Florida
Venezuelan Candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago Leads Florida House Race with Nearly $200,000 Raised as Cross-Party Endorsement Scandal Continues
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN NEWS) — Democratic Florida House District 43 candidate Samuel Vilchez Santiago has emerged as the fundraising and endorsement leader in the 2026 Democratic primary while continued questions surrounding the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee’s handling of internal party discipline have become an issue in the closely watched legislative race.
According to his campaign website, Samuel Vilchez Santiago serves as a Senior Nonprofit Manager at ActBlue, where he helps thousands of nonprofits and grassroots organizations across the country build people-powered fundraising programs aimed at shifting political influence away from corporations and toward communities.
According to publicly available campaign finance reports and his campaign website, Vilchez Santiago has secured endorsements from numerous Democratic elected officials, labor organizations, and party-affiliated political committees. His campaign biography states that he serves as a Senior Nonprofit Manager at ActBlue, one of the nation’s largest Democratic fundraising platforms.
Vilchez Santiago has also publicly discussed his family’s political history, including fleeing Venezuela and seeking asylum in the United States as political refugees.
“I grew up with politics in my house. My grandfather was a communist and my parents were very politically involved against the Chavista regime.”
— Samuel Vilchez Santiago, quoted in a 2019 Princeton University profile
The statement has become part of his publicly available political biography and has resurfaced during the 2026 campaign as voters examine candidates’ personal backgrounds and political histories.
The statement has received renewed attention amid heightened national political debate over socialism and communism. President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders have frequently criticized segments of the Democratic Party by arguing that some Democratic candidates and democratic socialist movements reflect increasingly left-wing political ideologies. Although Vilchez Santiago has not publicly identified himself as a communist, his own description of his family’s political history has become part of the broader political discussion surrounding his candidacy.
Campaign finance reports show that Central Floridians for Change PAC, affiliated with Samuel Vilchez Santiago’s political operation, contributed $40,000 to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee ahead of the August 18, 2026, Democratic primary.
Fundraising and Endorsement Advantage
The Democratic primary for Florida House District 43 has developed into one of Central Florida’s most competitive legislative contests, with a significant disparity in campaign fundraising between the two Democratic candidates.
According to campaign finance reports, Vilchez Santiago‘s campaign raised more than $139,000 and spent more than $114,000 during the election cycle.
A political committee affiliated with Vilchez Santiago’s political operation, Central Floridians for Change PAC, reported raising more than $55,000 and spending approximately $43,000. The PAC’s chair and treasurer is José Gamboa, who also serves as treasurer for Vilchez Santiago’s campaign. Gamboa is also an Account Management Specialist with the Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue.
Campaign finance reports show one of the PAC’s largest expenditures was a $40,000 contribution to the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee, the political committee responsible for supporting Democratic candidates seeking election to the Florida House of Representatives. The contribution represents a substantial portion of the PAC’s reported expenditures and has become a point of discussion during the Democratic primary.
Combined, the campaign and PAC reported raising approximately $200,000, giving Vilchez Santiago a significant financial advantage over former State Representative Daisy Morales, whose campaign finance reports show approximately $8,400 raised and about $6,500 spent during the same reporting period.
Campaign finance reports show that Johanna López, then a candidate for Florida House District 43, raised approximately $58,000 during the 2022 election cycle. As the incumbent seeking reelection in 2024, her campaign finance reports show she raised approximately $68,000 for the same Florida House District 43 seat now being contested by Samuel Vilchez Santiago and Daisy Morales.
Vilchez Santiago has also secured endorsement from current Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, numerous Democratic elected officials, organized labor unions, and party-affiliated organizations.
Despite the fundraising disparity, history suggests campaign spending alone does not determine election outcomes. During the 2020 Democratic primary for Florida House District 48, Vilchez Santiago also enjoyed a fundraising and endorsement advantage. Morales nevertheless defeated him by approximately ten percentage points before winning the general election and serving in the Florida House.
Political observers noted Morales’ countywide name recognition, earned during her service as an elected Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, may have contributed to that victory.
While fundraising and endorsements often increase campaign visibility, advertising, and voter outreach, Morales has argued that legislative experience, constituent service, and a demonstrated record of passing legislation are more important measures of a candidate’s preparedness to serve in the Florida House.
Former Rivals Meet Again
The 2026 Democratic primary represents a rematch between Vilchez Santiago and Morales, whose political rivalry dates back to the 2020 election.
During Vilchez Santiago’s 2020 campaign, current State Representative Johanna López served as his campaign manager, while José Gamboa served as deputy campaign for Vilchez Santiago’s campain.
Morales has argued that these longstanding political relationships warrant public examination because several individuals connected to Vilchez Santiago’s earlier campaigns later assumed influential roles within Democratic Party organizations or campaign operations.
Florida National News has not independently concluded that these relationships affected any party disciplinary decisions. However, Morales has cited them as part of her request for an independent review by the Florida Democratic Party.
Morales continues to emphasize her legislative accomplishments, constituent services, appropriations secured for Central Florida, and previous electoral victories as evidence that she is prepared to return to Tallahassee.
LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY DISPUTE CONTINUES
The House District 43 controversy also involves a dispute over action taken against former state Rep. Daisy Morales within the Orange County Democratic organization following the 2024 Orange County Commission District 5 election.
Morales disputes that she endorsed Republican Joel Montilla, maintaining that her involvement was limited to appearing on a campaign-launch host committee. Montilla has separately stated that Morales did not endorse his campaign.
Angie Gallo, then registered No Party Affiliation, served as campaign manager for Joel Montilla’s 2023–24 Orange County Commission District 5 campaign and publicly endorsed him, according to campaign materials. Gallo registered as a Democrat in 2025.
Morales contends that party rules were applied inconsistently and has sought review of the process and records underlying the action taken against her.
According to several news reports, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer endorsed Republican former Winter Park Mayor and Orange County Commission District 5 candidate Steve Leary. Mayor Dyer has endorsed Republican candidates in previous elections as well. Florida National News is not aware of any public disciplinary action taken by the Orange County Democratic Executive Committee regarding those cross-party endorsements.
Contemporary reporting provides examples of other cross-party political activity in Orange County. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, a Democrat, publicly endorsed Republican Steve Leary in the 2024 District 5 Orange County Commission race.
Those examples do not, by themselves, establish selective enforcement. Determining whether another political figure is an appropriate comparator requires establishing that the person was subject to the same or materially similar party rules, loyalty requirements and disciplinary authority during the relevant period.
Angie Gallo should be treated separately. Although Montilla campaign material identifies her as his campaign manager and the campaign subsequently publicized her endorsement, Gallo was registered No Party Affiliation during the 2023–24 campaign, according to published reports. She therefore should not be characterized as a Democratic cross-party comparator for that period.
Her potential relevance instead arises from her documented campaign role and possible firsthand knowledge concerning how the Montilla campaign distinguished formal endorsers from host-committee participants.
Morales has requested that the Florida Democratic Party independently review whether applicable party rules and procedures were followed and whether conflicts affected the process.
FNN has not established that similarly situated individuals were treated differently, and no adjudicative finding of selective enforcement has been made.
WHY THE RECORDS MATTER
The documentary record could help establish exactly what action was taken against Morales and the basis for it.
Relevant records could include the original complaints; applicable bylaws and loyalty oath; investigative materials; notices provided to Morales; meeting minutes; attendance and voting records; any resolution or written disposition; membership-change records; and communications between Orange County Democratic officials and the Florida Democratic Party.
The distinction between removal from a Democratic Executive Committee position and expulsion from the Democratic Party itself is particularly important because the disputed 2026 campaign communications reportedly characterized Morales as having been expelled from the party.
The Florida Democratic Party’s bylaws establish rules governing county Democratic Executive Committees, loyalty obligations and party sanctions. They also require records of party meetings and provide for procedural protections in disciplinary matters. The particular rules in effect when the 2024 action occurred, however, should be examined rather than assuming the current 2026 provisions governed the earlier proceeding.
Morales has said that she and the Orlando Sentinel sought records concerning the process. FNN should independently seek the underlying records from the appropriate party organizations and report what those documents actually establish.
QUESTIONS THE RECORDS COULD ANSWER
The unresolved factual questions include:
- What complaints were filed against Morales, and what conduct did they specifically allege?
- What loyalty oath, bylaws and disciplinary provisions applied to Morales at the time?
- Was Montilla or anyone from his campaign interviewed before a determination was made concerning whether Morales endorsed him?
- What action did the Orange County Democratic organization actually take — removal from committee membership, declaration of a vacancy, expulsion or some other action?
- Was there a recorded vote, written resolution or notice of disposition?
- Were other individuals subject to the same rules accused of comparable conduct, and if so, how were those matters handled?
- What records concerning Morales’ membership or status were transmitted to the Florida Democratic Party?
Those records could provide a clearer basis for evaluating the competing accounts without assuming either that party rules were selectively enforced or that the disputed disciplinary process was proper.
_______________________________________
CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION: Previous FNN reporting incorrectly identified Orange County School Board member Angie Gallo as a Democrat while discussing her role as campaign manager for Joel Montilla’s 2023–24 Orange County Commission campaign. Published reports indicate Gallo left the Republican Party in 2023, registered NPA, and became a registered Democrat in 2025. Her potential relevance as a fact witness concerning the Montilla campaign remains unchanged. FNN has updated its reporting accordingly.
Republican defeats Democrat David Jolly following a campaign backed by Black community leaders, including Gainesville Democrat Cynthia Chestnut.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FNN) — Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds won Florida’s governor’s race Tuesday, defeating Democrat David Jolly and becoming the first Black person elected to lead the state. NBC News projected Donalds as the winner of the historic contest.
With 99% of the expected vote counted, Donalds received 4,113,531 votes, or 50.1%, compared with 3,996,073 votes, or 48.7%, for Jolly, according to NBC News Decision Desk results. Donalds led by 117,458 votes, approximately 1.4 percentage points. The election-night totals remained unofficial.
Donalds will succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis, keeping the governor’s office in Republican hands. His campaign paired conservative policy positions with outreach to Black voters and support from community leaders, including some Democrats.
LIVE from Ft. Lauderdale – Byron Donalds Election Night Watch Party https://t.co/kAF1omsegf
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) November 4, 2026
A historic first for Florida and the nation
Donalds becomes the first Black Republican elected governor in the United States, according to The Washington Post’s election coverage.
He is not the first Black Republican to serve as a governor. Republican P.B.S. Pinchback assumed Louisiana’s governorship during Reconstruction in 1872, becoming the nation’s first Black governor without winning an election to that office.
Virginia Democrat L. Douglas Wilder became the first Black person popularly elected governor in 1989 and took office in 1990. Donalds’ victory establishes a new milestone for Florida and the Republican Party.
Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Moore Chestnut, a longtime public servant whose political career has spanned city, county and state government. Source Cynthia Moore Chestnut
Black leaders’ endorsements preceded historic win
Black elected officials, pastors, business owners and civic leaders became a visible part of Donalds’ campaign.
More than two dozen supporters launched the Florida Coalition of Black Leaders for Donalds to back the congressman and his running mate, Bryan Avila. Its members included sheriffs, lawmakers and educators, reflecting an effort to build support through established community networks.
Gainesville City Commissioner Cynthia Chestnut delivered one of the campaign’s most prominent endorsements across party lines.
Chestnut, a Black Democrat and former state representative, supported Donalds despite disagreements with some of his policies. She said her decision reflected her judgment about Black leadership and frustration with Democrats’ selection of Jolly over Black and Hispanic candidates.
“I want to see a Black governor of Florida in my lifetime,” Chestnut said in a statement reported by WCJB.
Her endorsement drew criticism from Democratic state Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis, who cited Donalds’ voting-rights record and challenged the rationale for supporting him. The dispute highlighted differences among Black leaders over representation, party loyalty and public policy.
Donalds’ victory fulfilled the historic outcome Chestnut sought. However, available election-night reporting does not establish how many votes those endorsements generated or whether they determined the result.
Affordability shaped the campaign
The contest also centered on household expenses, particularly housing and homeowners insurance costs in a hurricane-prone state.
Jolly, a former Republican congressman running as a Democrat, sought to attract voters dissatisfied with rising costs. Donalds emphasized affordability, public safety and educational opportunity while defending continued Republican leadership.
The candidates offered different approaches to large data centers. Jolly supported a moratorium on new hyperscale facilities, pointing to environmental and public-health concerns. Donalds favored local decisions about where facilities should be built and said their operations should not raise residents’ utility bills.
Republican advantages faced a competitive challenge
Jolly faced substantial obstacles, including a Republican voter-registration advantage of roughly 1.5 million and Donalds’ stronger fundraising position.
President Donald Trump campaigned with Donalds during the race’s final days. DeSantis also endorsed him, and Donalds portrayed his candidacy as a continuation of the outgoing governor’s approach.
Despite those advantages, polling indicated a competitive contest. A University of North Florida survey conducted Oct. 12-19 showed Donalds ahead 49% to 47%, a difference within the poll’s margin of error.
From state lawmaker to governor-elect
Donalds served in the Florida House before winning election to Congress in 2020. He subsequently became a nationally recognized conservative voice and Trump ally.
He is scheduled to take office Jan. 5, 2027, with affordability among the central challenges awaiting his administration.
Crimes and Courts
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Central Florida News
Attorney General James Uthmeter announces 100 felony counts against Kissimmee man, sues AI platform
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Wednesday, Oct. 28, that a Kissimmee man faces 100 felony counts involving child sexual abuse material and images depicting sexual activity with animals. In a separate action, the state sued an artificial intelligence company accused of enabling users to generate sexualized images of children and other people without their consent.
The criminal case names Jerry Jesus Reyes, 26. The civil lawsuit targets Rengstorff Consulting Ltd., the company operating the A2E artificial intelligence platform.
“There is nothing more evil than the sexual exploitation of children, and anyone who possesses, shares, or creates these images is an active participant in that abuse,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
Osceola County Sheriff Christopher Blackmon. Photo by Florida National News
Tip leads to criminal investigation
According to the attorney general’s office, the Reyes investigation began with a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children concerning activity on a Snapchat account.
Detectives with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit used subpoenas and search warrants to link the account to Reyes, authorities said. Investigators reported finding files depicting the sexual abuse of children and sexual activity involving an animal.
The charges include:
- 86 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting sexual performance by a child.
- 13 counts of unlawful possession of materials depicting sexual activity with animals.
- One count of transmitting child pornography by electronic device.
Potential prison penalties
According to the announcement, the child sexual abuse material possession charges were reclassified as first-degree felonies because the case involved 10 or more images. First-degree felonies generally carry a maximum sentence of 30 years per count under Florida law.
The second-degree felony transmission charge carries a five-year mandatory minimum, according to the announcement, and a statutory maximum of 15 years. Third-degree felonies generally carry up to five years per count.
Reyes could face decades in state prison if convicted. His total sentence would depend on the convictions, applicable sentencing provisions and whether the judge orders sentences served concurrently or consecutively.
The attorney general’s office said Reyes was being held at the Osceola County Jail on $100,000 bond, with conditions of release prohibiting internet access and contact with minors.
Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Lauryn Day is prosecuting the case in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.
Separate lawsuit targets AI platform
In the civil case, the state alleges A2E allows users to upload photographs or videos of real people, including children, and generate nude or sexually explicit depictions without their consent.
The complaint also alleges the platform permits users to digitally alter adults to appear underage in sexualized imagery.
Although A2E’s terms prohibit certain abusive content, the state alleges the company failed to enforce those restrictions through adequate monitoring, consent verification and reporting of illegal material.
The complaint cites separate criminal investigations in Tampa and Tallahassee in which people allegedly used A2E to generate child sexual abuse material.
“Predators who traffic in the abuse of children and animals have no place in Florida,” Uthmeier said.
He added that companies profiting from AI tools that facilitate child sexual abuse material or nonconsensual sexual imagery “will be held accountable.”
State seeks injunction and financial penalties
The lawsuit, filed in Sarasota County, alleges violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
The state seeks a permanent injunction restricting the company’s provision of the challenged AI tools, restitution, recovery of profits and civil penalties of up to $10,000 per willful violation.
Reyes is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The allegations against Rengstorff Consulting have not been proven in court. Responses from Reyes or his attorney and the company were not included in the materials available for this report.
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