Florida
US Senate Candidate Stanley Campbell Invest $125,000 In The Democratic Black Caucus of Florida
ORLANDO, Fla – Each election cycle ambitious and talented Democratic candidates raise millions of dollars in Florida for voter outreach as they run for statewide or regional office.
Win or lose, when elections are over, they take the money, the manpower and the technology with them. This leaves Democratic caucuses, like the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida and its 27 chapters, with little to no infrastructure to continue their vital work with voters. Black voters, especially, are critical to victories in elections statewide.
“The Black caucus ends up with much of the blame for dwindling Black voter outreach throughout the year,” Campbell said. ”New Black candidates must start from scratch without any meaningful resources from the Florida Democratic Party.”
Today, U.S. Senate Candidate Stanley Campbell is announcing a substantial in-kind investment, valued at $125,000, in the Democratic Black Caucus of Florida to provide:
1. Infrastructure to include the essentials for success: office space, staff and technology
2. Support to enable all 67 counties to have their own chapters
3. Power to help chapters organize, mobilize and fundraise
Campbell is committed to the success of this effort and plans to continue to contribute to this effort in the future.
Today he challenges the FDP and state and regional candidates to invest in efforts to raise the bar for Black voter turnout in Florida.
“It’s easy to complain Black voters aren’t going to the polls, but what are we going to do about it?” Campbell asked. “We need leadership in Democratic politics to move the needle.”
As his first initiative, Campbell wants to integrate the Democratic Black Caucus chapters’ technology into a single, integrated, interoperable platform. As new chapters come on board and new members join, they will be able to hit the ground running.
“I want to challenge the Florida Democratic Party and candidates running regional campaigns to make an investment in the Black Caucus to shift the history of ignoring Black voters,” Campbell said. “We want to return the state to blue and the only way to do that is to invest now in our Democratic infrastructure.”
The model can be duplicated by the Hispanic Caucus, Veterans Caucus, Asian Caucus, Disability Caucus, Jewish Caucus, Women’s Caucus, and others. This infrastructure is designed to bring the most talented and the most capable people in the Democratic party to the forefront.
According to the State Elections site, there are currently 1,276,000 Black Democrats in Florida of 4,340,000 registered Democrats.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Gov. Ron DeSantis delivered his final State of the State address Tuesday to a joint session of the Florida Legislature, capping his remarks with a visible display of the deepening rift between the governor and House Speaker Daniel Perez.
DeSantis shook hands with Senate President Ben Albritton but appeared to bypass House Speaker Daniel Perez before taking the podium in the House chamber. After finishing his State of the State address, DeSantis exited quickly, leaving before Albritton could direct the sergeant-at-arms to provide the traditional ceremonial escort that formally concludes the appearance.
The moment underscored months of strained relations between the term-limited governor and Republican leaders in the House, even as both chambers begin a high-stakes 60-day session dominated by debates over taxes, insurance, affordability and redistricting.
Final Address Sets a Confrontational Tone
In his last State of the State, DeSantis struck a combative tone as House and Senate leaders advance competing priorities for the session. Republican leaders have pledged to focus on affordability and economic pressures facing Floridians, while maintaining what they describe as a unified GOP agenda.
“From tax-free grocery store food, to diapers, clothes, and supplies for young children, key household safety items, to year-round hurricane preparedness, Florida has been laser-focused on affordability,” Albritton said, emphasizing the Senate’s commitment to cost-of-living relief.
Behind the messaging, however, divisions persist — particularly between DeSantis and Perez, who remains at odds with the governor following disputes over taxes, the budget and legislative authority.
Legislative Agenda and Lingering Disputes
Perez, speaking earlier in the day, outlined an ambitious agenda that prioritizes insurance reform, taxes, the economy, prescription drug prices and rising household costs.
“We stand here today, ready to write the second half to our story,” Perez said during opening day remarks.
He later downplayed the handshake snub, saying, “Whether the governor wants to be petulant and not shake the hand of a partner, that’s not going to change our direction.”
Lawmakers face a crowded agenda, with nearly 1,800 bills filed for consideration. Property taxes and insurance reforms are among the top issues expected to dominate debate.
Redistricting Looms Over the Session
Adding to the tension, DeSantis has warned that the regular session may not be enough. He has already issued a proclamation calling for a special session in April to redraw Florida’s congressional map ahead of the November midterm elections.
State lawmakers have 60 days to pass legislation.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Senator LaVon Bracy Davis and Representative Mitch Rosenwald have filed legislation aimed at expanding access to the My Safe Florida Home Program by allowing homeowners to reapply when applications were previously deemed abandoned or withdrawn due to errors or omissions.
The measure, SB 1148/HB 1045, would modify program rules to permit subsequent applications when the original filing was rejected because of compliance-related mistakes, provided there is good cause and the applicant corrects the issue in a timely manner.
Expanding Access to Homeowner Assistance
The My Safe Florida Home Program is a state initiative that provides eligible Florida homeowners with inspections and grant funding to help strengthen their homes against storms while reducing insurance costs. The program is administered by the Florida Department of Financial Services.
Current rules allow for reapplication if an application was denied or withdrawn due to errors or omissions. However, the proposed legislation would also allow reapplication when an application was deemed abandoned or withdrawn because of similar compliance-related issues.
Addressing Bureaucratic Barriers
“At a time when Florida’s families are struggling with rising insurance costs, we cannot allow bureaucratic technicalities to block access to affordability tools,” said Bracy Davis, a Democrat from Ocoee.
The bill responds to concerns from homeowners who were unable to submit a new application after their original submission was closed due to misunderstandings or reasonable mistakes regarding program requirements.
Focus on Seniors and Low-Income Homeowners
Rosenwald, a Democrat from Oakland Park, said the legislation is intended to help vulnerable homeowners who rely on the program for financial relief.
“This program can be a lifeline for seniors and low-income homeowners,” Rosenwald said. “In response to Floridians reporting that they were blocked from submitting a new application because of a misunderstanding or reasonable mistake concerning program compliance, I filed this glitch bill.”
If approved, the legislation would ensure more homeowners have access to financial assistance aimed at strengthening homes and improving insurance affordability across Florida.
