Florida Politics & News
Florida news featured in The Daily Signal with reporting, analysis, and commentary on conservative governance, education reform, and the Sunshine State’s leadership in policy innovation.
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Miss America Changes Eligibility Rules to Clarify Transgender Stance Following Florida AG Letter
The Miss America Organization has changed its rules to clarify that only females can compete. This comes after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier warned the organization that it might be violating the Sunshine State’s law by allowing men who identify as transgender. Uthmeier sent Miss America a letter Friday, warning that its policies may violate…Tyler O’Neil -
Fallout From Husband Confessing Murder of Democrat Congressional Hopeful Continues in Florida
Shockwaves continue to shake south Florida in the wake of Coral Springs Vice-Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen’s murder. After the vice mayor was found dead in her residence on April 1, her husband, Stephen Bowen, was apprehended by local police in the nearby Florida city of Plantation. Bowen was charged with murder after Metayer Bowen’s friend…Pedro Rodriguez -
A Florida Man’s Response to NY’s Hochul
RealClearWire—New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has a Florida problem. Facing a ballooning budget deficit and an ever-narrowing lead in her reelection bid against Republican candidate Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County’s Trump-endorsed executive, the Sunshine State is draining cash from her coffers and has been for years. “I need people who are high-net worth to support the…Paul du Quenoy -
Florida Passes Voter ID Bill as National SAVE Act Stalls
The Florida Senate passed voter ID legislation Thursday, sending the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, as the SAVE America Act stalls in the U.S. Senate. SB 1334, a bill to strengthen the verification process for voters’ citizenship status, passed the Sunshine State’s Senate 27-12, fulfilling the prediction of Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia…Pedro Rodriguez -
EXCLUSIVE: White House Takes Stand Against DeSantis AI Bill
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The White House is engaging against a Florida bill that would establish limits on artificial intelligence, including protections for minors, sources familiar with the matter tell The Daily Signal. The White House has contacted Florida Speaker of the House Daniel Perez and his staff members about opposing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Artificial…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
Florida Becomes Only the Fourth State to Offer English-Only Driver’s License Exams
Last Friday, Florida began administering English-only driver’s license exams, only the fourth state to do so. English-only driving exams make the roads safer for all drivers, and every other state should follow suit. Recently, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office announced that all driver’s license exams will be administered in English only, including…Erin Schniederjan -
Florida Should Reject Expanded Food Disparagement Laws
Florida has earned a reputation for pushing back against failed public health dogma and leading the way to a healthier America. Led by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the executive branch has taken steps praised by the MAHA community: challenging widespread vaccine mandates, increasing transparency, and advocating patient choice. Now, Florida…Judy Lopez -
Florida Takes the Lead on School Choice. Here’s Why Other States Should Follow.
National School Choice Week highlights the education options available to students across the United States. In Florida, we celebrate the historic action to implement the largest school choice program in the nation’s history. Nearly half of all students in Florida are learning in a school choice setting, whether in private schools, charter schools, or home…Anastasios Kamoutsas -
Donalds Has Commanding Lead in Vital Florida Race, Poll Shows
A new poll on Florida’s gubernatorial race shows Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., ahead of his primary challengers by 30 percentage points or more. The Mason-Dixon poll released on Wednesday showed the South-West Florida congressman counting on the support of 37% of Republican voters. Donalds’ closest opponent, current Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, polled at 7%….Pedro Rodriguez -
Florida Public School Districts Shouldn’t Keep Private and Charter Schools From Utilizing Empty Public Facilities
Jupiter Christian School, located 22 miles north of Palm Beach, Florida, has 700 students on its waiting list. The head of Grandview Prep, also near Palm Beach, reports that the number of applications to private schools in the area increased by almost 50% between 2017-2018 and 2022-2023. A charter school that serves students in grades K-8 near the heart of Orlando reports just three open seats and only across the…Jonathan Butcher -
Democrat Elected Miami Mayor for First Time in Nearly Three Decades
REUTERS—Democrat Eileen Higgins became the first member of her party in nearly three decades elected mayor of Miami on Tuesday, defeating a Republican backed by President Donald Trump in a Hispanic-majority city in the heart of his Florida stronghold. CNN and the Associated Press called the election for Higgins less than an hour after polls…Steve Gorman -
Florida Bill Will Prevent Government Money Going to Media ‘Bias Monitors’
A law preventing government collusion with media gatekeepers will go to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk. The Florida Legislature approved its 2025-2026 budget on Tuesday, which included a provision prohibiting state agencies from using funds “to contract with an advertising agency or other contractor who acts as or uses the services of media reliability and…Jarrett Stepman -
Here’s Why DeSantis Isn’t Opposing University of Florida President Candidate Who Made ‘Woke’ Statements
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday explained why he is allowing University of Michigan President Santa Ono to proceed in the confirmation process to lead the University of Florida, despite Ono’s previous statements that DeSantis admitted make him “cringe.” Ono published an op-ed earlier this month explaining that his ideas on the Left’s ideology—often referred…Tyler O’Neil -
Florida Appeals Court Puts Parental Rights Where They Belong
School districts across the country require parental notice or consent before minors may go on a field trip or even receive a cough drop. But for years, the Supreme Court said that those same minors have a constitutional right to get an abortion with minimal, if any, parental involvement. Now, the legal tables may have…Thomas Jipping -
Randy Fine Wants America to Look More Like Florida
Rep. Randy Fine was sworn into office a month ago Friday, but he already has an idea of what Republicans need to do while they control Congress and the White House. “We need to show we can govern,” Fine, 51, told The Daily Signal. Fine, R-Fla., was elected in Florida’s 6th Congressional District on April…George Caldwell -
How Ron DeSantis Turned Florida Red—and Why It Will Remain That Way
In 2022, the state famous for deciding the presidential election in 2000 dramatically shifted to the right, catching Democrats and Republicans by surprise. The only person not surprised was Gov. Ron DeSantis, who brought the state from purple to bright red, and he plans to ensure that Florida remains that way. As a Floridian, I…Faith Behrens -
DeSantis Cracks Down on Colleges Repackaging DEI Despite Florida Ban
Some college administrators have “repurposed DEI under a different banner” and “think they can get away with it” despite anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion laws Florida passed in May 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday. “We’re making sure, yes, we don’t have DEI, but you can’t just rename it and do it,” DeSantis told Fox News’…R.E. Wermus -
DeSantis Slams Rep. Randy Fine for ‘Underperformance’ in Florida Elections
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called out newly elected Rep. Randy Fine for “an underperformance by more than 50%” despite Florida Republicans winning two key special elections for the U.S. House Tuesday. During a Wednesday interview on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom,” DeSantis said he thinks Fine “was in dire straits a few weeks ago” due to…R.E. Wermus -
Republicans Fend Off Democrat Bid to Seize Florida House Seat
Republican Randy Fine emerged triumphant Tuesday in a special election in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, The Associated Press projects, putting an end to speculation that the district could flip and hand Democrats a seat in Congress. The race received national attention and millions from Democrat donors who sought to send a message about their party’s…George Caldwell -
Florida Special Elections for House Seen as Barometer on Trump Policies
Two special elections Tuesday for House seats from Florida will be a test of the popularity of the first 70 days of President Donald Trump’s second term and will decide whether or not Republicans can maintain their already slender margin of control in the House of Representatives. The stakes are high. With four seats currently…George Caldwell