Suspended State Attorney Worrell launches re-election campaign as she awaits Supreme Court ruling
During his State of the State address last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis commended himself for removing prosecutors from office, Andrew Warren in Hillsborough County and Monique Worrell in Orange and Osceola counties. Worrell is still waiting on the Supreme Court's ruling to see if her suspension by the governor will be overturned, all while kicking off a re-election campaign, this week.
With Keenโs win in Florida House special election, Democrats see a path forward
Democrats had crowed about winning some local races in 2023, particularly the Jacksonville mayoral race, but even though Florida House District 35 has a fairly blue population, the Democrats are taking the win as a sign of something they havenโt had in a few years: Momentum.
DeSantisโ presidential run is coming. Hereโs what we could see in the campaign
Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to launch his presidential campaign as early as Wednesday, according to CBS News, first with a โvirtualโ announcement followed days later by an appearance in DeSantisโs hometown of Dunedin.
โDemoralizing:โ Voters are fleeing the Florida Democratic Party. Can it be fixed?
The Florida Democratic Party is taking on new leadership and promising to make changes. But with a conservative super-majority in the Florida House and Senate and a governor aggressively reforming the state across the board, the question is can the party turn its fortunes around?
Dr. Jim Clark explains what people should know ahead of special session on property insurance
As the special legislative session is about to kick off to tackle the stateโs property insurance crisis, News 6โฒs political analyst is breaking down what consumers can expect lawmakers to discuss and vote on.
Florida proposal would add political parties to school board races
When voters choose school board candidates in elections, there are no political parties listed after their names on the ballot. Next year lawmakers in Florida will consider putting a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot that would change that.
News 6 political expert weighs in on Floridaโs midterm election
News 6 political expert and UCF history professor Dr. Jim Clark joined anchor Justin Warmoth on โThe Weeklyโ to break down some of the key races heading into Floridaโs primary election, including the matchup to see which Democrat will challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis in November.
โIt would be a disaster:โ Florida lawmakers discuss repealing Disneyโs Reedy Creek government
The rights of Reedy Creek Improvement District, Disney's own government, are now being discussed among some Florida lawmakers following controversy surrounding the company's response to Gov. DeSantis' "Don't Say Gay" bill.
Florida special legislative session to address vaccine mandates this week
When Floridaโs Republican-controlled legislature kicks off its special session Monday, lawmakers will consider several bills aimed at banning vaccine mandates and empowering parents to challenge vaccine and mask mandates in schools.
Why are some determined to dim the light on Bright Futures, drop kick election drop boxes?
So why would some Florida lawmakers want to change the Bright Futures scholarship program to only include certain fields of expertise for college students? Bright Futures, Floridaโs scholarship program, establishes lottery-funded scholarships to reward high school graduates for high academic achievement. Bright Futures has been around since 1997 and has helped upwards of 725,000 Florida students go to college. AdIf you would like to hear more of what Clark has to say about Bright Futures, ballot boxes and more, click on the link to Floridaโs Fourth Estate. Look for new episodes of Floridaโs Fourth Estate every Friday wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Over 36,000 Florida Republicans leave GOP after election, voter records show
ORLANDO, Fla. โ More than 36,000 Florida voters previously registered as Republicans have left the GOP since the November election, a News 6 review of state voter records has revealed. โItโs not going to make any difference at all in an election.โState GOP leaders downplayed the recent defections, believing that most former Republican voters will eventually return. โItโs not that big of a deal,โ said Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. News 6 spoke with about a dozen former Republicans who changed their party affiliation after the election. Only Florida voters registered with a political party can participate in that partyโs primary elections.
Record budget, Big Tech regulation among big issues lawmakers will face during Floridaโs legislative session
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Florida lawmakers are getting ready to descend on Tallahassee to debate policy, pass new laws and put together a state budget. Perhaps the biggest hurdle lawmakers will face during the 60-day legislative session is the record $96.6 billion budget put forth by Gov. News 6 political expert Dr. Jim Clark joined anchor Justin Warmoth on โThe Weekly on ClickOrlando.comโ to break down what to expect over the next two months. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, (D) District 47, also appeared on the program to explain what her legislative priorities are this year and whether sheโs considering a run for governor in 2022. Floridaโs legislative session kicks off Tuesday, March 2.
A closer look at whether US is divided by partisan politics
The final vote in former President Donald Trumpโs second impeachment trial was vastly different than the first vote in 2020, when Senators voted down party lines, nearly 50/50. In the second trial in early February, seven Republican Senators voted to find Trump guilty, still not nearly enough to reach the two-thirds majority necessary for conviction but still far more than in 2020. [TRENDING: HOA charges family $927 for trash on curb | Doctor faces hate crime charge in social distancing attack | Mandatory vaccines for first responders?] โRemember, two of those seven arenโt running for re-election, one is up in 2022,โ Clark said. AdโI think the Republican Party is skewing older and losing voters, weโve seen this since the election, where tens of thousands of Republicans have switched their registration to Democratic or Independent,โ Clark said.
California expands eligibility for coronavirus vaccine
But the decision perplexed some county officials who say they donโt even have enough doses right now to vaccinate those who were already eligible. California has received more than 2.4 million vaccine doses as of Monday, but only a third of them have been used. This is about life and death,โ Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez said. So can you send us 4 million doses?โAbout 375 miles (600 kilometers) to the north, Santa Clara County officials made their pitch to Gov. Santa Clara County wants at least 85% of its eligible residents vaccinated by Aug. 1.
Is there enough time to impeach President Trump?
Pressure from top Democrat leaders calling for the president to be removed from office increased on Thursday. Pollical expert Jim Clark said that thereโs essentially no time for the impeachment process before the presidentโs term is over. โThere were some harrowing hours of being locked down and trying to find safety and security,โ Murphy said. โI know that the conversations are ongoing right now and I am open to hearing how leadership thinks that we could progress.โFollowing the riot on Capitol Hill, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Vice President Mike Pence to involve the 25th amendment to remove President Trump from office. Rep. Murphy also said that given how long it took to impeach the president the first time, it doesnโt seem logistically possible to complete the process prior to January 20, 2021
President Trump continues claiming voter fraud with no evidence
From voting machines to poll workers, President Donald Trump is claiming all types of voter fraud, but the presidentโs claims arenโt credible, according to election experts. [TRENDING: Eta floods Florida | Romaine calm: Florida man arrested after lettuce tirade | DeSantis accused of wanting herd immunity]In the fight for the White House, Trump is still fanning the flames of alleged voter fraud -- with no evidence, according to Clark. โWe still cannot come up with a single case where someone could prove voter fraud." Twitter flagged the tweet, posting โthis claim about election fraud is disputed.โItโs been disputed by both states. โWhile in earlier elections poll watchers were able to just stand over the shoulder of the workers,โ Clark said.
Trust Index: Do lawsuits allege widespread voter fraud?
ORLANDO, Fla. โ President Donald Trump, his lawyers and some of his allies have repeatedly claimed widespread voter fraud illegally tilted last weekโs election in favor of former Vice President Joe Biden. โI donโt know how he votes because his vote is secret,โ said Giuliani, who had not filed a lawsuit alleging voter fraud by late Monday. โIt doesnโt mean there is anything illegal about this.โShould Trumpโs lawyers eventually present proof of voter fraud, Clark believes judges will be reluctant to intervene. โ(Trump) would have to find 120,000 votes of fraud, or a mistake, or whatever in four or five states,โ Clark said. But when it comes to accusations of widespread voter fraud, News 6 gives the claim โBe Carefulโ on the Trust Index since, at the time of this publication, no attorney has formally made such claims in a lawsuit.
Trust Index: Is there โplenty of proofโ of voter fraud as President Trump alleges?
This has also led to a series of lawsuits in contested states two of which have already been dismissed. โAll of the recent Biden claimed states will be legally challenged by us for voter fraud and state election fraud. In Michigan, Trump claims an election challenger was excluded from the counting board during the absent voter ballot review process, according to the lawsuit. Clark says Trumpโs claims are short on evidence. Based on information from a law professor and political analyst, we give the Presidentโs claims of voter fraud โBe carefulโ on the Trust Index.
Donald Trump wins Florida in US presidential election
In fact, Clark told News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth on โThe Weeklyโ that Florida could decide the presidential election. After President Barack Obama won Florida in 2008 and 2012, President Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 1.2% in 2016. While he lost Seminole County, Trump did especially well in Miami-Dade County this year. In the 2016 general election, Trump received 333,999 votes and Hillary Clinton received 624,146 votes. Use the interactive map below to find out how each Florida county voted in the 2020 presidential election.
President Trumpโs support in South Florida may surprise you
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. โ President Donald Trump is leading Democratic opponent Joe Biden in Florida in the race for the top office in the United States, and Trumpโs support in South Florida is a big reason why. The latest numbers show Trump with 529,202 votes and presidential candidate Joe Biden with 612,756 votes. In the 2016 general election, Trump received 333,999 votes and Hillary Clinton received 624,146 votes. Trumpโs vote total in Miami-Dade County is one of the main reasons he is projected to win Florida in this yearโs general election. President Trump received more votes in Seminole County and Pinellas County than Clinton did in 2016.
Florida General Election Results for All Races on Nov. 3, 2020
Find All Race Results HereORLANDO, Fla. โ On Nov. 3, Florida voters will weigh in on a number of federal, state and local elections. Of course, Floridians will play a key role in the presidential election, as the winning candidate will need the Sunshine Stateโs 29 electoral college votes, according to News 6 political expert Dr. Jim Clark. Theyโll also be asked to vote for or against six proposed amendments to the state constitution. Some of the key races in Central Florida include State Senate District 9, Orange-Osceola state attorney and Brevard County sheriff. Check out all the races in Central Florida, including how residents voted for president, in the list below.
Florida voters switch political parties ahead of Election Day
More than 647,000 Florida voters switched their political party affiliation in the two years leading up to this weekโs general election, state voter registration records analyzed by News 6 show. Although more than 95% of Floridaโs 14.4 million registered voters have maintained the same political party affiliation since October 2020, some independent voters have committed to a political party while other voters have changed their registration from one party to another. More than 72,000 voters who were registered as Republicans in 2018 now identify themselves as Democrats, state records show. Another 178,000 No Party Affiliation voters became Democrats, state records show. But she said she later changed her mind and voted for Joe Biden, despite now being a registered Republican.
Sumter County early votes hit nearly 80%, may be early indicator of election results
SUMTER COUNTY, Fla. โ Across Central Florida, voters are already turning out in huge numbers. In Sumter County, the Supervisor of Elections reported nearly 80% of people have already voted. Thatโs why Clark said those votes may be the best early indicator of how the election may turn out. Monday, the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections reported an early voter turnout of nearly 80%. In 2016, Trump led in Sumter County by more than 30,000 votes, according to the Department of State - Division of Elections.
Florida researcher questions using signature matching on ballots
Heโs also accused of accessing the voter records of Sen. Rick Scott and sports figures Michael Jordan and LeBron James. I donโt know any place thatโs using punch cards anymore,โ he said. With record-setting numbers of voters casting their ballots by mail, this year, Gilbert said heโs concerned about a growing issue: signatures on those ballots not matching. For example, in Lake County on Wednesday, a record-setting 56,000 voters had already cast their ballots by mail. He said the software is free for election workers to use, but heโs not sure if any are using it yet.
Central Florida General Election Results for Key Races on Nov. 3, 2020
Find All Race Results HereORLANDO, Fla. โ On Nov. 3, Florida voters will weigh in on a number of federal, state and local elections. Theyโll also be asked to vote for or against six proposed amendments to the state constitution. Some of the key races in Central Florida include State Senate District 9, Orange-Osceola state attorney and Brevard County sheriff. Check out all the key races in Central Florida, including how residents voted for president, in the list below. Check all the races in Central Florida and statewide in the dropdown menu below.
Trends emerging in Orange Countyโs early voting numbers
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ With six days left until Election Day, hundreds of thousands of votes have already been cast in Orange County. โItโs traditional for Democrats to outnumber Republicans in mail-in voting, itโs traditional for Republicans to outnumber Democrats in early voting and on Election Day,โ University of Central Florida historian Jim Clark said. When you look at early voting compared to vote-by-mail, the gap between Democrats and Republicans shrinks. But itโs not until you take a closer look at the early voting numbers, from day to day, that a trend is established. For example, when early voting started on Oct. 19, if you look at the Orange County Supervisor of Elections Office, which is one of the countyโs busiest early voting locations, Democrats had 969 voters, compared to 352 Republicans.
Florida General Election Results for US President on Nov. 3, 2020
Find All Race Results HereORLANDO, Fla. โ On Nov. 3, voters across the U.S. will decide who will be the countryโs next president. Republican President Donald Trump faces former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the race for the White House. In fact, Clark told News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth on โThe Weeklyโ that Florida could decide the presidential election. After President Barack Obama won Florida in 2008 and 2012, President Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 1.2 percent in 2016. Clark told Warmoth the president needs a repeat performance if he wants to be re-elected.
REWATCH: President Trump speaks to supporters in The Villages
THE VILLAGES, Fla. โ President Donald Trump held a campaign event in The Villages on Friday. Rewatch President Trumpโs event in The Villages belowโThose three counties gave him what he needed to carry Florida,โ Clark said. According to 2016 elections results, of the more than 10 million Floridians who voted, Trump won over Hilary Clinton by just 112,911 votes. Jill Biden had a campaign event Joe Biden at Lake Mary last week. The candidate who has won Florida has won the last six presidential elections.
Florida health officials report over 3,000 new COVID-19 cases as early voting continues
[READ YESTERDAYโS REPORT: Florida reports highest number of new COVID-19 cases since Sept. 1]Below is a breakdown of the most recent data provided by the Department of Health. CasesThe Florida Department of Health reported 3,689 new cases on Friday, bringing the stateโs overall total to 771,780 cases since March. DeathsThe Florida Department of Health on Friday reported 74 people have recently died from COVID-19. HospitalizationsCurrently, there are 2,117 people with the virus hospitalized in Florida, according to the state Agency for Health Care Administration. [SEE YESTERDAYโS REPORT: South Florida reports rising COVID-19 infections in schools as state reports 3,662 new cases]If you are having trouble viewing the dashboard on mobile, click here.
โThe arguments are being heard:โ UCF professor reacts to final presidential debate
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ University of Central Florida professor and political expert Dr. Jim Clark said the final presidential debate went more smoothly than the first one. Central Florida political expert analyzes the presidential debate Presidential Debate Debrief: Central Florida political expert analyzes the presidential debate https://bit.ly/35nFuBb Posted by News 6 WKMG / ClickOrlando on Thursday, October 22, 2020Clark noted viewers could hear their arguments now. The UCF professor noticed President Trump changed his strategy for this debate. Even though voters have had months to think about who they will vote for, Clark said this final debate was still a big deal. Trump and Biden's final presidential debate President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden meet in the final presidential debate of the 2020 election season.
Experts say Seminole County could play big role in determining election
SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. โ For about 30 minutes in pouring rain, people held their umbrellas and their spot in a line wrapped around the Seminole County Library in Casselberry for the first day of early voting. โPeople are curious on how Seminole County will play on the national election,โ Anderson said. According to News 6 political expert Jim Clark, Seminole County could play the biggest role. Clark believes Seminole County and Pinellas County are the two swing counties in an already swing state, both along the important I-4 Corridor. โI think either candidate would come over and wash your car for you if you are a Seminole County voter.โ
News 6 political expert explains why Florida will decide 2020 election
After President Barack Obama won Florida in 2008 and 2012, President Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by 1.2 percent in 2016. โItโs been almost a century since thatโs happened.โTo win Florida, history tells us you must win the I-4 corridor -- a stretch of seven counties from Daytona Beach to St. Petersburg. โThatโs why when President Trump recovered from the virus his first stop was Seminole County,โ Clark said. โThis has become a very expensive race and itโll probably be the most expensive state Senate races on record. If the Republicans lose control of the state Senate, theyโre really in trouble.โThe two candidates squaring off in the race for Florida Senate District 9 are Patricia Sigman (D) and Jason Brodeur (R).
President Trump predicts โred wave' during large campaign rally in Ocala
OCALA, Fla. โ President Donald Trump is predicting a โred waveโ of Republican voting in Florida. Addressing a campaign rally Friday in Ocala, Trump reminded thousands of supporters that โI live here, too.โ He recently switched his legal residence from New York. Trump predicted a โred waveโ of Republican voting, โthe likes of which theyโve never seen before.โTrump help a rally on Friday at Ocala International Airport weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 election. That is up more than a million from 12,959,185 registered voters in 2016. State records also show there are 264,614 registered voters in Marion County, where the president will hold his rally.
President Trump wants to hold rally in Florida on Saturday
7:35 p.m.President Donald Trumpโs doctor says he fully anticipates Trump can make a โsafe return to public engagementsโ on Saturday. ------4:15 p.m.Democrat Joe Biden is calling on President Donald Trump to stop insulting his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, after the president called her a โmonsterโ during a TV appearance. Itโs at least the fifth time Biden has tested negative since President Donald Trump confirmed that he had contracted the coronavirus. โVice President Biden looks forward to speaking directly to the American people,โ deputy Biden campaign manager Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. The nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates debates made the announcement Thursday morning, a week before the two were scheduled to face on in Miami.
โThese are professional politicians:โ News 6 expert weighs in on vice presidential debate
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Vice President Mike Pence and Democrat vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris met on the debate stage for the first and only time Wednesday night in Utah. News 6 anchor Lisa Bell and WKMG-TV political expert Jim Clark watched the debate and answered your questions about the presidential race. For both candidates, who have remained mostly out of the spotlight, the debate gave the public the chance to get to know them better. Vice presidential debates rarely move the needle in significant ways during a presidential election. That typically puts a lot of pressure on vice presidential candidates to stick to cautious talking points.
Central Florida political expert said heโs never seen a presidential debate like this
Central Florida political expert said heโs never seen a presidential debate like thisPublished: September 30, 2020, 9:44 amDr. Jim Clark acknowledged all of the issues have become politically charged for each base.
Central Florida political expert said heโs never seen a presidential debate like this
Tuesday marked the first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, and University of Central Florida history professor Dr. Jim Clark said he has never seen a debate like this. Clark mentioned Biden called Trump a liar three times in the first hour of the debate. [MORE COVERAGE: Chaotic first debate: Taunts overpower Trump, Biden visions]โI was surprised how quickly it turned into a brawl,โ he said. He said Biden and Trump are trying to get their supporters to the polls. โIโve never heard the word clown in a presidential debate,โ he said.
Will Florida have an impact on the next Supreme Court Justice position?
After the passing of the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, lawmakers are at odds over who will fill her vacancy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced late Friday night that the Senate plans to vote on President Trumpโs supreme court justice nominee. [TRENDING: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg dies at 87 | Trump pushes for 2nd round of $1,200 direct payments | Daylight Saving Time debate]In Central Florida, local government leaders are offering their thoughts after Ginsburgโs death. โIt is with deepest condolences I offer acknowledgment of the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Trump had released an updated list of conservatives who would be under consideration for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should he be given the opportunity.
Why is Florida important to 2020 election? Historically, presidents donโt win without the Sunshine state
The election is 50 days out and both candidates-- President Donald Trump, and former Vice President Joe Biden-- are spending time in Florida. One historian tells News 6, itโs because the state is up for grabs, and for the incumbent, Trump, he needs Florida to win. โDonald Trump knows he has to carry Florida if heโs to have any chance of winning reelection,โ University of Central Florida Professor Jim Clark said. โThey will determine who wins Florida; since 1996, whoever wins the majority of those seven counties has gone to the White House,โ said Clark. He also said he expects both candidates to spend record amounts in Florida campaigning ahead of the November election.
President Trump claims universal mail-in ballots lead to fraud; experts say vote-by-mail is safe
Universal mail-in ballots is a system where states automatically mail ballots to all registered voters. โNow they want to send in million and millions of ballots,โ Trump said. Itโs going to be a catastrophe.โIn Florida, voters have to request an absentee or mail-in ballot, which Trump did. Unlike some states, voters do not need to have a medical or other reason to vote-by-mail. News 6 political analyst Dr. Jim Clark says when it comes to voter fraud there is often smoke, but no fire.
Church singing ban strikes sour note with California pastor
A religious freedom law firm with ties to President Donald Trump says it will sue California over its recent ban on singing or chanting in the church to slow the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)SACRAMENTO, Calif. Crossroads Community Church Senior Pastor Jim Clark wants to keep his 1,500 parishioners safe during the coronavirus pandemic but he's drawing the line at a new California ban on singing or chanting at religious services. ... We dont chant, but if we did chant, wed be chanting too.The California ban was one of a number of restrictions on indoor businesses and gatherings put in place last week by Gov. About 200 state inspectors fanned out over the long Independence Day to check businesses for violations of new state health orders. But Greg Burt, spokesman for the conservative California Family Council, said he'd heard of no effort to enforce the singing ban during the first weekend it applied.