Voter Guide

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Governor Choose 1

The Governor is an elected constitutional officer and the highest state officer in Florida. A governor serves as the chief executive officer of a state. Everyday job duties include oversight of the state’s executive leaders, policy review, as well as big picture budget management. Serves 4-year term with a limit of 2 consecutive terms. The Governor s 2026 salary was $141,400.

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Dean Ocean Abrams (NPA)

Biographical Information

Education BSc
Hometown Sarasota
County Sarasota
Campaign Website http://www.deanabrams.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dean4gov26/
Twitter/X Handle @deanabrams
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanabrams212/
Campaign Phone 9412334951
Campaign Mailing Address 5342 Clark Road #3023
Sarasota, FL 34233

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

Florida's government no longer works for the people who live here. Both parties answer to donors, party bosses and corporate interests while Floridians are priced out of their own state. I'm not party affiliated and my focus is putting Floridians first.

Affordability. Insurance, property taxes, housing and health care have outrun paychecks, and much of that money disappears where nobody can see it. I'll follow the money: independent audits, profit caps, and no Wall Street buying of existing homes. AI data centers and Flock cameras. Hyperscale data centers threaten the aquifer that supplies our drinking water. License plate cameras track law-abiding Floridians without a warrant. I've sat on big tech's side of the table. I know how these deals work, and I'll stop them.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Protect the water first. No hyperscale AI data centers drawing on the Floridan aquifer, and deny their water permits.

Review every spring bottling permit. At Ginnie Springs, a private company pumps nearly 1 million gallons a day of public water for bottling. Oppose renewals that harm spring flow, and charge fair value for public water.

Enforce existing runoff rules with real inspections and penalties, and speed up septic-to-sewer conversion near springs.

Stop overdevelopment. Restore state review of large projects affecting wetlands, water supply and evacuation, and make growth pay for its own infrastructure.

Buy and protect vulnerable land. Stop subsidizing new building in the highest-risk coastal zones.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

Florida has the largest ACA marketplace in the country, and the lapse of enhanced federal subsidies pushed hundreds of thousands off coverage. The state must stop the leaks before spending more.

Audit: A forensic audit of Medicaid managed care, covering overhead, denials and affiliate payments. Claw back overpayments.

Care at home: Pay family caregivers and expand in-home care, which costs less than institutions.

Drugs: Make Florida's stalled Canadian importation program deliver, pool state drug purchasing, and push to import from other safe countries.

Profit caps: Require plans to spend a set share of premiums on actual care, with automatic rebates. Enforce hospital price transparency.

Premiums: Pursue a federal reinsurance waiver to lower marketplace premiums for everyone.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Acquire and protect. The Board of Trustees is a trustee, not an owner. Its duty runs to the public and future Floridians.

Fully fund Florida Forever and spend Amendment 1 conservation dollars the way voters intended. Prioritize spring recharge areas, wetlands, coastal buffers and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. That land gets more expensive every year we wait.

Keep state parks off-limits to commercial development. Require public hearings and a Cabinet supermajority for any sale, swap or lease of conservation land.

Use conservation easements so ranchers and farmers keep working land while protecting it permanently.

Protect beach access, dunes, mangroves and seagrass, our first storm defense.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

Get Wall Street out of homes. Federal law now stops investors owning 350+ homes from buying more, but lets them keep what they own. Florida should lower that threshold to zero for corporate buyers of existing single-family homes.

Target property tax relief to working homeowners: full homestead relief up to 200% of the county median home value.

Cap insurer profits relative to claims paid and require full accounting of payments to affiliates. A state study found insurers reported $432 million in losses from 2017 to 2019 while their affiliates earned $1.8 billion.

Restore one-way attorney fees so homeowners can fight wrongful denials, paired with anti-fraud enforcement.

Keeping people housed is the cheapest way to reduce homelessness.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

Teacher pay: Set minimum pay by county, based on local cost of living, so teachers can afford to live where they teach. Cut paperwork and testing burdens.

School choice: I support vouchers, but restore income limits so public dollars go first to families who need them. Every school taking public money must meet basic financial accounting and reporting standards.

Curriculum: Focus on reading, writing, math, science and real civics. Every graduate should understand the Constitution and the Federalist and Anti-Federalist debates that shaped it.

Parental rights: Parents are the primary authority in their children's lives and have a right to see what is taught. The state's job is transparency, not turning classrooms into political battlegrounds.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

Both matter, and the state has failed on both. Property taxes rose sharply, and the Legislature waited years to act. The November amendment leaves out school taxes, delays full relief for new residents, and gives a $5 million estate the same break as a modest home. I'd protect working homeowners first.

Insurance is worse because homeowners can't opt out or see where their money goes. A 2022 study commissioned by the state's insurance regulator found insurers paying $680 million in dividends and moving billions to affiliates while feigning loss. It stayed out of public view until the press exposed it, after the Legislature had made it harder to sue insurers.

The fix: full affiliate accounting, profit caps tied to claims paid, and restored one-way attorney fees.

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Charles Burkett (NPA)

Biographical Information

Age 65
Education BS from University of Miami
Hometown Miami Beach
County FL
Campaign Website http://burkettforgov.com/
Instagram @burkettforgov
Twitter/X Handle https://x.com/charleswburkett
LinkedIn @burkettforgov
Campaign Phone 3059920102
Campaign Mailing Address 1332 Biscaya Drive
Surfside, FL 33154
Campaign Twitter Handle @@burkettforgov

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

I’m running for Governor because Florida deserves a leader who answers to Floridians—not political parties, donors, or insiders. I have built a successful life, achieved political success, and bring decades of real-world common sense to this race. My campaign is focused on two issues: affordability and representation. Florida has become too expensive because politicians have allowed reckless development and population growth without ensuring our infrastructure can keep up. Our roads, schools, water, housing, and other resources have limits. When more people compete for those limited resources, costs rise. We should put the interests of Floridians first and stop treating endless growth as automatically good for our state. Floridians also deserve a Governor who represents them—not wealthy donors and special interests. Both parties have candidates who have accepted enormous contributions and are indebted to those who funded them. I haven’t, and I won’t be. I will put Floridians first.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

All actions necessary, including appointing environmental experts to ensure that our water, air and natural resources are never compromised. This is a huge issue, without clean air, water and natural resources, nothing else matters.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

“Healthcare” has become a meaningless term—buried under bureaucracy. The result is a system that is expensive, confusing, and increasingly unaffordable. We need to return to basics: Restore incentives for doctors to practice independently, reduce red tape and litigation, and put doctors—not government and insurers—in charge of care. Restore the doctor-patient relationship and make Right to Try and “My Body, My Choice” absolute. Rebuild a genuine, risk-based insurance market. Insurance should protect against unknown future events—not conditions that already exist. Radically simplify choices with five standardized plans, each available with low, medium, and high deductibles. Insurers would compete on price and service. Provide a compassionate safety net for people with pre-existing conditions without destroying the private insurance market.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Conserve it all. Stop making more land available for profiteers and developers. Florida is Full! Fix what's broken, enhance what is good and make life for Floridians already here incomparable. I will never support concrete jungles in Florida or paving over everything we hold dear.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

Our leaders have badly wasted resources to help create affordable housing. Florida’s poor don’t need another handout. They need a real shot—and the support to seize it. Too many Floridians remain trapped in dangerous, blighted neighborhoods where poverty, crime, drugs, and hopelessness have become entrenched. We must stop funding programs that reward dependency while failing to deliver results. My proposed Oasis Act redirects existing developer incentives to Florida’s worst and most forgotten slum parcels, where land is cheapest and every taxpayer dollar can go further. Each Oasis would provide secure, dignified housing, parks, playgrounds, and limited retail and offices. Residents would agree to clear rules: no crime or drugs, school attendance for children, and work or training for adults. Those who break the rules would give their place to someone ready to succeed. The goal is simple: create safe launchpads out of poverty—not permanent dependency. A smart tough love solution.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

Florida’s children deserve an education system built around one principle: their future matters more than the bureaucracy. Require strict performance accountability from teachers, principals, and school boards. Hire great teachers, pay them well, and reward excellence. Give struggling teachers a fair opportunity to improve—but if they consistently fail, replace them. Good enough is not good enough for our kids. Stop treating schools like factory-style educational warehouses where every child is pushed through the same system. Every child is different. Some will pursue college; others will become entrepreneurs, skilled tradespeople, technicians, healthcare professionals, and more. Expand rigorous academic, vocational, technical, apprenticeship, and entrepreneurial opportunities so students can discover their strengths and build real futures. Give parents meaningful choices, teachers greater freedom to teach, and schools accountability for results. Our kids deserve the best.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

Florida needs a property-insurance market built on competition, risk, and honesty. Allow all financially strong insurers to compete aggressively and offer a wide range of deductibles, allowing homeowners to accept more risk for lower premiums. Lawmakers must also tell homeowners the truth: not every home or location can be made economically insurable against hurricanes. Poorly built homes, flood-zone properties, and homes near large bodies of water are inherently higher risks. Safer, hurricane-resistant homes should receive lower premiums. For homes that can be fortified, allow the full cost of approved hurricane-resistant upgrades to be offset against property taxes. For homes that cannot reasonably be fortified or insured affordably, provide a one-time incentive to move into a new hurricane-resistant home by allowing the new homes homestead exemption to be tied to the full sale price of the existing home. This will dramatically drop taxes on the newly acquired home.

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Jeffrey Peter "Dr. Jeff" Datto (NPA)

Biographical Information

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

Candidate has not yet responded.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

Candidate has not yet responded.

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Moliere Dimanche (NPA)

Biographical Information

Age 38
Education St. John's River State College
Hometown Orlando
County Orange
Campaign Website http://noMOEcorruption.com
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/moedimanche
Twitter/X Handle https://x.com/moedimanche
Campaign Twitter Handle @moedimanche

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

Public corruption is the reason I entered this race. It has affected my life and I know that there are other people out there just like me who wonder when something will ever be done about it. My two biggest issues are: 1) Public corruption: From corrupt HOAs to predatory lenders and these accelerated foreclosures, corruption is always at the core. You solve corruption by actually holding folks accountable, and when you do that, all of the other problems will fix themselves. There's no accountability in Florida at the moment, and that is about to change. 2) Homeownership: Florida, at present, allows these big corporations to buy up entire subdivisions, and that's the recipe for decreasing homeownership. I want to do what they did in Baltimore and Michigan where they awarded abandoned properties to people for $1 as long as they put in the sweat equity and made the necessary improvements. That program beautified those communities and it's coming to Florida.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

The most important thing is making sure that the plan to erect data centers is stopped in its tracks so that not a single additional data center can waste any more water, which has impacts beyond environmental concerns. After that, Florida needs to expand its conservation efforts while we implement a referendum policy whenever contracts are procured to further develop on protected lands. The policy should always be "An Election on Protection". It should always require a vote when it comes to protected lands.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

The first step is expanding DOGE-style auditing systems to address waste. That's a bigger problem than most people realize and has a direct impact on federal resistance to cover state costs. At the same time, the state also needs to have a separate reinsurance policy in place to reimburse providers for high-cost procedures. We also need to be more lenient in the renewal process because a lot of people get kicked off for procedural noncompliance when they shouldn't. Florida has a 15 billion dollar surplus right now, and simply needs a governor in favor of releasing some of that money to make sure every single person gets the health care they need.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

We have a lot of very vulnerable environments on our shore that need adequate preservation resources, despite being flagged already. For example, we set a record last year with 434 manatee deaths for this exact reason, and loose restrictions on the use of motor vehicles in these areas. The state hasn't been doing enough and needs to ramp up its conservation efforts. I will direct the Secretary to enforce my "Election for Protection" initiative so that acquisition is the one thing to be decided by voters in these areas.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

This is dear to me. The problem is that, at present, Florida is very friendly towards mortgage companies, developers and HOAs. At the same time, Florida is very hostile towards the unhoused, and financially insecure. I'm the opposite. I plan to give Floridians a real, tangible shot at homeownership through a system that awards abandoned properties to the public. This will eventually solve the need for housing and allow those who work multiple jobs and still can't afford the cost of living to save their money, build their wealth and power up the economy. Maryland's "Fixed Pricing Program" is the model I want to use, minus the $90k repair cost qualification. The qualifications will be based on the value of the home, and Floridians will own those homes as long as they pledge to homestead the residence for a minimum of 5 years.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

I like the current School Choice policy. I am opposed to many of the curriculum changes because my oldest son is getting a very different education than I got when I was his age. Education has become politicized, and I believe that that is the main contributor towards failing to retain teachers. My youngest sons are home schooled, and this is probably the most important thing to parental rights: we need to allocate grants that give home-school parents the same resources that are available in public schools. Also, a lot of parents pursuing school choice have complained about limited transportation, and in some case, no transportation for students. We need to hire more bus drivers if School Choice is going to be worth its salt.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

This is exactly why we need to abolish property taxes on homestead property. It will offset the high cost of property insurance, which is roughly double the ad valorem taxes, on average. Florida is prone to hurricanes, which is the driving force behind high insurance costs. But there are years when we have no hurricanes, so that needs to be taken into account moving forward. I'm a proponent of penalizing insurance providers and awarding grants to the Red Cross for natural disaster-related costs. That, in theory, and if implemented properly, would relieve insurance providers of concerns they have about weather related claims. We should be working with entities like Red Cross during peak hurricane season to allow some middle ground between homeowners and insurance providers.

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Byron Donalds (Rep)

Biographical Information

Campaign Website http://byrondonalds.com/

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

Candidate has not yet responded.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

Candidate has not yet responded.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

Candidate has not yet responded.

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Scott Jewett (LPF)

Biographical Information

Age 67
Education MBA
Hometown San Diego, CA
County Florida
Campaign Website http://www.scottjewett.com/
Campaign Phone 7144259277
Campaign Mailing Address 761 SW 18th Street
Boca Raton, FL 33486

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

I'm running because Floridians are governed too much and served too little. Both major parties keep expanding the state's reach into our wallets, our land, and our private decisions, and neither seems interested in stopping. I want to offer people a real alternative: a government that stays small, respects your rights, and trusts you to run your own life.

Two issues where I think a governor can actually move the needle. First, affordability. Housing, insurance, and taxes are crushing working families, and much of that cost traces back to government itself. Cut the regulatory drag and stop distorting these markets, and prices come down.

Second, property rights and land. Florida is paving over its farms and handing the bill to taxpayers. I'd protect landowners from overreach and let people keep what's theirs.

I won't promise to fix everything. I will promise to get government off your back and out of your way

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Clean water and healthy coasts depend on liberty, not bureaucracy. The strongest protection is holding polluters accountable—if someone fouls your water or shoreline, that's a violation of your property rights, and the state should back you in court, not shield the offender.

I'd stop subsidizing the problem: taxpayer-funded roads, utilities, and insurance make it profitable to overdevelop wetlands and coastline. End those distortions and the market stops building where it shouldn't. Enforce the laws already on the books, and keep decisions local—people living near a spring protect it better than a Tallahassee bureaucrat.

My biggest idea: make Florida the world leader in thorium nuclear power. Thorium reactors are safer, produce far less waste, and deliver abundant clean energy without the emissions or land footprint of fossil fuels. That's how we power growth and protect the environment at the same time—real energy independence, cleaner air and water.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

I won't pretend the state can spend its way out of this. When Washington cuts subsidies and shifts Medicaid costs down, Tallahassee can't just backfill the gap without raising taxes Floridians can't afford. So, we have to make care itself cheaper, not just move who pays for it.

Most of what drives prices up is government-made. Certificate-of-need laws block new hospitals and clinics from opening. Licensing rules keep nurse practitioners and pharmacists from providing care they're trained to give. Regulations shield incumbents from competition. Strip those away and supply grows, prices fall, and access widens—especially in rural counties.

I'd also expand price transparency so people can actually shop, and clear the path for direct primary care, telehealth, and charity clinics that serve people the current system leaves behind.

Protect the truly vulnerable, yes. But the real fix is competition, not bigger bills.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Public land is a public trust, and the Trustees should manage it that way—carefully, transparently, and for the people who own it, which is all of us. I take conservation seriously. Florida's springs, parks, and coastlines are irreplaceable, and once they're paved over, no budget brings them back.

I support Florida Forever, but I'd hold it to a clear standard: buy land with real conservation value, pay a fair price, and favor willing sellers and conservation easements over eminent domain. Government shouldn't take property to protect it. And what we already own should be managed well before we keep acquiring more—too many parks are underfunded and neglected while the state chases new purchases.

I'd also keep parks as parks. Recent pushes to open state parks to golf courses and hotels betray the trust. These lands belong to Floridians, not developers with connections in Tallahassee.

Protect what we have. Acquire wisely. Keep it honest.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

Candidate has not yet responded.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

My long-term plan is simple: put families in charge and let the money follow the child. I support school choice and vouchers because parents, not bureaucracies, know what their kids need. Competition raises quality across the board, including in public schools.

On teacher retention, choice helps here too. Free schools from top-down mandates and paperwork, pay good teachers what they're worth, and give them real authority in their classrooms. People don't leave teaching because they stop caring—they leave because the system wears them down.

On curriculum, I trust parents and local communities over distant officials. Keep standards focused on the fundamentals—reading, math, critical thinking—and out of the political tug-of-war.

On parental rights, they're not a slogan to me. Parents have the primary say in their children's education and upbringing, and the state's job is to respect that, not override it.

Empower families. Support teachers. Keep it local.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

The public has it right. Property taxes are a real burden, but insurance is what's breaking people's budgets right now—and unlike taxes, premiums have been climbing fast with nothing to show for it. When less than 8% of what homeowners pay in premiums actually comes back as repairs, something is badly broken.

That gap doesn't disappear into thin air. It's eaten up by litigation, bloated adjusting, and plain mismanagement inside the system. Floridians are paying more and getting less, and too much of Tallahassee's "reform" has just shielded the industry instead of protecting policyholders.

I've actually done the work here—I wrote a bill to change Florida's insurance regulations and fix the incentives that let this happen. The answer isn't more bailouts or a bigger state role in the market. It's transparency, accountability, and real competition so companies win by paying claims fairly, not by dodging them.

Lower the cost. Make insurers deliver what people paid for.

Voter Guide

Candidate picture

David Jolly (Dem)

Biographical Information

Education Juris Doctor (J.D.) cum laude from the George Mason University School of Law; Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History from Emory University
Hometown Dunedin, Florida
County Hillsborough
Campaign Website http://davidjolly.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidjollyfl/
Twitter/X Handle https://x.com/davidjollyfl
Campaign Phone 727-386-9204
Campaign Mailing Address P.O. Box 266
Indian Rocks Beach, FL 33785
Campaign Twitter Handle @https://x.com/davidjollyfl?lang=en

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

I am running for Governor to build a Florida that is more affordable, more accountable, and more focused on the future. I believe government should improve people's lives, the economy should work for everyone, and every Floridian deserves dignity and equal opportunity. The first issue where I can make the greatest difference is affordability. Rising costs for housing, insurance, healthcare, childcare, and groceries have made it harder for working families to get ahead. I will support policies that strengthen workers' rights, raise wages, and create pathways to good-paying jobs. The second issue is education. Florida needs a renaissance in public education. I will fully fund neighborhood public schools, raise teacher pay, reduce overcrowding, expand student support services, and protect the independence and excellence of our colleges and universities. By making Florida more affordable and investing in education, we can create opportunity and security for every Floridian.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

Florida's environment is one of our greatest assets. Our beaches, springs, wetlands, rivers, and coastlines support tourism, recreation, agriculture, and local communities. Protecting them requires stronger stewardship and long-term planning. Florida must accept the science of climate change and invest in resilience against sea level rise, stronger storms, flooding, and saltwater intrusion. Building resilient infrastructure today will protect communities and save taxpayers money in the future. I support stronger enforcement against polluters, investments in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, and accelerated restoration of the Everglades, springs, rivers, and estuaries. We must reduce harmful algal blooms and ensure clean water for future generations. We also need smart growth policies that protect wetlands, beaches, state parks, and environmentally sensitive lands from overdevelopment.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

Equitable, affordable healthcare is declining as federal subsidies shrink and states shoulder more Medicaid costs. Florida should expand Medicaid and bring home billions in taxpayer dollars now funding care elsewhere. Expansion would help hundreds of thousands access affordable coverage and reduce uncompensated care that drives up premiums. As costs shift to states, we must also improve how care is delivered by investing in preventive services, behavioral health, maternal health, chronic disease management, and care coordination to reduce avoidable ER visits. Stronger fraud prevention, transparency, and efficient administration are essential. Rural communities face provider shortages and hospital closures, so Medicaid dollars should stabilize local hospitals, expand telehealth, and support community‑based networks. Healthcare shouldn’t depend on income or geography. By expanding Medicaid and modernizing care delivery, Florida can improve outcomes and strengthen rural communities.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

Florida’s public lands are part of our shared heritage, and conservation is essential to our long‑term prosperity. As Governor and a member of the Board of Trustees, I would prioritize responsible stewardship, public access, and protecting natural resources for future generations—not short‑term interests. I support fully funding and expanding Florida Forever to preserve wildlife corridors, wetlands, springsheds, and working lands that safeguard water quality and reduce flooding. State parks should remain focused on conservation and recreation, not commercial development. I also support coastal resiliency, beach restoration, seagrass protection, and science‑based planning to address sea level rise. Strategic land acquisition and partnerships with local governments and conservation groups are key to protecting habitats and preventing costly environmental damage. Florida’s environment is the foundation of our economy and quality of life, and we must protect it for those who come after us.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

Florida’s housing crisis is pushing homeownership and stable rentals out of reach for working families, seniors, veterans, and young people. As Governor, I would focus on lowering costs by fully funding the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund and ensuring those dollars build affordable and workforce housing as intended. I support smart‑growth infrastructure, mixed‑income development, and removing unnecessary local barriers that restrict supply. Stabilizing the property insurance market is also essential, as rising premiums are driving the affordability crisis. To reduce homelessness, I support a Housing First approach that pairs permanent housing with mental health care, addiction treatment, job training, and healthcare. We must prioritize veterans, seniors, youth aging out of foster care, and families at risk of eviction. Housing is essential infrastructure, and every Floridian deserves safe, stable, affordable homes.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

Florida needs a ten-year renaissance in public education; a long‑term plan to strengthen public education by supporting teachers, improving curriculum, and keeping parents engaged as partners. The teacher shortage stems from years of low pay, rising living costs, burnout, and policies that have left educators feeling undervalued. I would prioritize higher salaries, housing assistance, loan forgiveness, and stronger mentorship and professional development to improve recruitment and retention. We must also improve school climate by reducing unnecessary bureaucracy and expanding mental health and behavioral supports. Curriculum should be high‑quality, evidence‑based, and focused on literacy, math, science, civics, financial literacy, CTE, and media literacy, free from partisan interference. Parents deserve transparency and meaningful involvement, and parental rights laws should encourage collaboration rather than conflict. We must value educators and support Florida families.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

Floridians are right to be more concerned about property insurance than property taxes because insurance costs have become one of the biggest threats to housing affordability. Premiums—not taxes—are now the primary driver of rising housing costs, affecting renters, homeowners, retirees, and condo owners. Stabilizing the insurance market must be a top priority. I support exploring a state catastrophic fund to remove natural‑disaster risk from the private market, lower premiums, and create long‑term price stability, while ensuring the system is actuarially sound and transparent. I also support no‑interest state‑backed loans to help condo owners cover required structural repairs that many—especially seniors—cannot afford. Florida must invest in resilience programs, strengthen homes against storms, and increase industry accountability so rate hikes are justified. Insurance affordability and housing affordability are inseparable, and restoring stability must be a core priority.

Voter Guide

Candidate picture

Frank J. Russo (NPA)

Biographical Information

Age 65
Education UCF Business School, BS
Campaign Website http://russo2026.com/en/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/frankjohnrusso?stkn=MTNyeTVsaTk2YXcwYg==
Twitter/X Handle https://x.com/Russo2026

Why are you running for this elected position? What are the two most compelling issues on which, if elected, you feel you can make a difference? ¿Por qué se postula para este cargo electo? ¿Cuáles son los dos temas más importantes en los que, si es electo/a, cree que puede hacer una diferencia para nuestro estado?

I firmly believe that when you have been blessed, you bless others. Growing up with my 10 brothers and sisters right here in Florida, enjoying an excellent education in this state, and building a successful career, including several businesses here in Florida has given me an extraordinary life for me and my children. Now, as a father and grandfather, I want to ensure that everyone in Florida has the opportunities I have had. As I talk with people all over the state, I hear the same concerns about being able to afford day to day life, and I know we can tackle skyrocketing housing costs by addressing the insurance crisis in our state. I have decades of experience in the insurance industry, and I am certain we can return power in the hands of the People. I am running to ensure families are supported by their leaders - from the local school boards to the governor's office, with transparency and without overregulation.

What actions can be taken to protect Florida's environment, water quality and coastlines from pollution, overdevelopment and climate change? ¿Qué acciones pueden tomarse para proteger el medio ambiente de Florida, la calidad del agua y las costas frente a la contaminación, el desarrollo excesivo y el cambio climático?

We need to update disaster infrastructure and systems in advance of any future catastrophic weather event. We should also require transparency and enforce the law for developers from AI data centers to lower-income housing, so the people of Florida are not left paying the costs, without enjoying the benefits of innovation and economic expansion. There are natural solutions to water conservation through purification and reuse as well as large-scale waste breakdown to convert trash to rich soil for agricultural use, which natural technologies I will pursue to protect Florida's rich ecosystems and support its agricultural economy, which is a matter of food security for the state.

Equitable and affordable access to healthcare is declining, in part due to the decrease of federal insurance subsidies. At the same time, more Medicaid costs are being pushed onto the states. How should the state address these issues? El acceso equitativo y asequible a la atención médica está disminuyendo, en parte debido a la reducción de los subsidios federales de seguros. Al mismo tiempo, más costos de Medicaid se están trasladando a los estados. ¿Cómo debería el estado abordar estos problemas?

The quality of healthcare provided is a fundamental issue: we should not manage illness, but seek wellness and healing for Floridians. Our healthcare systems must restore patients' and parents' autonomy and rights, requiring informed consent and prioritizing health for people, not profits for hospital administrations or drug companies. Medicaid costs can also be brought down by investigating and cleaning up the largescale fraud in the system in Florida - we should audit the program and use the recovered funds in a publicly-held trust for Florida's families and communities in need.

The Florida Cabinet, acting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, manages over 12 million acres of public lands. What is your philosophy on conservation, acquisition, and protection of natural resources, including Florida Forever projects, state parks, and coastal areas? El Gabinete de Florida, actuando como Junta de Fideicomisarios del Internal Improvement Trust Fund, administra más de 12 millones de acres de tierras públicas. ¿Cuál es su filosofía sobre la conservación, adquisición y protección de los recursos naturales, incluyendo proyectos de Florida Forever, parques estatales y zonas costeras?

We have an obligation to protect our land and its resources given to us by God. Preservation of natural beauty and conservation research funding should be a priority for the state. State acquisition of land for this purpose is good, but must not override individual property rights of Florida's residents. Any conservation project needs to be clearly outlined and held accountable on timelines and budget, and perform according to the goals of preserving Florida's ecosystems and coastline. We also need to stop the use of toxic chemicals and find natural solutions to protect the people and wildlife of Florida - like using UV light for pest control, along with other innovations.

Insufficient housing is hurting Florida families and limiting Florida’s economy. What state measures do you support to address affordable housing and reduce homelessness? La falta de vivienda está afectando a las familias de Florida y limitando la economía del estado. ¿Qué medidas estatales apoya para abordar la vivienda asequible y reducir la falta de hogar?

We must increase transparency on tax-payer supported housing projects, including those given tax breaks to provide greater access to affordable housing. Where developers receive any such public support, we have to hold them accountable on measurable, long-term delivery of actual affordable housing. We need to prioritize ensuring our teachers, nurses, first responders, hospitality workers, and other critical service workers have available affordable housing in the communities in which they serve. We must completely reform insurance in this state and return power to the People by electing the Insurance Commissioner once again; and we can reduce the burden of property tax on residents through creative consumption tax on high revenue residents and businesses to cover essential local services even while raising the homestead exemption. We can do these things while also encouraging further development and investment in this state.

What is your long-term plan for public education, specifically concerning teacher retention, curriculum changes, and the role of parental rights laws? ¿Cuál es su plan a largo plazo para la educación pública, específicamente en relación con la retención de maestros, cambios en el currículo y el papel de las leyes de derechos de los padres?

I spent time in the classroom, substitute teaching, and listening to students, teachers, and parents: Florida needs to raise the average teacher salary to at least $75,000 a year while strengthening recruitment of talent, retention of qualified teachers, and building classroom support and community investment and engagement with local schools. Florida should also lead the way in expanding education by honoring the skilled trades that are desperately needed in this state; I have called on business leaders in the state to give to a publicly held trust to pay for apprenticeships for students to learn and build experience in the trades. Florida must also not allow technological innovation, including artificial intelligence, to push Florida's workers out of the economy - we can prepare students for the tech advances of the future, and also educate those prepared to build their own businesses and give them the tools to succeed as entrepreneurs.

Polls indicate the public is more concerned about the cost of property insurance than property taxes. What is your view and why? Las encuestas indican que el público está más preocupado por el costo del seguro de propiedad que por los impuestos a la propiedad. ¿Cuál es su opinión y por qué?

I agree that insurance is a major cost driver. I propose a statewide catastrophic hurricane and wind protection program providing up to the first $500,000 of eligible residential property coverage for hurricane and wind risk. The goal would be to reduce the hurricane-wind portion of eligible premiums by as much as 50%. I would also pursue stronger consumer protections and a Florida Homeowner Bill of Rights designed to give homeowners greater transparency and accountability when dealing with insurance companies. My plan further calls for pursuing a constitutional amendment to restore an elected Insurance Commissioner, rather than continuing with a position appointed through the current system. We should also create a public Property Insurance Reform Dashboard and require greater transparency around actuarial studies, financial analysis and the implementation of major reforms.