legislative negotiations, the ability to sustain or challenge certain procedural actions and the overall political leverage available to the opposition.

That makes legislative competition relevant even when control of a chamber is not immediately in doubt.

For Democratic voters, 2026 provides a measurable test of whether the party can translate organizing and special-election victories into broader legislative gains.

For Republican voters, it tests whether the political coalition that produced the GOP’s current advantage remains durable in a general election.

For NPA and minor-party voters, it underscores the potential importance of voters outside either major party in competitive districts.

And for Florida voters generally, it provides a way to distinguish political narratives from measurable results.

The Numbers to Watch on Nov. 3

The 2026 general election is scheduled for Nov. 3. Florida’s voter-registration deadline is Oct. 5, with mandatory statewide early voting scheduled for Oct. 24-31.

Rather than judging Florida’s political direction from one race, three measurements will provide a clearer picture.

First: Legislative seats.
Do Democrats finish the election with more House and Senate seats than they entered with, or do Republicans maintain or expand their advantage?

Second: Republican registration advantage versus district results.
Does the GOP’s statewide registration lead translate consistently into legislative victories, or do Democrats continue outperforming the statewide environment in selected districts?

Third: Caucus stability.
After voters choose their lawmakers, do the members remain with the parties under whose banners they were elected?

Together, those measurements will provide a better indication of Florida’s direction than any isolated special election, party switch or registration statistic.

A Six-Year Transformation

The numbers tell the story clearly.

In 2020, Democrats held 42 Florida House seats, and Republicans were two seats short of a supermajority.

Democrats also held a 97,215-voter statewide registration advantage.

By 2024, Republicans had won 85 House seats, already exceeding the supermajority threshold.

Two Democratic defections subsequently increased the Republican House caucus to 87 while reducing Democrats to 33.

And by July 2026, Republicans held a statewide registration advantage of 1,541,333 active voters.

Those developments represent a profound shift in Florida politics.

But elections are snapshots, not permanent guarantees.

Democrats’ 2026 legislative flips show that Republican-held districts can still change hands. Republicans’ statewide numbers show the scale of the challenge Democrats face in turning isolated victories into sustained gains.

That is why Nov. 3 matters.

The central question is no longer simply whether Florida has moved toward Republicans. The electoral and registration numbers already establish that Republicans have gained substantial ground since 2020.

The unanswered question is whether that movement has reached a durable plateau — or whether Democrats have begun rebuilding enough support to reverse some of those losses.

The first meaningful statewide answer comes in November.

NEXT FNN ANALYSIS: Where Is the Money Going?

Election results are only one measure of rebuilding. Political investment is another.

FNN’s next examination should follow the money behind Florida House races: where Democratic political organizations are spending, which candidates receive institutional support, how much is directed toward Democratic primaries and how those expenditures compare with resources devoted to defending Democratic seats or challenging Republican-held districts.

That examination can include the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee, campaign committees and related political spending while carefully distinguishing verified campaign-finance transactions from allegations or disputed claims involving individual campaigns.

The central question is measurable:

At a time when Democrats say they are trying to break the Republican supermajority, are Democratic political resources being deployed in ways that expand, protect or reduce the party’s representation in the Florida House?

That is a separate story — and one best answered through campaign-finance records rather than political rhetoric.

Politics

Jim Boyd, Jay Trumbull Endorse Alex Rizo for Florida Senate District 39

Published

1 week ago

September 12, 2026

FNN NEWS

Florida Rep. Alex Rizo speaks on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives in Tallahassee. Rizo is a Republican state representative and a candidate for Florida Senate District 39.

Republican legislative leaders back Rizo as race develops to replace former Sen. Bryan Avila in Miami-Dade County

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. (FNN)— Florida Senate President-Designate Jim Boyd and Sen. Jay Trumbull have endorsed state Rep. Alex Rizo in the developing race for Florida Senate District 39, according to a press release announcing their support.

The endorsements add two prominent Republican senators to Rizo’s campaign as candidates position themselves to succeed former state Sen. Bryan Avila, who resigned from the Senate in August.

Florida Senate records show Avila, a Republican, resigned from District 39 on Aug. 25, leaving the Miami-Dade County seat vacant.

Boyd, Trumbull Praise Rizo’s Legislative Record

In a joint statement provided in the press release, Boyd and Trumbull pointed to Rizo’s record on education, taxes, public safety and parental rights as reasons for their endorsement.

“Alex Rizo is a leader who has championed parental rights, historic school choice expansion, tax cuts for hard working Floridians and business owners, increased funding for public schools and teacher pay, workforce and technical education, public safety, and efforts to educate future generations about the horrors and failures of communism,” Boyd and Trumbull said.

The senators said they believe Rizo would work alongside them in the Florida Senate on their shared policy priorities.

“We are proud to endorse Alex Rizo for Senate District 39 because we know he will stand with us to protect freedom and deliver common sense solutions for hard working Floridians,” they said.

Rizo Running for Open Senate Seat

Rizo, a Republican from Hialeah, announced his candidacy for the open Senate seat following Avila’s resignation. Rizo has served in the Florida House since 2020 and has represented House District 112 during the current legislative term.

The Senate District 39 race is developing following Avila’s departure from the Legislature to run for lieutenant governor.

District 39 is located in Miami-Dade County and includes heavily Hispanic communities in the northwestern portion of the county.

Special Election Date Still to Be Formally Set

Florida’s 2026 general election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. However, as of Sept. 11, the Florida Division of Elections had not listed a Senate District 39 special election among its scheduled 2026 special elections.

Under Florida law, a vacancy in the state Senate may require a special election. The governor, after consulting with the secretary of state, issues the order establishing the election date.

The timing of the District 39 election therefore remains subject to an official special-election order.