Florida
Val Demings Bows Out of Orange County Mayor’s Race, Clears Path for New Candidates
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Former U.S. Congresswoman and Orlando Police Chief Val Demings officially announced Friday via a Facebook post that she will not seek the office of Orange County Mayor in the upcoming 2026 election. The seat is currently held by her husband, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings.
Her decision ends weeks of speculation about whether one of Central Florida’s most recognizable political figures would enter the race and reshapes the early landscape for potential candidates now eyeing the county’s top executive position.
A Powerhouse Couple’s Political Legacy
Val and Jerry Demings are widely regarded as one of Orange County’s most influential political couples, having both served in high-profile roles in law enforcement and elected office. Jerry Demings, the current mayor and a former Orange County Sheriff, easily won re-election, and many political insiders believed Val Demings would have cruised to victory with his backing had she entered the race.
This isn’t the first time Demings considered a mayoral campaign. In 2014, she briefly filed to challenge then-incumbent Republican Mayor Teresa Jacobs but withdrew before Election Day.
To date, candidates who have filed paperwork with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections for the 2026 mayoral race include Orange County Clerk of Courts and former County Commissioner Tiffany Moore Russell (filed March 31, 2025), tech entrepreneur Chris Messina (filed April 21, 2025), and Orange County Commissioner Mayra Uribe (filed May 8, 2025).
An Open Race and New Political Opportunities
With Demings now officially out of the running, the door opens for other local leaders and hopefuls who had been waiting for her decision before making their campaigns public. Political observers expect a wave of announcements in the coming months as candidates position themselves for the 2026 election.
In her announcement, Demings called for strong, selfless, and courageous leadership in Orange County, emphasizing the importance of integrity, sound judgment, and bold decision-making.
“We are in challenging times, and our vote matters,” Demings said. “I pray we use our vote wisely.”
What’s Next for Val Demings?
While stepping aside from the mayoral race, Demings’ political future continues to draw speculation. Many insiders wonder whether she’ll pursue another U.S. Senate bid in red-state Florida for the seat once held by Senator Marco Rubio, who left the Senate to join the Trump administration as U.S. Secretary of State. The seat is currently held by Ashley Moody, who was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to replace Rubio.
For now, Demings expressed gratitude to supporters and admiration for her husband’s leadership.
“Thank you, Mayor Jerry Demings,” she wrote. “You exemplify strong, courageous leadership every day, and we are a better, more unified community because of it.”
As Orange County’s political landscape begins to shift, Florida National News (FNN) will continue following developments as candidates enter the 2026 mayoral race and as attention turns to Demings’ next potential move.
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J. Willie David, III contributed to this article and can be reached at News@FloridaNationalNews.com.
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.
Crimes and Courts
Attorney General Uthmeier Announces Charges Against Six in South Florida Drug Trafficking Enterprise
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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