Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has had an eventful two-term, eight-year run in the governor's mansion, and having reached his term limit it's time to elect his successor. Dozens of Floridians across parties, no party affiliation and write-in candidates.
Here's a cross-section of those who did, and a few who didn't, answer questions based on voter questions and expressed priorities. Each of the candidates within a race were asked the same questions and given the same amount of time to respond. The candidates' answers were fact checked and only edited for space considerations.
Note: This is not a comprehensive list of candidates. Third-party and write-in candidates who will be featured or eligible for the Nov. 3 general election ballot will be featured in October.
Charles Burkett, Democrat
Age: 65
Occupation: Investments. I own (debt free) and operate commercial and residential property in eight states.
Education: University of Miami, BS, Finance
What are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Did not answer
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Keeping Florida affordable: Eliminate property taxes on homesteaded primary residences; Rewrite broken property and auto insurance laws; Dismiss non-criminal traffic tickets for drivers with clean 10-year records; Eliminate unfair paid highway express lanes; Eliminate tolls on public roads; Eliminate unfair gas tax; Eliminate permit fees to repair and improve your home; Force local government to provide water & sewer at cost; Slash bloated government; Rewrite unaffordable, broken healthcare laws.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Answered it this way:
For each year beyond a year-ten residency vesting period requirement, homeowners would be entitled to a cumulative 10%-point increase of their existing homestead exemption until their adjusted exemption reaches 100%. Renters, who meet a ten-year residency vesting period requirement who go on to purchase a home, would also enjoy the same cumulative 10%-point increase of their new home's homestead exemption. The homestead exemption shall be transferable to the homeowner's wife or children.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? As a condition for any data center to be built, each data center must commit to build or fund the creation of additional power facilities and electrical generation sufficient to provide at least 120% of their actual power consumption - and remain committed to this obligation for the life of the project. Additionally, data centers shall also pay 110% of the rate residential users pay and said additional 10% shall be pro-rata credited back to our residential users.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The earth, our environment and our beautiful state of Florida sustain humanity's existence. We must respect and care for the earth, while at the same time inspiring and incentivizing Americans and Floridians to work hard to find new, clean and innovative ways to live, work, recreate and produce energy.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Our schools should be judged solely on the performance and success of students. Children must come first over every other consideration. Education must be decentralized, reclaimed from the federal government and returned to state - local control. Professional, fairly paid teachers are a big part of the solution. Union rules that shield substandard teachers and treat all members as if they are equal in their performance must be eliminated and replaced with merit-based incentives.
What is your immigration stance? welcome all who wish to come to America legally. Applicants must be thoroughly vetted, be financially self-supported, love and support American culture and our Flag, read and write in English, and add value to our American family. The integrity of America's borders is vital for our national security.
What is your abortion stance? A woman no longer wishing to be pregnant shall have the right to remove a growing baby from her body on day one, through and up to one minute before birth. The law must recognize the obligation to preserve life at all costs and the Hippocratic Oath to "do no harm," principally regarding the life of the mother and nextly, regarding the life and wellbeing of the fetus/unborn child. Doctors performing the removal shall be ethically, morally and legally bound to preserve life if possible.
Evelyn Castillo-Bach
Age: I don't believe age is relevant. Judgement and vision matter.
Occupation: Executive Director, Balanced Justice Network . It is a criminal justice reform organization.
Education: Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
What are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Healthcare: Uninsured rate is 10.9%. Solution: Ban medical debt. Create Florida Direct Care -- pay doctors directly for people with no insurance.
Housing: Rents up 39% since 2019. Solution: Fund affordable housing via fees on hyperscale data centers and large companies not providing affordable healthcare. Create rental voucher program.
Environment: Everglades, water and land threatened. Solution: Empower environmental advocacy groups to protect water, land and Everglades.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida families are crushed by property insurance and rent. A 2022 report found insurers' affiliates made nearly $14 billion while executives paid themselves $680 million in dividends. I will eliminate the middlemen who are the affiliates. For renters, rents are up 39% since 2019. I will create a Florida State Rental Voucher Program and fund affordable housing via mandatory fees on hyperscale data centers, large companies, luxury vessels over $10 million and luxury real estate over $20 million.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
Property taxes pay for essential services we all benefit from. The major threat is property insurance, not property taxes. Too many in Tallahassee avoid facing insurance companies by pushing property tax cuts instead. The Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times exposed the affiliate scheme where excessive profits are made on the backs of homeowners while rates soar. I will eliminate the middlemen who are the affiliates. I will tackle taxes by eliminating inefficiency and potential fraud.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida utility regulators need to focus on protecting families, not dividends. My administration will direct a cap on utility profits, ban rate increases caused by hyperscale data centers, and add solar tax breaks for homeowners. Hyperscale data centers must pay full cost of electricity, water, roads, sewer, pipelines -- not one dollar shifted to ratepayers or taxpayers. My administration will ban hyperscale data center NDAs, require mandatory fees to fund the Florida Affordable Housing Fund.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Protecting Florida's Everglades, land, water, and farmlands. Overdevelopment and corporate exploitation are real threats. Hyperscale data centers threaten our environment on multiple levels: water, noise, and disrupting natural habitats. My administration will empower environmental advocacy groups to protect our Everglades, water, land, and natural habitats from these threats.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Money is being pulled out of public schools and sent to charter, private, and other schools. This directly impacts public schools. Every public school should have the funding, teachers, and tools to succeed. I will invest in early reading programs and support teachers. Every child in public school should get breakfast, lunch, and snacks. No questions asked. I will also use empty school space to create daycare to kindergarten programs so every child starts ready to learn.
What is your immigration stance? Florida must distinguish between state and federal authority. The state should protect people within its borders without breaking federal law. Cooperation with federal agencies should be limited to actual public safety threats, not rounding up neighbors who have lived here for decades. State resources should not be used to target or roundup immigrant communities. People First, Not Politics.
What is your abortion stance? These are challenging questions with no easy answers. But they should be made by patients and their doctors, not politicians. I don't believe government should run your life. I believe it should work for your life. People First, Not Politics.
Jay Collins, Republican
Age: 50
Occupation: Lieutenant Governor of Florida, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis. Retired U.S. Army Green Beret after more than 23 years of service, including combat.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences from American Military University. Graduate degree from Norwich University.
What are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? Was not answered
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida families should be able to own a home and build a life, not just survive the bill. I will eliminate taxes on homesteaded property, protect essential services, speed permitting for the housing families actually need, and keep pressure on insurance costs. Local communities should not get run over by bad projects that raise bills and strain roads, water, and schools.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
I support eliminating taxes on homesteaded property. The current proposal is a step in the right direction, even if it is not as strong as Governor DeSantis wanted. As Governor, I will deliver real homestead property tax relief, protect essential services, and keep working until Florida families fully own their homes.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Regulators should put Florida families first. Data centers and large loads should pay their own way. No shifting infrastructure costs onto households. Protect ratepayers, water, and reliability. Require transparency and enforceable promises. Ordinary Floridians should not get stuck with higher bills for somebody else's project.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Water. Florida's aquifers, springs, beaches, and long-term water supply must come first. Big projects should prove they will not drain communities or stick ratepayers with the cost. Protect the Everglades, harden infrastructure for storms, and put Florida families and natural resources ahead of reckless overbuilding.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Keep parents in charge. Public education should prepare every child for the path they choose, college, trades, or the military, not a one-size-fits-all system from Washington. Expand school choice, strengthen fundamentals, protect kids online, and build real workforce pathways so Florida students leave school ready to work, serve, and lead.
What is your immigration stance? I support strong federal and state immigration enforcement. Florida should cooperate fully on removals, maintain E-Verify, crack down on trafficking and fentanyl, and refuse to become a sanctuary state. Secure communities and the rule of law come first. Weak enforcement is not compassion. It is chaos.
What is your abortion stance? More strict. I am 100% pro-life and we have done great work so far, including the Heartbeat law, but we must do more to protect the unborn. I also believe being fully pro-life means strengthening adoption and foster care so children have stable homes and real opportunity. Protect life, support mothers, and put children first.
Thomas Fernandez, Democrat
Age: 49
Occupation: Retired U.S. Air Force Veteran, Healthcare Professional, Community Advocate, Entrepreneur
Education: Rutgers School of Health, Weber State University, Miami Dade College
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida families are facing rising housing costs, insurance premiums, and everyday expenses that are growing faster than wages. We need practical solutions that help people keep more of what they earn.
I support expanding affordable and workforce housing, increasing pathways to homeownership, addressing the property insurance crisis, and investing in workforce development. My goal is to help Florida families achieve financial stability and build a stronger future.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Property taxes help fund essential services such as public safety, schools, roads, and infrastructure. While I understand the frustration many homeowners feel, I do not support eliminating property taxes without a responsible replacement. I support meaningful tax relief for homeowners, seniors, veterans, and working families while ensuring communities continue to receive the services they depend on.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Rising utility costs place an additional burden on Florida families, seniors, and small businesses. Regulators should prioritize transparency, accountability, and consumer protection when reviewing rate increases. As Florida grows, we must invest in reliable infrastructure and efficiency improvements that help control long-term costs. Large energy users, including data centers, should pay their fair share while keeping utility services reliable and affordable.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Protecting our water resources and preparing for the impacts of growth and severe weather. Clean water is essential to our health, economy, agriculture, tourism, and quality of life. We must continue investing in Everglades restoration, protecting our waterways, improving infrastructure, and promoting responsible growth so future generations can enjoy the Florida we know and love.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Public education succeeds when we attract and retain great teachers. The biggest issue Florida should address is ensuring every student has access to a quality education supported by well-prepared, respected, and fairly compensated educators. We should focus on academic excellence, career and technical training, financial literacy, and preparing students for success whether they choose college, military service, entrepreneurship, or the workforce.
What is your immigration stance? As a legal immigrant, veteran, and Floridian, I believe we need secure borders, effective enforcement, and an immigration system that is fair, lawful, and efficient. I support enforcing immigration laws while addressing delays in the legal immigration process. Individuals who contribute to their communities, obey the law, and have not committed serious crimes should have opportunities to pursue legal status through an orderly process. Public safety and accountability must remain priorities.
What is your abortion stance? I believe Florida should take a balanced approach to abortion. Women should have the freedom to make personal healthcare decisions, especially early in pregnancy, while recognizing that later-term abortions should be limited except in cases involving the life or health of the mother, rape, incest, or serious medical complications.
Dayna Marie Foster, Democrat
Age: 32
Occupation: Broward County Public Educator (High School Mathematics Teacher)
Education: B.S. in Finance from Florida Atlantic University; Master of Science in Finance from Florida International University; Master of Science in Information from Florida State University.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida's affordability crisis demands we treat housing as a human right, not a speculative asset. To address this critical issue, I will fully fund the Sadowski Trust Fund to expand affordable housing statewide while leveraging private investment, work collaboratively to repeal the state ban on local rent control so communities can stabilize rents, and strengthen protections for renters and mobile home residents against displacement.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
Eliminating property taxes without a clear, sustainable replacement would strip critical funding from our public schools, first responders, infrastructure, and local services that Floridians rely on every day. Instead, we should reform the system; expand homestead protections, limit unfair assessment spikes, and make the tax structure more equitable. Without risking deep cuts or shifting the burden onto more regressive taxes that hit working families hardest.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Regulators should apply strict cost-causation: They should require data centers to fully fund new generation, transmission and interconnection so households aren't the ones responsible for subsidization. Large-load tariffs must be mandated with minimum bills, long-term contracts, and exit penalties to avoid stranded costs. On-site or contracted power is a must as well as encouraging demand flexibility and strengthening oversight of utility forecasts to protect affordability and reliability.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? The rapid development of data centers in our state. They are currently being built on natural resources critical to millions of Floridians. As governor, I plan on removing all funding to these facilities and will work to restore ecologically sensitive land to sustainable levels.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Teacher retention and support. Florida cannot deliver quality education without investing in the people in our classrooms. We must raise teacher pay, reduce overtesting and administrative burdens, and ensure safe, well-resourced schools. Strong public education starts with valuing educators and giving every student access to a fully funded, high-quality learning environment.
What is your immigration stance? Florida must approach immigration with humanity, legal clarity, and a commitment to protecting immigrant rights. We must follow federal law, but we should not overly enforce it by bullying local governments into voluntary federal programs. As governor, I will encourage municipalities to terminate 287(g) agreements. We need policies that integrate and protect our diverse communities, that focus state resources on local affordability.
What is your abortion stance? I believe that abortion restrictions in Florida should be less strict. I support protecting and expanding the legal right to abortion, removing financial and logistical barriers to contraception and reproductive health care, and ensuring medically accurate education so people can make informed decisions about their own bodies. Reproductive justice means every person has the freedom to decide if, when, and how to build a family, and I will stand firmly on the side of that freedom.
Jim Holcomb
Age: 74
Occupation: Orlando Firefighter and Orlando Fire Inspector 1974-2004, Special Education, Math teacher at Mount Dora High School, 2005-13; Homebuilder through 2023
Education: Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Central Florida in 1974; Master of Education Degree from National - Louis University in 2010.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Government waste / regulations can be changed to reduce this problem. In the past the expense of road curbs did not exist. Standardize construction codes like the SSTD 1093 should be implemented. Constitution practices where rain that falls on a property stays on that property. Finally, a Governor with building construction knowledge should be elected.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes
Property taxes should not be a never ending property expense. The tourist tax should be used to reduce property taxes. The increased homestead exemption is a very good idea. A percentage of profits from Florida mineral resources could reduce property taxes, similar to the mineral payments / programs in Alaska.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Private Florida utility companies are doing a very good job and should not be interfered with by government. I believe the utility companies want to help those who need it, maybe the rich politicians could give back their pay and pensions as I have committed to do if elected governor and everyone's taxes will be reduced.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Nature will fix its own problems even when we are the problem . Somehow, bumblebee's can fly. As nasty as an opossum looks, they may eat 50 ticks per day. Fire ants eat termites. If we want clean water we should leave rain where it falls and stop running storm water into the aquifer through storm wells.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? was a public school teacher for 8 school years with also 8 years as a member of the Teachers Union. As the Florida Governor, I would try to have public schools only teach reading, writing, arithmetic, history, vocational school and college preparation . In my opinion, politics, religion, and sexual issues in classes or class book materials, are or should be grounds for dismissal.
What is your immigration stance? I think this is a trap question. I believe that if an immigration law is deemed unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court then it should not be enforced. Otherwise, the immigration laws of the United States, should be enforced.
What is your abortion stance? I have a great respect for life. When I was younger I believed in a woman's rights concerning her body. With that in mind I now wonder if the unborn child deserves the right to life? As in the previous question, I as Governor would try to.comply with court rulings. As Florida Governor I would like the unlawful sale of any human body parts a first degree felony. Maybe the sale of human body parts is the real issue.
David Jolly, Democrat
Age: 53
Occupation: Attorney
Education: Emory University B.A. in History, 1994; George Mason University J.D. cum laude, 2001
What are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? My top priorities are housing, healthcare, and education. I will lower homeowners' insurance costs by creating a state catastrophic fund and investing in workforce and affordable housing. I will expand Medicaid and access to primary care through community health clinics, nonprofits, and federally qualified health centers. I will lead a 10-year renaissance in public education by raising teacher pay and ensuring that all publicly funded choice schools meet the same academic and service standards.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida's affordability crisis starts with housing. I'll work to lower homeowners' insurance costs by creating a state catastrophic fund that removes hurricane coverage from the private market, reducing premiums. I'll fully fund the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to expand workforce and affordable housing, remove unnecessary barriers to increasing supply, and invest in smart growth so working families, seniors, veterans, and young Floridians can afford a place to call home.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: The current ballot language of the proposed property tax elimination amendment is under court consideration. I am concerned that the current effort is rushed and puts critical services and rural counties at risk, while likely shifting the tax burden to renters. We do need property tax relief. As Governor, I would propose moving to greater local control of property taxes, exemptions, and spending, recognizing and better addressing the financial disparity between urban and rural communities.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Florida should place an immediate moratorium on new data centers until regulations address their impacts on electricity demand, water resources, and utility costs. Families should not subsidize massive commercial energy users. I support capping regulated utility profits at the national average to lower bills while maintaining reliable service. We must also accelerate clean, renewable energy to reduce costs and protect Florida's environment.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Florida must address water pollution and quality throughout the state, continue Everglades restoration, address contamination north of Lake Okeechobee that contributes to unhealthy discharges, protect springs, wetlands, and beaches from overdevelopment, and maintain a ban on offshore oil drilling. We must also strengthen resilient infrastructure to address sea level rise, flooding, and stronger storms while expanding clean energy and smart growth to protect our environment and economy.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Florida needs a ten-year renaissance in public education using tourist tax dollars. We need more community public schools, in more neighborhoods, with more teachers who are paid more. Florida should lead the world in public education. A ten-year funding model would move teacher pay into the top-half nationally, recover failing properties, and invest in secondary services like food security and mental health counseling.
What is your immigration stance? I support strong, responsible border security and cooperation with the federal government. However, I oppose Florida's use of 287(g) agreements and detention policies that undermine due process and erode trust in our communities. Law enforcement should focus on those who commit violent or property crimes, regardless of where they were born. I support a pathway to legal work status for law-abiding undocumented immigrants and protections for refugees and legitimate asylum seekers.
What is your abortion stance? I support the protections of reproductive freedom as historically provided by Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. I would work to strengthen Florida's protection of individuals to make their own healthcare decisions without the interference of government, including introducing the language of the 2024 Florida constitutional amendment providing for reproductive freedom that garnered the support of 57% of Floridians.
Arthur Joseph McCaffrey, Republican
Age: 59
Occupation: Owner of computer support, rental house and strategic patterns business
Education: Architectural Engineering
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Housing prices are too high. We need to find a way, to bring it back down, to the way it used to be some years ago. The current ECONOMY has been purposely skyrocketed, which should not have been done. MINIMUM WAGE, is what controls our ECONOMY. Also, the PROPERTY TAX modification, that I intend to do, will be to reduce certain PROPERTY TAX properties, and be able to repair many houses.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Taxes can be reduced... but not eliminated, because we need the REPAIR FUND to help the poor people repair their homes.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? There are many solutions to lower UTILITIES. And it can be done. But the utility companies will be against it. Florida has the right to choose how UTILITIES are created. The UTILITY businesses, do NOT own FLORIDA. Florida can choose the way they want it. And that is on my list of over 100 items to be done as GOVERNOR.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? All those VINES on so many trees, need to be removed (they are literally taking over the whole State of Florida). Huge trees, should not be grown right beside a house (due to HURRICANES). Big trees can be grown the same distance from a house, as the tree's growth height (it won't be a law though). I feel that Florida has a good environment. The air is good. The water is good. The temperatures are good. Not much rubbish on the ground. If there are any issues, then we will fix them.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Homeschooling is the best (as long as a parent knows how to teach their kids). However, bringing schools back to the way they used to be, might be a good solution. I care A LOT about schooling. It is one of the most important things in LIFE.
What is your immigration stance? This has been an issue for 250 years. Yes, I have a belief, that no foreigners should be able to become citizens of our Country... ANYMORE. It's already been done for too long. There are certain aspects (like marriages), where certain things can still be done. I want AMERICA to be AMERICA. This will be ADDRESSED if I become GOVERNOR.
What is your abortion stance? I don't believe in ABORTIONS. But if it is a health issue, then the Mother needs to stay ALIVE... not just the Baby.
Daniel Nokovich, Republican
Age: 65
Occupation: Retired
Education: Formal with 3 1/2 years of public post education, 2 years of private Christian College, and a plethora of business, social, world travel, Colgate, foreign charity as well as musical engagement. (I play several instruments and sing.) Invention research and development.
What are the most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Disunity of purpose and public civility. Solution, Return Florida back to the people and the people back to God.
Toxic water distribution to residents. Solution Criminalize toxic water, sales, distribution by companies, Municipalities and hold ministers of this precious resource accountable.
Florida has the 3rd highest sex/human trafficking statistic in the nation. Solution, focus our great FHP on this blight. Reward citizen involvement.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Florida can expand land possession for individuals unable to access developed housing. Lower insurance rates, provide low interest loans to individuals willing to be educated in business and counseled in a business venture.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: A yes would be the usual answer if the counties and cities were barred from raising the millage rates. Under the current property tax act, counties and cities are free to double their millage rates to compensate for the loss of tax revenue. [This is not true - see <www.floridapolicy.org/posts/florida-property-tax-amendment-ballot-language-summary]. And it significantly narrows the cap for maximum millage rates and makes it much harder for local governments to raise them. Millage rates should be capped and older people should be exempt from millage rates. Cap the millage rates to less than 5% and remove all property tax fees, and I'm in.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Deregulate and decentralize all utilities. Meaning, we should be receive the money for solar panels instead of buying them for the likes of FPL. FPL has a monopoly and should be suited for breaking anti-trust laws. Utility companies have condemned residential well water, and yet drill their own wells into the same aquafers and then treat the water with chemicals that we have to pay for.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Atmospheric Air Quality. We must prohibit the use of chemical delivery systems in our skies. We must stop weather modification operations over Florida.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Lack of parental discipline of the students. This is the biggest deterrent to retaining school teachers. Parents must be responsible for their children and what goes on in the classroom. Teachers are hired to teach not discipline.
What is your immigration stance? I think immigration is a beautiful thing. My wife is an immigrant from Canada. The current laws on immigration have served our nation well. We are a nation of immigrants.
What is your abortion stance? As an advocate for victims of bullies, I am opposed to all forms of bullying when it comes to abortion. Bullies destroy lives, where as heroes save lives. I'd like to think that being a hero is intentional, so is bullying. Thus, I am against all bullying of the unborn. The only reason to abort the natural process of children in the womb is for the purpose of saving the life of the child. Saving lives is commendable, destroying lives is what diabolical intentions do.
Kenneth Stephann Norman, Democrat
Age: 31
Occupation: Volunteer For Non-Profit
Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Management Magna Cum Laude
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Reducing the rent in Florida. DeSantis and Republicans created and signed into law a bill called the Live Local Act that has prevented any form of rent stabilization or reduction, under the Norman administration that will change. My plan is to lower the cost of living in Florida.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No
The property tax elimination that is currently on the ballot in November is a trojan horse. The measure is intentionally entrenched in deception for Floridian homeowners because Republicans have not yet found a way to replace that money which funds not only our social services but our police officers, firemen, and our street construction workers. There is a better way to address property taxes in Florida this measure on the ballot is the wrong way.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? Utility companies in Florida have been price gouging their customers because DeSantis has been appointing commissioners such as in Hillsborough County where the commissioners have always said yes to TECO, Duke Energy, and other utility companies. AI Data centers have corrupted our environment and our politicians alike. Under the Norman Administration, Florida regulators will stop saying yes to utility and insurance rate hikes and start putting Floridians first.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Corporate greed. Issues from overdevelopment to constructing major AI data centers, the crux of the issue is always who is being paid. Moreover, it is the environment and Floridians who are left with the fallout. Under the Norman Administration, this corruption will be addressed and will come to an end, because the current leadership's corruption seems to have metastasized to the environment, Time for a clean sweep, Florida!
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Children should be taught the truth about Black history and American history. Teachers should be able to foster an environment of critical thinking and open-mindedness. Teachers in Florida deserve to be paid well and not have to struggle to live while providing quality education for the next generation. True education starts at home with the parent(s).
What is your immigration stance? I DO NOT AGREE with the current federal and state governments' approaches to immigration enforcement. One reason is because of the treatment of the people. ICE agents have been terrorizing Floridians and are not professionally trained on what documents to look for or the authentication of such in order to prove one's citizenship. ICE agents have acted inhumanely and murdered American citizens, their reign of terror needs to END IMMEDIATELY.
What is your abortion stance? I believe that women should have autonomy over their own body and that the US Supreme Court erred in the striking down of what was already well-established law in Roe V Wade. Women should be able to make that decision with their doctor without government (state or federal) intrusion.
Rachel Rodriguez, Republican
Age: 46
Occupation: Lawyer
Education: Rutgers University, School of Law - Camden - J.D.; Wheaton College (IL) - B.A.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? We must make Homeowner insurance affordable, reform HOA regulation to require regular community approval for association, reduce property insurance with balancing Live Local Act rebates for developers, and to relieve the rest of the budget for Floridians, promote food sovereignty and security: update outdated regulations, create tax-free zones for food processing-related companies and basic food needs removed from sales tax, even while all tax moves from production-side to consumption-side tax.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
As a moral matter, real property belongs to the owner and the state should not be able to take it by imminent domain, or redistribute it to a developer, nor force the owner to pay "rent" on its use through property tax with the threat of foreclosure. Property tax penalizes production of wealth, and we should be incentivizing production and capital gains for all Floridians instead.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? The real threat regarding AI data centers is the Surveillance State, and Florida should reject surveilling Floridians. We can compete with technological updates by decentralization of AI development. AS for the centers already built, we must enforce contractual agreement terms and regulations that require the centers not to tax the utility grid. The data centers can be built in an essentially self-contained manner, so any pull on Florida resources of energy and water is unacceptable.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Right now, the disaster prevention infrastructure needs to be updated, as a matter of both environmental protection and the safety and security of Floridians. Additionally, our aquifer system level is at dangerous levels for the environment and for our water supply, and our coastlines need to be protected. We can hold developers to standards of self-sustaining construction and incentivize environmentally protective solutions from our state's top talent to steward our natural resources.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Childhood moral character development is obviously at a crisis point - note "teen takeover" events and online bullying. We cannot continue to treat human beings as commodities and expect people to care for their neighbor, live in peace and under the law, and be productive. We must remind children they are precious, and teach self-control, delayed gratification, respect, and courage. Academic excellence will follow moral character development, as well recruitment and retention of teacher talent.
What is your immigration stance? I am an immigration attorney, assisting immigrants to find protection within the US and build productive lives in our country. My job as a governor is not to make federal law, but I can challenge federal law in court, if it is unconstitutional and a threat to the citizens of Florida. I will protect the people of Florida from threats to their security and safety and to promote order under state and federal law, while never forgetting the inherent moral value of human beings.
What is your abortion stance? Human life is precious from conception to natural death, and a society that does not protect its most vulnerable human life, including pregnant women, is a society that is violent and consumes people. Therefore, I support Florida law that honors the lives of mothers and their children and incentivizes healthy, growing families with security and safety of children.
Robert Edward Williams, Jr., Republican
Age: 49
Occupation: 25 year business owner communication company; 10 years owner The Freedom Tour - food and disaster relief; 8 years pastor The Freedom church
Education: High school with a couple college classes
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Stop big corporations from buying up housing and creating a false real estate and rental market. Replace boards to not allow any increases. Property tax relief. Quit allowing private companies to sell our water and get our water bills cheaper.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: Yes.
Yes - I use the metaphor of a spoiled rotten teenager who has access to their parents credit cards. When will they ever quit spending. The answer is when you take it away from them. So to stop these counties from wasteful spending, we have to not allow them access to. It's going to put more money into the taxpayers pockets
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We have to have boards appointed by the governor who is not going to allow these Utility companies to keep robbing the citizens of Florida. We have to quit allowing the utility companies to donate to campaigns that get people voted in that will allow them to keep making profits. Also foreign entities should not own our utility companies
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Stop spraying and allowing corporations to pollute our waters.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Testing, we have to get over testing out of schools, get life skills and trades back into schools.
What is your immigration stance? Yes , the Biden administration ruined our country by allowing them to freely enter our country at a massive scale.
What is your abortion stance? More strict. A baby is formed at conception. The problem is not as much abortion , instead the sexual immorality of our nation. We got to get God back into government and God into schools. Get our moral compass and the importance of family and marriage.
Dotie Joseph, Democrat
Age: Declined to answer
Occupation: Current Florida State Representative for District 108
Education: Yale University, B.A.; Georgetown University Law Center, J.D.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say housing affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? I've filed bills to lower costs for healthcare (increase post-partum coverage from 30 days to 1 year, universal care, and expand Medicaid), housing (Real Affordable Housing Relief Act - HB 1493), gas, and groceries (Florida Economic Prosperity and Immigration Act). I'll cap insurance premiums, raise wages, and end corporate welfare that rigs our tax system against working families.
Please vote yes or no on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position: No.
Eliminating property taxes shifts total funding authority to the State, forcing people to travel to Tallahassee to beg for funding to meet our basic community needs, which are currently served by local governments. Property taxes fund police, fire, trash collection, transit, parks, local road maintenance, senior programs, and rather than give Tallahassee the power to defund our local needs, we should focus on regulating skyrocketing insurance premiums, which fund CEO bonuses.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond? We need full transparency before approving energy-intensive data centers, and I filed HB 1517 to address this issue precisely. Before a local government approves a data center, the bill requires facility applications to disclose critical data on electricity use, grid impacts, emissions, and public incentives. To empower the local community, local governments must post disclosures on their websites and issue written notice to nearby residential and commercial landowners and renters.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue the government should address in Florida? Florida is ground zero for climate change, and our ability to build climate resilience systems-that protect rather than endlessly exploit our national resources-is the defining environmental issue of our time. I've sponsored legislation to advance climate resilience, support farmers with sustainable agriculture incentives, set renewable energy goals, mitigate insurance costs, and strengthen drinking water standards to monitor PFAS.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida? Every child deserves access to a high-quality public education, regardless of their zip code. Making sure that student funding is distributed equitably, that teachers and support staff are adequately compensated, and that schools meet standards with certified teachers is the biggest issue. My priority is strengthening our public schools by investing in teachers, improving student achievement, and ensuring public education dollars are used responsibly.
What is your immigration stance? We need to focus on us. Using state funds to do the federal government's job, racially profiling Hispanic people, or funneling our tax dollars to private prison campaign donors does not help Floridians. I filed the Florida Economic Prosperity and Immigration Act as an alternative approach to support our economy and treat immigrants with dignity. At a time when 73% of employers can't find qualified workers, we need solutions, not scapegoating. We must love, not mistreat, our neighbor.
What is your abortion stance? These are deeply personal medical decisions that should be made by women, their families, and their healthcare providers, not politicians. Florida should protect access to reproductive healthcare while ensuring doctors can provide medically appropriate care without fear of criminal prosecution. I trust women to make these decisions with their physicians.
The following candidates did not respond to our request to fill out this voter guide. To best serve you, we searched candidate websites, social media and interviews they've done to the answers to these questions.
Byron Donalds, Republican
Age: 47
Occupation: Donalds has worked in the finance, insurance and banking industries in Southwest Florida, according to his campaign website. Since 2021, Donalds has served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida’s 19th district.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in finance and marketing from Florida State University.
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:
The topmost priority on Donalds’ campaign website is to “enact the Trump agenda” and “Make America Great Again.” He will protect conservative values, including defending Floridians’ constitutional right to bear arms, protect life and keep “radical woke ideology” out of schools, according to his website.
Other top priorities on his website are to fight illegal immigration and make Florida more affordable. Donalds will work with the president to secure the border to keep families and communities safe, end taxpayer “handouts” to illegal immigrants and stop drugs from coming into the state, according to his website.
On the affordability issue, the website said Donalds believes Florida is too expensive for many families and seniors and he will focus on solving the property insurance crisis and lowering housing costs.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue? Donalds’ campaign ads indicate that he will make Florida more affordable for families by lowering property tax and homeowner’s insurance costs. In an interview on the Cartier Family podcast on July 11, 2026, Donalds said he could potentially lower insurance rates by 20% by reforming the state’s property insurance regulatory framework.
In that same interview, he pointed to a study by the National Association of Homebuilders that said government costs account for about 30% of new home construction. Donalds said modernizing Florida’s permitting and planning processes for new home construction is one avenue he would explore for lowering housing costs for Floridians.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
At a campaign event in Tampa in September 2025, Donalds cautioned that if the state were to eliminate or substantially reduce property taxes it would cause a spike in sales tax that would make it more expensive for people to travel to Florida and harm the state’s tourism industry. Speaking at the same event, he indicated he would support raising the homestead exemption from $50,000 to between $300,000 and $400,000. In comments published in Florida Politics on March 23, 2026, Donalds said on “day one as governor,” he would be “focused on delivering real property tax relief and trying to repeal homestead property taxes overall.”
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
In campaign ads, Donalds pledged to protect Floridians from AI data centers that he said will “jack up” utility rates and make everything else more expensive. He will fight for a ratepayer protection plan to ensure that Florida families do not see an increase in utilities as a result of datacenters, according to campaign ads.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
Donalds’ campaign website outlines a “Read to Succeed” plan, aimed at ensuring that Florida students learn to read at level by third grade. The plan includes equipping districts with science-of-reading based teacher training programs, establishing early reading indicators so struggling students are identified and helped before they fall behind, providing every third grader access to extra tutoring, and creating a statewide “Read to Succeed Award” to recognize teachers who demonstrate exceptional approaches to reading instruction.
Speaking at a campaign event in Tampa in September 2025, Donalds said he supports school choice for parents with a menu of both public and private school options.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
Donalds is in support of the federal crackdown on immigration, according to his website. He has pledged to support President Trump’s immigration policies as he feels illegal immigrants are making life unsafe and more expensive for American families, according to his website.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
Donalds’ website indicated that he would “protect life” in Florida.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?
Donalds is committed to preserving Florida’s environment, according to his website. This means working to complete Everglades restoration, improve water quality, expand access to water supply and protect Florida beaches and other natural resources, according to his website.
Caneste Succe, Republican
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
From succeforgovflorida.com (“About Me”):
Restoring agriculture & self-reliance — strengthen local farming/food security by “encouraging Floridians to grow their own gardens, support local farmers, and create communities that are self-reliant in food resources,” and “restore the homestead focus.”
Prison reform through rehabilitation — shift prisons toward “places of transformation” by “investing in effective rehabilitation programs” to reduce relapse into crime, save taxpayer dollars, and build safer communities.
Ending paycheck-to-paycheck living (cost of living / economic strain) — “building an economy that works for everyone” by supporting small businesses, creating “equitable infrastructure for families to grow income,” and “opening new avenues for entrepreneurship.”
Affordability is Floridians’ top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
He frames it as “No More Living Paycheck to Paycheck” and says he would: Support small businesses (noting they’re being crushed by red tape, unfair competition, and lack of support); Create equitable infrastructure for families to grow income; Open new avenues for entrepreneurship.
He also says Florida should be a place “where hard work pays off” and where people aren’t forced to choose between necessities like rent and food.
What is your education?
The site’s “Biography” section (homepage) says his path includes “technical training and higher education,” but does not name specific schools/degrees.
What is your occupation?
The site biography says his background includes “aviation and public service,” but does not list a specific current job title/occupation.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue? Not stated on the site.
Utility costs are rising…and data centers may exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
Not stated on the site.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
The homepage lists “Quality Education for All” and says the campaign’s mission is to “revolutionize education…,” but doesn’t specify a single biggest education issue or detailed policy.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
Not stated on the site.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
Not stated on the site.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?
Not stated as an environmental issue; the closest related content is his emphasis on agriculture, land, and food supply resilience, but he doesn’t label a specific environmental priority.
James Fishback, Republican
Age: 31
Occupation: Fishback is the founder of the youth debate league Incubate Debate and went on to work as a research analyst at hedge fund Greenlight Capital from 2021 to 2023 and to found investment firm Azoria Partners in 2023. In an April 2026 court hearing, he said he left Azoria in January. Fishback also wrote for The Free Press in 2023 and 2024, a right-leaning publication founded by current Editor-in-Chief of CBS News Bari Weiss.
Education: Fishback attended Georgetown University, enrolling to study international economics before dropping out after his sophomore year to go into finance.
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them? In the boxes below, please list each issue and how you will address them:
According to his website, Fishback said home ownership is one of his biggest issues. Fishback said private equity firms, including Blackstone and BlackRock, have made it difficult for young families to own by purchasing single-family homes in bulk. His solution is to bar private equity firms from buying single-family homes and force them to divest the homes they already own over a five year period. He pairs this with a “Rise and Shine” program – a one-time, zero-interest $10,000 loan toward a home for young married couples where at least one spouse graduated from a Florida high school, at least one works full time, and neither has drawn government welfare in the past year.
Another major issue is homeowners insurance, according to his website. Fishback frames this argument that fewer claims and more competitors mean lower premiums. He attributes Florida’s insurance costs to four causes: hurricane and flood risk, fraud, too little competition, and insurer conduct – and is proposing a remedy for each.
He would spend $1 billion on drainage infrastructure across all 67 counties to cut flood claims, create a statewide insurance fraud task force to prosecute assignment of benefits abuse and predatory contractors, personally meet with the CEOs of the largest U.S. insurers to draw carriers back into the market and increase competition, and create a no-cost legal advisory service to help homeowners fight wrongful claim denials.
Another priority is public safety and homelessness. Fishback said homeless encampments in communities are “neglect with a bumper sticker on it.” He’s pledged to surge state resources to move people off the streets and into what he describes as structured care and treatment facilities.
According to a University of North Florida poll, Floridians say affordability is their top issue. What are your solutions for dealing with Florida’s affordability issue?
Fishback makes affordability his central theme and has said the emphasis was partly inspired by – though opposed in substance to – Zohran Mamdani’s 2025 New York City mayoral campaign.
Beyond his housing and insurance policies, his affordability agenda includes eliminating homestead property taxes for Florida residents. He wants a $50,000 transaction tax on out-of-state buyers of Florida vacation homes, what he calls the “Mamdani Tax,” to keep residents from competing with wealthy nonresidents, according to his X page. He’s also calling for mandated transparency and itemized budgets for HOA and condominium associations, with criminal penalties for self-dealing.
Finally, he wants to end Florida employers’ use of the H-1B visa program, which he ties to suppressed wages for recent Florida graduates. He proposes paying for new spending through a $50 tourism surcharge on hotel stays, rental cars, theme park tickets, airports and cruise ports, which he claims would raise about $7 billion a year from tourists rather than residents, according to his website.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes and explain your position. How would you replace lost revenue – fees and/or service reductions?
Fishback's platform position aligns with eliminating property taxes, but only on the homesteaded properties of Florida residents – explicitly not on second homes, short-term rentals, snowbird properties or high value estates. On replacing lost revenue, he claims local governments now collect roughly “$20 billion more in property taxes than five years ago,” and he would work with them to roll spending back to free up that money, which he says more than covers the roughly $18 billion cost of eliminating homestead property taxes. He insists this can be done “without compromising funding for essential services like police, fire, and our public schools,” according to his campaign website.
Utility costs are rising for customers in Florida, and the proliferation of data centers is expected to exacerbate that issue. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
According to his website, Fishback wants to ban new data centers in all 67 counties through statewide preemption, stopping county commissions from approving them in the first place, rather than regulating or reforming the industry. He argues data centers raise electric bills, jeopardize the water supply and lower nearby property values, according to his website.
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
Fishback says Florida ranks last among all 50 states in teacher pay and pledges a 25% raise, arguing teacher quality is a top driver of student outcomes, according to his campaign website. He would condition the raise on teachers attending monthly paid seminars on teaching methods and on keeping “one-sided politics” out of the classroom. In the same education policy section, he backs expanding universal school choice and creating the country’s first state homeschool commissioner.
Do you agree with the current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
Fishback wants enforcement and restriction to go further than current policy, so he is not fully in agreement with either. He has called for a “complete immigration moratorium,” has criticized even legal immigration channels, and has pledged to abolish the H-1B visa program and fire state government employees working under it.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
Fishback supports a complete ban on abortion, including in cases of rape and incest. He would shut down remaining abortion clinics in Florida and replace each with a crisis pregnancy center offering ultrasounds, diapers, counseling and prenatal and postpartum care. He couples this with support for state-paid maternity leave, arguing a pro-life position obligates the state to help cover childbirth costs. His platform states that “life begins at conception and abortion is murder.”
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida?
His biggest environmental issue is overdevelopment and the loss of Florida farmland, according to his website. The concern is closely linked to his opposition to data center construction, plus water quality. Fishback describes himself as a conservationist, pledges to preserve more park space, and has said he supports further Everglades restoration and cleaning the state’s waterways.
James Shaw, Republican
Age: N/A
Occupation: He presents himself as a manager/business owner with “Life Experience” including Transportation (20 years): managed a 600-person facility; owned/operated a trucking transportation company (two locations); Owned/operated 3 Auntie Anne’s pretzel franchises; Real estate investor/owner of 50+ units; Owner of a 30-acre composting farm
Education: He lists: Colgate University ’83 — B.A. Sociology/Anthropology.
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Based strictly on what’s stated on votejim.us (mostly via the homepage content/video titles), he emphasizes: Stopping AI / AI data centers; Education “back to basics” + homeschooling; Growth/sprawl & land protection
Affordability is Floridians’ top issue. What are your solutions for affordability?
The site does not spell out an affordability plan (housing/insurance/taxes, etc.). It does show he’s focused on on utility/safety/AI/sprawl/education, but no explicit affordability solutions are stated in the extracted text.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes… and how replace lost revenue?
The site content does not state a YES/NO position on that amendment and does not describe any plan to replace revenue.
Utility costs are rising…and data centers may exacerbate. How should Florida’s utility regulators respond?
The site strongly signals opposition to AI data centers (“I Will Protect Us… From AI Data Centers”).
What is the single biggest issue the government should address when it comes to public education in Florida?
He states the system needs to “get back to basics” (that’s the clearest education issue statement shown).
Do you agree with current federal and state governments’ approaches to immigration enforcement? Why or why not?
The homepage not explicitly state his immigration policy or whether he agrees with current federal/state approaches.
Do you believe abortion restrictions in Florida should be more strict, less strict or stay the same?
Not stated on the website.
What do you think is the biggest environmental issue your government should address in Florida? Not stated as a single “biggest” issue, but he emphasizes protecting Florida land and opposing urban/residential sprawl.
Paul Renner, Democrat
Age: N/A
Occupation: The site describes him as a business attorney, former Assistant State Attorney (state prosecutor), U.S. Navy veteran, and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives (2022–2024).
Education: Juris Doctor (J.D.) — University of Florida, Levin College of Law; B.A. in History — Davidson College
(He also notes he attended public school in Northeast Florida.)
If elected, what are the THREE most pressing problems you want to address, and what do you suggest to solve them?
Affordability / cost of living: he says he’ll make Florida “affordable again,” including property tax cuts and lower property & auto insurance rates; he also proposes eliminating homestead property taxes and cutting soaring electric costs.
Education: he emphasizes world-class schools via workforce readiness, free speech in classrooms, and instruction in American Exceptionalism, and he backs universal school choice and homeschooling freedom/flexible learning options.
Public safety / security: he calls for zero tolerance for illegal immigration, protections for first responders, and child safeguards (including protections from social media exploitation).
Affordability is Floridians’ top issue. What are your solutions?
From his site and news releases, his affordability proposals include:
Property taxes: “Property tax cuts” and specifically “eliminating homestead property taxes” (described as “immediate and lasting relief for homeowners”).
Insurance: additional reforms aimed at 10%–20% reduction in homeowners insurance premiums, including: Reduce/eliminate the tax on homeowners’ insurance premiums and mandate savings be passed to consumers; Change Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund requirements by (a) providing coverage for smaller hurricanes, (b) removing the “25% rapid cash build up” provision (he calls it a “Hurricane Tax”), and (c) covering actual claims handling costs (loss adjustment expense).
Utilities/electric bills: he calls for legislation requiring utilities to provide the lowest-cost electricity possible, with domestic energy sourcing and reliability, and to change incentives so utilities “do well only when customers do well.”
Small businesses: he says he would cut taxes for small businesses so they can expand, hire, and raise wages.
Will you vote YES or NO on the constitutional amendment to slash property taxes… and how replace lost revenue?
The site supports property tax cuts and mentions eliminating homestead property taxes, but it does not explicitly say “YES” or “NO” on that constitutional amendment, and does not explain a revenue replacement plan (fees/service reductions).
Utility costs are rising…and data centers may exacerbate. How should regulators respond?
From his site/news:
He argues Florida’s structure (utilities overseen by the Public Service Commission) rewards spending more rather than efficiency, and he wants to change the system so utilities “do well only when customers do well,” with legislation based on lowest-cost electricity possible, 2) domestically produced energy, 3) reliability during high demand.
On data centers: he calls for an immediate halt/moratorium on new AI data center construction to protect consumers from rate hikes, citing rising energy demand and higher utility costs as concerns.
Single biggest issue government should address in public education?
The site doesn’t name one “single biggest” issue; it highlights workforce readiness, free speech in classrooms, and American Exceptionalism instruction, plus a strong emphasis on parental rights/school choice (including a proposed Florida Parental Rights Constitutional Amendment).
Do you agree with current federal and state approaches to immigration enforcement? Why/why not?
The site states “zero tolerance for illegal immigration” and highlights major initiatives to stop illegal immigration, but it doesn’t directly compare or critique current federal vs. state approaches in the material I pulled.
Abortion: more strict, less strict, or stay the same?
The site says “Pro-Life” and lists “Passed the Pro-Life Heartbeat Protection Bill,” but it does not explicitly answer whether restrictions should be more strict/less strict/stay the same.
Biggest environmental issue Florida should address?
The site doesn’t name a single “biggest” environmental issue, but it emphasizes No development on state park lands.
