State & Local

Along with up-to-date political coverage, The Floridian takes the opportunity to post about issues, legislation, and lawmakers in local municipalities and at the state level
ODESSA—Lt. Gov. Jay Collins has finally announced his campaign for governor by emphasizing his career military service during an exclusive interview with The Floridian publisher Javier Manjarres, saying that he will "push" and "drive" Rep. Byron Donalds to lead. The bid ends months of speculation by Lt. Gov. Collins, who enters the Republican gubernatorial primary […]
KPMG Florida, a major accounting firm providing audit and tax services to businesses worldwide, announced last week that it received a national Gold Award from the Brandon Hall Group for its training and learning work with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) during disaster response operations. According to a release, the Gold Award specifically […]
The Republican Party of Florida announced its unanimous endorsement by the State Executive Committee of Attorney General James Uthmeier for a full term as attorney general in the November 2026 election. “James Uthmeier represents the very best of our party and our movement,” Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said in a release. “He earned the trust […]
Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia announced that an additional 58 state lawmakers and leaders have endorsed his bid for a full term as CFO, bringing the total number to 72, in a campaign release this week. “Floridians deserve a CFO who is laser-focused on protecting every dollar of the people’s money,” Ingoglia said in a […]
Rolling Loud, the popular hip-hop music festival, is rolling to Orlando this year, citing accessibility concerns. Matt Zingler, the Rolling Loud co-founder and co-CEO, told The Miami Herald, "With Orlando, we're able to be more accessible for fans, expand our footprint, and think long-term." In 2018, the Hard Rock Stadium hosted the three-day festival. Prior […]
Rep. Kevin Steele (R-Dade City) announced a $5 million personal investment this week into his statewide campaign to become Florida's next chief financial officer (CFO), saying the contribution underscores his "commitment to fighting for Florida families and bringing real accountability to state government" through a campaign release. “Florida families deserve leaders who are personally invested […]
Rep. Fabian Basabe (R-Miami Beach) filed a bill in the House this week to provide more transparency and guardrails for state courts to identify funding of cases and prevent conflicts of interest, including from possible foreign interference, during legal proceedings. The bill, Basabe says, intends to make sure lawsuits are driven by "justice, not money […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a special legislative session on congressional redistricting will run from April 20th to April 24th during a press conference at Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee this week. The governor foreshadowed his intention to call for a special session on redistricting in an exclusive interview with The Floridian in December. "I am […]
When Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro was captured during the meticulously planned U.S. Military 'Operation Absolute Resolve,' there was no one happier to see the oppressive strongman taken into custody than Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Well, the Venezuelan people were probably the happiest considering the years of oppression they endured under Maduro and his regime. […]
President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Republican Jon Maples in his race for Florida House District 87 on Truth Social this week. "It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Jon Maples, who is running to represent the wonderful people of Florida's 87th State House District," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Jon is […]
Florida continues to be a top moving destination for Americans, ranking second among all states for in-migration for 2025, according to a report from the U-Haul® Growth Index. The Sunshine State was also in the top five in 2023 and 2024. Gov. Ron DeSantis celebrated Florida's popularity on social media. "2025 U-Haul report shows people […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis shared his call to ban congressional stock trading through a proposal by the Florida Legislature that would ask state congressional candidates, when they qualify for federal office, if they intend to trade individual stocks while they're in Congress. The governor requested the call while speaking at a press conference in Clearwater, alongside […]
As President Donald Trump prepares to address the country from Mar-a-Lago, news continues to surface regarding the early-morning bombing in Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have reportedly been taken into custody, and Attorney General Pam Bondi has announced indictments. Footage of Venezuelans in the country taking to the streets to celebrate the […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis is continuing to hype up the University of Miami after the Hurricanes' big win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on New Year's Eve. The Hurricanes beat the Buckeyes 24-14 in the College Football Playoff (CFP) quarterfinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic to advance to the national semifinal, where they will face […]
Representative Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) compared the recently uncovered Minnesota daycare fraud scandal to organized crime in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Varney & Co., adding that government collusion must have been a factor in its perpetration. Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) initially made the comparison in a previous interview, where he called for the federal government […]
Florida welcomed an estimated 34.3 million travelers in the third quarter of 2025, continuing impressive year-over-year growth after a 0.3% increase in visitation from the third quarter of 2024, according to VISIT FLORIDA. The third quarter (Q3) of the year runs from July to September. “Florida tourism remains strong and leads the nation,” VISIT FLORIDA […]
Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that the State of Florida has been awarded $209 million through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) this week. The funding will specifically help the state's health care by prioritizing workforce, innovation, and access in underserved rural areas. Florida's funding was also made possible by a $50 billion initiative […]
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump issued the first two vetoes of his second term in office this week. He rejected two bipartisan bills passed by Congress. The White House announced on X that Trump vetoed a pipeline measure and legislation that would give more land to the Miccosukee Tribe in Florida. Both the House and Senate […]
