Hey guys, Christie Zizo here back with the latest election news from around Florida. We are 181 days away from the November election and the players are being finalized, with qualifying for federal races finishing up last month and qualifying for state and local races set for June.
But we want to know what you really care about this election season! What issues will be informing your vote? What do you really care about? What do you want to hear the candidates say they will do?
Recommended Videos
We’ve set up a form. We’re asking everyone to tell us the issues they want us to focus on this election. What matters to you? Your input will help us craft our coverage moving forward.
Putting local issues on the ballot
Central Florida leaders right now are deciding what local issues should go before the voters in November.
On Tuesday, Orange County commissioners unanimously approved a referendum to continue a half-penny sales tax for school construction. This is the same half-penny sales tax that’s been in place since 2002. It was renewed in 2014.
The school district, the eighth largest in the country, says the tax is still needed because money from the state on capital projects has dwindled. Recent data from the U.S. Census shows state sources only account for about 28.8% of OCPS funds, while local sources like taxes account for 53.2% (the rest is federal dollars.
Learn more about the half-penny sales tax and read about News 6′s investigation into school facility issues HERE.
The situation is even more dire in Marion County, where half the public school facilities are more than 50 years old, according to the district. County leaders have approved a half-penny sales tax for school construction as well. Learn about it HERE.
Meanwhile, in Lake County, commissioners are moving forward with a plan to renew a tax for land conservation. The tax amounts to about $21 a year for 20 years for property owners, based on the median residential property value in the county. The county is currently drafting the ballot language for final approval by the commission. We’ll let you know when that happens, but in the meantime, you can read about it HERE.
Now let’s get back to Orange County. The charter review commission is meeting almost every week this month and holding public hearings on what amendments, if any, should go before voters to change the county’s charter. They do this every four years.
Among the issues this commission is considering:
- Establishing a rural boundary to restrict growth in certain parts of the county
- Expanding the number of county commission districts, adding two more elected seats to the county commission
- Creating a transportation mobility advisory committee to better handle the county’s transportation issues
- Whether to continue the county’s affordable housing trust fund
The Orange County Charter Review Commission is meeting Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. at the Orange County administration building in Downtown Orlando. Check out meeting details and documents on the Orange County website.
Meetings will also be held on May 20 and May 30 at 6 p.m. The public is invited to sit in and take part.
Key 2024 Election Dates
Here are the big Election Dates for Florida. Put these in your schedule to remember:
Orlando City Council District 5 special election: May 21
- Early voting: Monday, May 13-Sunday May 19
- Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline: May 9
2024 Florida Statewide Primary Election: Aug. 20
- Register to vote deadline: July 22
- Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline: Aug. 8
If there are any party primaries for federal, state or local races, they will happen here. Also, any nonpartisan county races will happen here.
2024 General Election: Nov. 5
- Register to vote deadline: Oct. 7
- Vote-by-mail ballot request deadline: Oct. 24
This one’s for all the marbles. All voters are welcome.
‘The old Dems can’t come to the phone?’
Leadership Blue was last weekend at Walt Disney World, and Democrats were fired up and ready to go — at least the ones who were there. The annual conference seemed lightly attended for the space it took up at the Contemporary Resort.
It could speak to the larger existential problem the Democratic Party in the state is having. Republicans, with all the power, money and a robust system, now have an 892,034 registered voter advantage in Florida over the Democrats.
Or it could speak to the larger problem the party is currently having with left-wing party members amid the continuing conflict in Gaza. The keynote speaker for the Saturday night gala was U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has voiced his unequivocal support for Israel in the conflict. Progressives asked the party to rescind its invitation before the event, which did not happen. One person even protested during Fetterman’s speech Saturday and was removed. But people we talked to said the word on the street was some simply stayed away.
The muted enthusiasm is a setback for a state party that is trying to prove it has the grassroots enthusiasm heading into election season. Local volunteers were responsible for getting State Rep. Tom Keen elected in Orange County in a special election, flipping a Republican seat to Democrat.
The party also proudly trumpeted that it had fielded a candidate in every U.S. House race in Florida last month.
And on Saturday, the state party unveiled a rebrand — the old Democratic donkey is broke. The woke is the Florida panther, now the new mascot.
“Florida Panthers are making a comeback, they are resilient, and they won’t back down from a fight,” said Chairman Nikki Fried Saturday. “They embody our spirit as Democrats, and I look forward to seeing their legacy unfold!”
But as Florida Republicans are quick to point out, the Florida panther is also still an endangered species, something they say Democrats are in Florida.
“This thoughtful logo embraces the current state of the Florida Democrat Party: Small population, endangered, and vulnerable to threats. Well done, @NikkiFried,” Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power tweeted Monday.
Still, Democrats are insisting that they can wave the losses of the last six years in the rearview mirror. Time will tell.
Latest Results 2024 stories
Have election questions? We have answers
Here’s everything you need to know to vote in Florida in 2024
Want to vote in Florida? Here’s how to register and make sure you are eligible
Planning to vote by mail in Florida this year? Here’s what you need to know
Florida is a closed primary state. Why that matters for primary elections in 2024
Want to run for office in Florida? Here’s how to do it
35 Florida elections myths and misinformation debunked
Have an election question you need answered? Email me at czizo@wkmg.com.