Politics
State Rep. Carolina Amesty Vows to Clear Her Name Amid Forgery Charges
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – Facing serious legal challenges, State Representative Carolina Amesty is determined to clear her name as she confronts four third-degree felony charges related to forgery and improper notary practices. Amesty surrendered to officials at the Orange County Jail. The 29-year-old lawmaker faces charges including two counts of forgery, one count of illegally notarizing her own signature, and one count of falsely certifying a signature as a notary.
Amesty’s legal troubles stem from her role as an administrator at Central Christian University, a private institution founded by her father, Juan Amesty. The allegations involve notarizing a document with a forged signature, which was part of the school’s licensing submissions to the Florida Department of Education. The controversy, first reported by the Orlando Sentinel, triggered a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation and ultimately led to her indictment by a grand jury on August 28.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Amesty’s campaign swiftly responded with a statement asserting her innocence and labeling the prosecution as politically motivated. “This prosecution, initiated just a few weeks prior to absentee ballots being dropped, is based on misleading reports from a partisan newspaper,” Amesty stated. She expressed confidence in a swift trial and public vindication, urging for a quick resolution.
Political responses have been sharply divided. Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried has called for Amesty’s resignation, questioning her ability to serve effectively while under indictment.
On the other hand, Republican House Speaker-designate Daniel Perez emphasized that the charges appear unrelated to Amesty’s duties as a state representative and supported her right to defend herself.
Amesty, who won her House District 45 seat with 53% of the vote in 2022, faces a tough reelection battle this November against former Disney executive Leonard Spencer. Her district, which leaned slightly Democratic in the 2020 Presidential Election but supported Republican Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, is expected to be one of the most competitive legislative races in Florida this cycle.
Despite the mounting pressure, Amesty has signaled her intention to remain in the race, bolstered by nearly $123,000 in campaign funds. She continues to rally her supporters, sharing a verse from Psalms on social media and retweeting a post from Donald Trump about political persecution.
As the legal process unfolds, the race for House District 45 remains a closely watched contest with significant implications for Florida’s political landscape.
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.
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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