Florida News Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

President Donald Trump shaking hands with departing DOGE adviser Elon Musk in the Oval Office during a press conference on Friday, May 30, 2025.

House Republican invites Elon Musk to move Tesla HQ to Florida after Texas turns blue

Musk is already anticipated to clash with Texas’s incoming Democratic Gina Hinojosa

by Chloe Greenberg November 13, 2026November 13, 2026

Florida Representative Carlos A. Gimenez this week formally invited Elon Musk to relocate Tesla headquarters to Florida after Texas’ blue bloodbath of an election night. Gimenez sent the richest person in the world a letter urging him to consider moving the company to the Sunshine State, a state he says doesn’t “seek to investigate and […]

Byron Donalds’ transition team includes founder of billionaire-funded think tank that targeted child labor protections, labor unions

The think tank’s policy work and lobbying activity hasn’t been confined to Florida.

by McKenna Schueler November 11, 2026November 11, 2026

Florida may end up allowing some undocumented students to attend public universities

“It does not surprise me that they are creating this carve out because it ignored state law.”

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida November 11, 2026November 11, 2026

Is the Florida GOP in denial about an immigration backlash in South Florida?

Miami immigration advocate Thomas Kennedy argues the reaction to Trump’s immigration policies has been “radioactive.”

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 11, 2026November 11, 2026

Photo of James Uthmeier speaking at a podium at Mar-a-Lago, flanked by the American, Florida state, Christian, and Israeli flags, discussing Florida's commitment to protecting children from human trafficking alongside the Place of Hope organization.

One week after Florida elects first Democratic Socialist, James Uthmeier subpoenas organization over alleged foreign contributions

Last week, six DSA candidates won election to Congress and, in Florida, Democrat Ashley Herrmann, backed by the DSA.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 10, 2026November 10, 2026

Florida midterms drew second highest voter turnout in three decades

DeSantis attributed Florida’s turnout in part to Amendment 3, the property tax proposal he pushed legislators to put on the ballot.

by Tom Urban and News Service of Florida November 9, 2026November 9, 2026

The GOP’s massive registered voter lead, Amendment 3 and other factors that helped keep Florida red

“When you have a 1.5 million edge, even though you have a plummeting turnout rate, which Republicans did, you could still lose a lot but still win.”

by Jay Waagmeester and Florida Phoenix November 9, 2026November 9, 2026

Christian ministers and Muslim speakers holding advocacy signs at a podium in front of a blue CAIR Florida backdrop.

CAIR suspends Florida operations after federal judge rejects request to reverse terrorist designation

Attorney General James Uthmeier called the ruling a “great win” in a social media post on X.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 6, 2026November 6, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking behind a wooden podium displaying a seal that reads "A Modern Marvel" during a press conference at the Kermit H. Lewin Stock Island Reverse Osmosis Facility, with large industrial water pipes visible in the background.

‘It’s the political equivalent of a meteor strike’: DeSantis says Democrats’ Election Night wins were worse than a blue wave

“I don’t think most of us thought it would be quite this bad,” DeSantis said.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

Florida Democrats hold ground in redrawn U.S. House seats, but GOP avoids washout

When the state Legislature passed the map in April, four districts held by Democrats looked set to flip to the Republican column.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida November 4, 2026November 4, 2026

An aerial top-down photo shows a suburban residential neighborhood in Tampa, Florida, featuring single-family homes with private swimming pools, landscaped backyards, green lawns, and clean paved streets lined with palm trees.

Florida voters approve property tax-cutting Amendment 3

With 96% of precincts reporting, Fresh Take Florida’s election dashboard shows the controversial amendment with nearly 62% of the vote, well above the 60% threshold needed to pass.

by Colin Wolf November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

Daniela Simic wins race for Hillsborough County School Board District 2

In the race for District 2 school board, Hillsborough County chose the candidate with an immense educational background.

by Colin Wolf November 3, 2026November 4, 2026

A news photograph by Dave Decker showing Byron Donalds at Veterans Metal in Largo, Florida on Oct. 8, 2026. Captured in a medium shot inside an industrial venue, U.S. Representative and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds speaks into a handheld microphone during a campaign event. He has a short dark beard and wears a dark navy suit blazer over a white dress shirt with a light blue patterned necktie. He gestures outward with his left hand while speaking into the mic held in his right, set against a grey painted indoor wall with overhead industrial ductwork and audience members seated in the background.

Florida elects Byron Donalds, the state’s first Black governor

With 95% of precincts reporting, Fresh Take Florida’s election dashboard shows Donalds with over 50% of the vote

by Colin Wolf and Valerie Smith November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

With Florida Dems showing strong turnout in early voting, Republicans realize they need a big Election Day

More than 5.4 million Floridians have already cast ballots either by mail or in early voting, which concluded Sunday.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 3, 2026November 3, 2026

Election workers inserting paper ballots into tabulator machines at a Hillsborough County voting location

‘Democrats are showing up at rates that we have not seen in years’: Florida voting nears 40 percent ahead of Election Night

5.4 million of the state’s 13.7 million voters have already cast ballots through the mail or at early voting locations as of Monday.

by Jim Turner and News Service of Florida November 2, 2026November 2, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium with the banner "Florida Is Ready For Takeoff" at an aviation or aerospace announcement event, framed by an American flag in the foreground and a futuristic aircraft or electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle behind him.

Florida Republicans say they’re not sweating poor voter turnout— not yet, anyway

Anthony Pedicini, a Republican strategist, predicts the Republicans will dominate on Election Day and that everything will turn out just fine for the party in power.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix November 2, 2026November 2, 2026

U.S. Representative Byron Donalds shaking hands with Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young indoors in front of an American flag.

‘It’s going to take deputies off the street’: Florida’s rural sheriffs warn of cuts if Amendment 3 passes

Groups of firefighters, sheriffs, police and emergency medical technicians have joined local government officials to oppose Amendment 3.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida October 30, 2026October 30, 2026

A man with dark hair and a suit A man in a dark suit jacket and tie is seated in a dark, studio-like setting, wearing a pair of black over-ear headphones. He is looking off to the side with a serious expression. A microphone on an arm stand is positioned in front of him, and another person in a beanie is blurred in the background.

Court suggests Florida teacher shouldn’t be punished for celebrating Charlie Kirk’s death

A Florida judge last week recommended dismissing a misconduct case against a Clay County teacher for a post celebrating Kirk’s death.

by Ana Goñi-Lessan and News Service of Florida October 29, 2026October 29, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at an outdoor podium outdoors by a waterfront in Crystal River, Florida, with a sign reading "Investing in Florida's Water" while addressing an audience of seated attendees.

DeSantis blames low GOP voter turnout on lack of urgency from COVID-era parents

As of Tuesday afternoon, Republicans had cast more than 1.4 million votes, or nearly 35,000 more than Democrats had cast, according to state data.

by Gray Rohrer and News Service of Florida October 28, 2026October 28, 2026

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium with a "SUPPORTING FLORIDIANS" sign, flanked by American and Florida state flags in front of an audience.

Polls show Amendment 3 falling short, can Ron DeSantis save it?

A St. Pete Polls survey released Wednesday shows the measure with 44% support, with 39% opposed and 17% unsure.

by Mitch Perry and Florida Phoenix October 28, 2026October 28, 2026