The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) was quick to push back at the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) for its recent lawsuit against a 30-second ad spot highlighting the $10 million Hope Florida scandal.
In response, the FDP commissioned a follow-up ad on the scandal after the First District Court of Appeals denied the RPOF's immediate request to pull it from airing on television (TV).
@FloridaGOP went to court to get our Hope Florida ad pulled off the air. A judge said no.
So we made another one. https://t.co/krsZiXJm6x
— Florida Democrats (@FlaDems) October 21, 2026
Judge Denies Temporary Restraining Order On Hope Florida Ad
On Oct. 20, 2026, Circuit Judge Peter Estrada denied the RPOF's request to place a temporary restraining order on the ad, citing "illegal publication" of the expunged report.
“The Court should and does deny the Plaintiff’s ex parte nature of its requested relief,” the order states.
Same Court That Expunged Report, Denies Ad Censorship
On Oct. 7, 2026, the First District Court of Appeal expunged the leaked grand jury report surrounding the FDP's campaign ad.
Despite state officials' original success, their luck appears to have run out in their attempt to deny their opponents from using it against them.
Judge Estrada, however, directed the RPOF to formally serve the FDP and to arrange a hearing in the case.
Basis For The Lawsuit
According to the complaint, the RPOF argues that the FDP is knowingly violating Florida law by “broadcast[ing] the content, gist, or import of testimony of a witness examined before a grand jury.”
The Republican Party sought to impose an immediate stop to the ad's publication on 11 TV stations in the Orlando and Tampa Bay market as early voting in several Florida counties began on Oct. 19, 2026.
Could The Ads Affect Voters' Opinions?
The FDP's ads not only target the DeSantis administration, but it also goes after other Republican officials, including Sen. Ashley Moody and Attorney General James Uthmeier, two individuals currently running for reelection.
Both AG Uthmeier's bid against Democrat JosĂ© Javier RodrĂguez and Sen. Moody's race against Democratic Socialist Angie Nixon, however, remain a toss-up amid early voting, with both Republican challengers having a slight lead.
