Politics
Suspended Democratic State Attorney Andrew Warren Seeks Re-Election
TAMPA, Fla. – In a video released Tuesday morning, State Attorney Andrew Warren announces he will seek re-election to a third term as State Attorney for Hillsborough County, Florida. Warren, a Democrat, points to his proven record of reduced crime, increased public safety, and improvements to the justice system as he declares his candidacy in the race, which will appear on the November 2024 general election ballot.
“Today, I’m running for election as State Attorney to serve the people—all the people—of Hillsborough County. I’m running to keep our neighborhoods safe. I’m running to fight for victims and to make our criminal justice system better,” Warren declares in the video.
Warren has twice been elected by Hillsborough County voters, in 2016 and 2020.
During his first 5 1/2 years in office, before he was illegally suspended by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Warren worked with prosecutors, law enforcement, and community partners to:
· Reduce crime in Hillsborough County by more than 30%
· Make Hillsborough the safest large county in Florida, according to state statistics
· Invest in safety through prevention and rehabilitation, and by addressing mental health and addiction
· Target child predators, convicting an average of one predator every four days the courthouse was open
· Create and expand civil citation programs, disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline
· Establish a Community Council and a Racial Justice Work Group
· Become a national leader in transparency, launching a groundbreaking public Data Dashboard
· Reduce the criminalization of poverty
· Pursue drunk drivers with aggressive sanctions to reduce repeat offenses
· Adopt the Disarming Domestic Abusers policy to protect victims of domestic violence
A native Floridian and former federal prosecutor, Warren and his wife Alex are parents of three children—their daughters Elliot and Lucy, and their late son Zack.
The announcement video is now live on Warren’s Facebook and X/Twitter pages. It encourages supporters to visit Warren’s website, AndrewWarrenFL.com, to sign up for updates or contribute to the campaign.
While outlining his successes in office, Warren also highlights the suspension that installed an unelected political appointee into his position last year—an appointment that is illegitimate, according to prominent Florida legal experts, including a former Attorney General and Supreme Court Justice.
“On August 4, 2022, Ron DeSantis threw out your vote. He illegally forced me from office under armed guard,” Warren says in the video. “My late son. My beautiful daughters. My strong wife. They inspire me to serve others—to do good. That’s why I took DeSantis to court.”
As an image in the video quotes federal Judge Robert Hinkle’s January 20, 2023 ruling that Warren “was diligently and competently performing the job he was elected to perform,” Warren says, “The judge ruled that I did my job and the suspension was unconstitutional. But our fight is not over”—referring to Judge Hinkle’s conclusion that he lacked the authority to reinstate Warren. On January 11, 2024, the appellate court affirmed Judge Hinkle’s findings regarding the constitutional violation while clearly stating that Judge Hinkle has the authority to reinstate Warren.
Even as Warren awaits reinstatement, his announcement Tuesday affirms that in addition to winning in court, Warren intends to be back on the ballot so voters can emphatically make it clear that they decide who represents them—not a governor who broke the law and abused his power for a political stunt.
“I’m running to protect our values, for a woman’s right to choose, for a fair and just system, and—above all—for freedom and democracy,” Warren says. “I’m running to do what’s right. It’s what I’ve always done, as a former federal prosecutor, as a father, and as your State Attorney. I’m Andrew Warren, and together, it’s time we reclaim the future of this community—our community. Join us in this fight.”
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — In a stunning development Thursday, Senator Jason Pizzo (I-Sunny Isles) abruptly resigned as Florida Senate Democratic Leader, declaring the Democratic Party in Florida “dead” and announcing his switch to No Party Affiliation.
The unexpected move followed months of speculation that Pizzo was eyeing a run for governor in 2026, when Gov. Ron DeSantis will be term-limited.
Pizzo blindsided his Democratic colleagues with a 4-minute floor speech after the day’s legislative session, where he not only announced his resignation but also revealed that he had already FedExed his voter registration form to leave the Democratic Party.
“The Democratic Party in Florida is dead,” Pizzo said. “There are good people that can resuscitate it, but they don’t want it to be me.”
Senator Pizzo is the third Florida state lawmaker to abandon the Florida Democratic Party
Pizzo becomes the third sitting Florida lawmaker to abandon the Democratic Party in the past six months, following State Reps. Susan Valdes of Tampa and Hillary Cassel of Dania Beach, who both switched to the Republican Party.
The announcement sent immediate ripples through the Capitol, with Senate Democrats scrambling to hold a caucus meeting to elect a new leader. In the emergency session, Senator Lori Berman (D-Boca Raton) was chosen as the new Senate Democratic Leader, with Senator Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville) remaining as Leader Pro Tempore.
Senate President Ben Albritton confirmed that Pizzo had notified him of the move shortly before his public remarks.
In a scathing response, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried issued a blistering statement condemning Pizzo as “one of the most ineffective and unpopular Democratic leaders in recent memory.”
“Jason Pizzo’s resignation is one of the best things to happen to the party in years,” Fried stated. “His legacy includes disparaging the party base, fighting with members, and chasing personal ambition over Democratic values.”
In 2022, Democrats once hailed Senator Jason Pizzo as a party powerhouse, valuing both his endorsement and his pledge of $500,000 to support Democratic candidates and unseat incumbents. He became known for his blunt, unfiltered remarks — including famously referring to then-Democratic incumbent James Bush as the “Governor’s little b**ch.” Despite the controversy, it appears that both the Florida Democratic Party and Democratic state lawmakers largely gave Pizzo a pass for his comments.
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J Willie David, III
News@FloridaNationalNews.com
Politics
Alan Grayson Shakes Up Senate District 15 Race, Targeting ‘Family Feud’ Candidates, an Attorney, and a GOP Hopeful
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — The race to fill the late Senator Geraldine Thompson’s Senate District 15 seat has officially turned into one of Central Florida’s most dramatic political battles of the year. Former U.S. Congressman Alan Grayson has officially entered the race, joining Democratic attorney Coretta Anthony-Smith, State Representative LaVon Bracy Davis, former State Senator Randolph Bracy III, and Republican Willie J. Montague in a highly anticipated special election.
Governor Ron DeSantis called for a Special Election last week following Thompson’s unexpected passing in February. The Special Primary is scheduled for June 24, 2025, with the Special Election set for September 2, 2025.
A Family Feud Headlines the Democratic Primary
The Democratic side of the ballot will see a rare and highly personal showdown as State Representative LaVon Bracy Davis faces her brother, former State Senator Randolph Bracy III, for the seat. Bracy previously held the Senate District 15 seat. He ran an unsuccessful campaign for Congress and later attempted to reclaim his Senate seat but lost to Thompson in the 2024 primary.
Bracy Davis announced her candidacy, confirming her resignation from the Florida House effective September 1, a day before the final vote in Senate District 15. Florida election law requires candidates to resign from their current seat to run for another office.
Randolph Bracy publicly expressed disappointment at his sister’s decision to enter the race against him, stating:
“This is a sad day for the Bracy name. My sister choosing to run against me dishonors our father’s legacy in every way possible. I will not disparage our father, who believed in this family, by debating my sister in any format.”
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Alan Grayson on a Return Mission
In a statement to Florida Politics, Alan Grayson criticized the current state of the Democratic candidates and elected officials, declaring:
“I’m seeing a pervasive failure on the part of Democratic candidates and elected officials to accomplish anything meaningful.”
Grayson, known for his bold rhetoric and progressive record during his time in Congress, hopes to claim a seat in state politics and offer voters a non-family feud, policy-driven option in the crowded Democratic primary.
Republican Challenger and New Faces
On the Republican side, Willie J. Montague, a faith-based nonprofit founder, will contest for the seat. Democrat Coretta Anthony-Smith, a personal injury attorney, has also filed to run, further diversifying the field.
What’s Next for Senate District 15?
The political landscape in Senate District 15, which covers parts of Orange County, is heating up fast:
Special Primary Election: June 24, 2025
Special General Election: September 2, 2025
LaVon Bracy Davis will officially resign from the Florida House on September 1, 2025, to meet election requirements.
Expect a highly publicized and contentious Democratic Primary as the Bracy siblings square off while Alan Grayson and Coretta Anthony-Smith work to capture the party base.
Republican Willie J. Montague aims to rally the GOP vote for a potential upset in a traditionally Democratic-leaning district.
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J Willie David, III
News@FloridaNationalNews.com
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