Politics
What are the Residency Requirements for State and Federal Candidates in Florida?
Published
4 years agoon
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – “Do you even live in the district?” This question typically flies at a political candidate during a campaign in an effort to invalidate him or her if the candidate’s address isn’t already in the district. Candidates have used this question for disinformation campaigns against their political opponents. Or if the candidate doesn’t make the attack, voters in the candidate’s base do. In some cases, voters supporting a candidate with this line of thinking are actually sincere–but they happen to be sincerely wrong and spread the disinformation to other voters. The truth is, whether a state or federal candidate lives in the district he or she is running for at the start of or during the campaign doesn’t affect their election qualification or their chance of winning.
Given the amount of documents required to run for public office (and properly qualify by the respective deadline), there is plenty of opportunity for errors, and all it takes is one single clerical error to disqualify a candidate. This happened most recently to Scotty Moore, Republican candidate for Congressional District 9. He filed early and would’ve vied for the chance to defeat incumbent Democratic Congressman Darren Soto in November, but Moore erroneously completed a State office oath instead of a federal one when he filed to run.
Does a Candidate Have to Live Within the District to Run for That Office?
For state and federal elections, the short answer is no. According to the Florida Division of Elections, federal candidates (U.S. House and Senate) don’t need to live in their respective district, only in the state. The same is true for Florida governor, lieutenant governor and the governor’s cabinet. State House, State Senate and judicial candidates are required to be a resident of the district upon taking office.
In other words, while a state candidate is running for that seat, he or she can in fact have an address outside of the target district. The important thing is that he or she makes sure to secure an address before their primary date (if theirs turns out to be a primary election-only scenario), or before the general election date, because in the event the candidate wins said election, that is the moment in which he or she “takes office.” Therefore, their address would need to have already been updated to somewhere within the target district by the applicable election day.
The time frame for living in the larger overall residency in question–be it U.S. citizenship for president, vice president, or U.S. House and Senate; or Florida state residency for governor, lieutenant governor, or Florida House and Senate–changes depending on the office being sought.
For local office (city and county), it’s important to reference the respective county’s Supervisor of Elections or city/town government website, since local jurisdictions have different requirements. For example, here’s what the Orange County Supervisor of Elections lists for its candidates.
Residency Requirements
According to the Florida Division of Elections website, here are the residency requirements:
- President of the United States: a natural born citizen and resident of the U.S. for the last 14 years.
- United States Senator: a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years and resident of the state when elected.
- United States Representative in Congress: a citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years and resident of the state when elected.
- Governor and Lieutenant Governor: an elector and resident of the state for the preceding 7 years.
- Cabinet Members: an elector and resident of the state for the preceding 7 years.
- State Senator: an elector and resident of the district upon taking office and a resident of the state for at least 2 years prior to election.
- State Representative: an elector and resident of the district upon taking office and a resident of the state for at least 2 years prior to election.
- State Attorney: an elector and resident of the circuit upon taking office.
- Public Defender: an elector and resident of the circuit upon taking office.
- Justice of the Supreme Court: an elector and resident of the state upon taking office.
- Judge, District Court of Appeal: an elector and resident of the territorial jurisdiction of the court upon taking office.
- Circuit Judge: an elector and resident of the territorial jurisdiction of the court upon taking office.
Why Knowing Florida Election Law Matters
It helps for voters and candidates alike to be informed of what Florida election law says about candidate residencies. On the local level, it helps to know where to look. Law enforcement will tell anyone “ignorance of the law is no excuse,” and the same is true for elections. The more voters know, the better informed they are, and the better informed they are, the more mature political campaigns and elections can be, instead of the emotional parroting that’s become prevalent in state and federal elections over the past decade. The political landscape has just gotten a blank canvas with the recently redrawn districts. It’s important now more than ever before for voters to have factual, solid knowledge of the political process and the candidates on their ballots.
The Florida primary election happens August 23, 2022. The general election follows on November 8, 2022.
____________________________________________
Mellissa Thomas is Editor for Florida National News. | mellissa.thomas@floridanationalnews.com
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Politics
FORMER PRESIDENTS, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS GATHER FOR OPENING OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
Published
4 days agoon
June 18, 2026
CHICAGO (FNN NEWS) — The long-awaited Barack Obama Presidential Center officially opened Thursday with a star-studded dedication ceremony on Chicago’s South Side, drawing former presidents, national leaders, celebrities, and thousands of invited guests.
The ceremony began at 11 a.m. CDT with Chicago native and Grammy Award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson performing the national anthem.
Obama Center Opens
Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama delivered remarks celebrating the opening of the center, which is designed to serve as a cultural, educational, and civic engagement hub.
The opening marks the formal debut of one of the most anticipated presidential centers in modern history. The campus opens to the public on Juneteenth and is expected to attract visitors from across the United States and around the world.
Former Presidents in Attendance
Among the dignitaries attending the ceremony were:
- Former President Joe Biden
- Former President George W. Bush
- Former President Bill Clinton
- Former First Lady Jill Biden
- Former First Lady Laura Bush
- Former Secretary of State and former First Lady Hillary Clinton
National Leaders and Celebrities Attend
The event also attracted prominent political leaders, civil rights advocates, entertainers, and business leaders, including:
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
- Civil rights leaders Andrew Young and Al Sharpton
- Media icon Oprah Winfrey
- Comedians David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, and Stephen Colbert
- Actor Tom Hanks
- Tennis legend Billie Jean King
- Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts
Several attendees, including Newsom and Shapiro, are widely viewed as potential contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
A Landmark for Chicago’s South Side
The opening of the Obama Presidential Center represents a significant milestone for Chicago’s South Side, bringing national attention, tourism, and economic development opportunities to the community.
Thousands of invited guests attended the ceremony, while residents and supporters gathered at a free public watch party to celebrate the historic occasion.
The center is expected to serve as a lasting tribute to the legacy of the nation’s 44th president while inspiring future generations of leaders through civic engagement, education, and public service.
About the Obama Presidential Center
The Obama Presidential Center is a world-class campus dedicated to preserving and advancing the legacy of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. The center includes museum exhibits, public gathering spaces, educational programming, and community resources aimed at fostering leadership and civic participation.
Politics
CARICOM Launches Online Platform for 51st Heads of Government Meeting Gros Islet, Saint Lucia conference set for July 5-8, 2026
Published
4 days agoon
June 18, 2026
GEORGETOWN, Guyana (FNN NEWS) — The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat has launched a dedicated online platform for the upcoming 51st Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, scheduled to take place in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia, from July 5-8, 2026.
Central Hub for Meeting Information
The online platform will serve as the primary source of information for media representatives, government officials, stakeholders, and the public leading up to and during the conference.
Available at CARICOM 51st Heads of Government Meeting Platform, the website features:
- Information on the Opening Ceremony speakers
- A detailed program of events
- A profile of the incoming CARICOM Chair
- Daily news updates
- Photo and video galleries
- Livestreams of the Opening Ceremony
- Livestreams of the Closing Media Conference
The official Meeting Communiqué, summarizing decisions and outcomes from the conference, will also be published on the platform following the conclusion of the meeting.
Media Encouraged to Bookmark Platform
CARICOM officials are encouraging members of the media and other stakeholders to bookmark the website and visit regularly for updates throughout the conference.
The Secretariat also invited users to follow and engage with CARICOM’s social media channels using the hashtag #51HGC for real-time updates and coverage.
About CARICOM
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was established on July 4, 1973, with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. The treaty was revised in 2001 to facilitate the creation of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
CARICOM comprises 15 Member States and six Associate Members, representing approximately 16 million citizens across the Caribbean region. Nearly 60 percent of the Community’s population is under the age of 30.
The organization’s work is centered on four primary pillars:
- Economic integration
- Foreign policy coordination
- Human and social development
- Security cooperation
CARICOM’s vision is to build an integrated, inclusive, and resilient Caribbean Community driven by knowledge, innovation, excellence, and productivity while promoting human rights, social justice, and sustainable economic prosperity.
Headquartered in Georgetown
The principal administrative organ of the Community, the CARICOM Secretariat, is headquartered in Georgetown and coordinates the implementation of regional policies and initiatives among Member States.
CARICOM remains one of the most successful examples of regional integration in the developing world.
Politics
State Department Offers Up to $15 Million in Rewards for MS-13 Leaders Wanted on Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Charges
Published
4 days agoon
June 18, 2026
WASHINGTON (FNN NEWS) — The U.S. Department of State announced Thursday that it is increasing reward offers totaling up to $15 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of two senior leaders of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a transnational criminal organization designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Reward Offers Increased
The State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Yulan Adonay Archaga Carías, also known as “Porky,” and up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Víctor Eduardo Morales Zelaya, also known as “Cuervo.”
The reward offers were announced by Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State.
MS-13 Leadership in Honduras
According to federal court documents, Archaga Carías and Morales Zelaya are the highest-ranking members of MS-13 operating in Honduras. Authorities allege they direct the gang’s criminal operations, including:
- Drug trafficking
- Money laundering
- Murder
- Kidnappings
- Other violent criminal activities
Federal authorities also allege the two men are responsible for coordinating the importation of significant quantities of cocaine into the United States. Both remain fugitives.
Among America’s Most Wanted
Archaga Carías is listed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is also among the most wanted fugitives sought by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) established under Executive Order 14159. The task force is a permanent, whole-of-government initiative focused on dismantling criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in the United States and abroad.
How to Provide Information
The reward offers were authorized by the Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), which supports global law enforcement efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the FBI through WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram at +1-832-267-1688.
Individuals located outside the United States may also contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. Those within the United States may contact their local FBI field office.
Confidentiality Guaranteed
U.S. officials emphasized that all identities of individuals providing information will be kept strictly confidential. Government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards based on information obtained through their official duties.
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Politics4 days agoCARICOM Launches Online Platform for 51st Heads of Government Meeting Gros Islet, Saint Lucia conference set for July 5-8, 2026
Politics4 days agoState Department Offers Up to $15 Million in Rewards for MS-13 Leaders Wanted on Terrorism, Drug Trafficking Charges
Politics4 days agoFORMER PRESIDENTS, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS GATHER FOR OPENING OF OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
