![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/FCG_Digitak-Ads_Rebrand728-X-90-copy.png\")
<\/a>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/download-2025-01-20T123643.051-640x427.webp.webp\")
Donald Trump takes the oath of office \u2014 again. Image via AP.<\/p>\nFlorida history doesn\u2019t typically occur at below freezing temperatures. But the 20-degree weather served as a fitting backdrop to President Donald Trump\u2019s return to power<\/a>. The indoor event capped off what Campaign Manager Susie Wiles called the \u201cgreatest political comeback in history.\u201d It also marked the first time the oath of office for President was ever administered to a Florida man.<\/p>\n While Trump arrived in Washington in 2017 as an unquestionable Manhattanite, his entire political operation worked from Mar-a-Lago leading into the 2024 election. Not only that, but Sunshine Staters would fill the ranks of his administration, from high-profile posts like Attorney General<\/a> and Secretary of State<\/a> to Ambassador positions around the globe.<\/p>\n \u201cFloridians overpopulate the West Wing in a really big way,\u201d said Wiles, whom Trump named as White House Chief of Staff.<\/p>\n The new Trump era would eventually usher a Floridian into power to lead the Republican National Committee<\/a>, while a Florida area code turned into political capital on K Street.<\/p>\n The arrival of Trump back in the Oval Office arguably served as the biggest political event in the world in 2025. In Florida, it served to elevate and remake the entire political landscape. Elections would be decided by Truth Social posts. Mar-a-Lago memberships would become vital parts of administration r\u00e9sum\u00e9s. Florida constituencies reshaped international relations.<\/p>\n Florida served as Trump\u2019s Winter White House in his first term. This time, it\u2019s the heartbeat of his presidency.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 2: Looming war with Venezuela<\/p>\n Will World War III have a Caribbean front? Even as Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast this administration as negotiators of world peace<\/a>, the most notable foreign policy choices in the last months of 2025 involved the sinking of dozens of boats allegedly running drugs from Venezuela.<\/p>\n The actions, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s alleged \u201ckill them all<\/a>\u201d directive regarding vessel occupants, capitalized the attention of Florida\u2019s congressional delegation. That\u2019s little shock, as 49% of Venezuelans in the U.S. call Florida home. That\u2019s part of why Rubio, for years as Florida\u2019s Senator, urged regime change from Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro and labeled the communist leader a \u201cnarcoterrorist.\u201d<\/p>\n Rubio has continued to defend the attacks<\/a> in his new role as the nation\u2019s top diplomat. \u201cThis has been a highly successful mission that\u2019s ongoing and continued,\u201d Rubio told press in December<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, South Florida Republicans served as the most emphatic defenders of the administration\u2019s unilateral actions. House Foreign Affairs Chair Brian Mast, a Stuart Republican, fought against Democratic efforts to limit strikes, saying the cartels manning boats deserved no protection.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are kidnapping Americans, extorting families, trafficking women and children, and flooding our towns with fentanyl to maximize death and addiction on American soil,\u201d he said from the floor<\/a>.<\/p>\n But Democrats from Florida also pushed back on legally questionable actions even as they called for other solutions to Maduro. Florida\u2019s eight congressional Democrats issued a joint release criticizing the end of protections for Venezuelans in the U.S. even amid the saber-rattling. \u201cIt is hypocritical to claim Venezuela is safe enough to send back innocent people, while also declaring it dangerous enough that we need to send in troops,\u201d the statement<\/a> read.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 3: Epstein files explosion and fallout<\/p>\n It\u2019s been five years since Palm Beach billionaire Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide<\/a> in federal custody. But thanks to his onetime friendly relationship with Trump, the long-delayed release of files pertaining to a sex trafficking investigation became one of the most politically damaging the sitting President ever faced.<\/p>\n Trouble within the administration stirred after Attorney General Pam Bondi in February claimed the \u201cEpstein list\u201d was on her desk and would be released soon. But the supposed release of a first batch<\/a> of files to right-wing influencers turned out to largely be a retread of old material already in the public domain. Soon, Trump went from campaigning on transparency to deriding the Epstein scandal as a Democratic hoax<\/a>.<\/p>\n Along the way, Justice Department lawyers would conduct a fresh interview<\/a> with Epstein girlfriend\/accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in a Tallahassee prison and quickly relocate her to a new facility.<\/p>\n Fast forward through a government shutdown that some blamed on Speaker Mike Johnson\u2019s desire to delay the release of files, the issue became an explosive dividing line between a largely compliant GOP-controlled Congress and the restored-to-power Republican President. Through a bipartisan discharge petition, Congress ultimately voted to demand a full release of all court discovery with minimal redactions.<\/p>\n The complete fallout for Trump may continue to unfold. But heading into the Christmas holiday, newly published materials caused further headaches for Trump even in the final days of 2025. Among the latest tranche of documents were records Trump had reportedly flown on Epstein\u2019s private jet multiple times in the 1990s<\/a>, at least once on a flight with only Epstein and a 20-year-old whose name was redacted.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 4: Ashley Moody appointed to Senate<\/p>\n Rubio\u2019s elevation to Secretary of State created a rare political opportunity for Gov. Ron DeSantis to hand-pick a U.S. Senator. He did so in January<\/a>, when he appointed then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to represent the state in Washington.<\/p>\n At an Orlando press conference announcing the Senate pick, DeSantis said he vetted contenders for months to replace Rubio when the seat opened and promised to name a replacement that could hit the ground running from the start of Trump\u2019s second term. He chose a close political ally, one who first won statewide office in 2018 at the same time DeSantis won his first term as Governor. Moody notably proved to be Florida\u2019s top vote-getter both in that election and when she won re-election in 2022.<\/p>\n The Plant City Republican quickly made clear she intends to stay in the Senate, opening a re-election account for 2026 and quickly aligning herself with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, now Florida\u2019s senior Senator, and with the Trump agenda.<\/p>\n By March, Trump endorsed<\/a> Moody\u2019s re-election campaign, largely squelching the opportunity for a Republican Primary challenge. While Democrats have lined up to wage a challenge from the left, Moody over the course of 2025 established herself as a front-runner for next year\u2019s campaign, which will decide who serves the final two years of Rubio\u2019s term.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll continue to hold the line and NEVER stop fighting to Make America Great Again,\u201d Moody said.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 5: Cory Mills goes from contender to pariah<\/p>\n But before Trump backed Moody, chatter persisted that Trump may endorse an alternative for Senate. U.S. Rep. Cory Mills made known early that he would like a move to the upper chamber. \u201cYou can probably guarantee my hat is going to be thrown in the ring,\u201d he told press at a Republican meeting in January<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those ambitions, however, predated a series of personal scandals that put his electability to his own House seat in jeopardy. While a House Ethics investigation from last year lingers, the future for Mills seemed immediately hazy after a live-in girlfriend of the married Congressman reported a domestic assault<\/a> to police. Ultimately, Sarah Raviani dropped her accusation and that investigation quietly died.<\/p>\n The reports prompted another live-in girlfriend in Florida to dump him. Months later, Lindsey Langston, a reigning Miss United States<\/a> and Columbia County Republican Committeewoman, obtained a restraining order<\/a> after turning over texts to law enforcement showing threats from Mills to release intimate images to her future romantic interests.<\/p>\n Soon, U.S. Reps. Kat Cammack and Anna Paulina Luna, among other Trump-aligned Republican Congresswomen, were calling for Mills\u2019 censure and asserting he shouldn\u2019t seek re-election.<\/p>\n Indeed, more Republicans openly fret that in an already challenging Midterm cycle for Republicans, Democrats<\/a> may successfully unseat Mills, if GOP opponents can\u2019t beat them to it.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 6: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick indicted<\/p>\n Questions surrounded U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick\u2019s rapid accumulation of personal wealth almost immediately after her 2022 Special Election win<\/a> for a seat in Congress. Years of scrutiny and revelations resulted in November<\/a> in a federal indictment of the Miramar Democrat, with the Justice Department alleging she stole some $5 million in pandemic emergency funding to support her campaign.<\/p>\n The indictment alleges that Cherfilus-McCormick and her brother, Edwin Cherfilus, secured funding intended for a COVID vaccine distribution program. But when overpayments were made, she routed the spending through several accounts that later donated the funds as campaign contributions.<\/p>\n Should Cherfilus-McCormick be found guilty of all counts in the indictment, the 46-year-old could face up to 53 years in prison, according to the Justice Department. The nature of the allegations prompted U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican, to prepare a resolution to expel his colleague from Congress, though he has set the measure aside for a period to give her time to simply resign.<\/p>\n But to date, Cherfilus-McCormick has publicly maintained her innocence<\/a>, even as Democratic leaders in her caucus strip her of subcommittee Chair posts and Democrats at home increasingly clamor<\/a> for her to step down.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 7: Redistricting reaches Florida<\/p>\n Red states and blue states alike heated up a redistricting cold war to redraw lines ahead of the 2026 Midterms. In August<\/a>, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez said Florida will join the arms race as well.<\/p>\n The Miami Republican pointed to the Florida Supreme Court\u2019s July ruling<\/a> upholding Florida\u2019s current congressional map. That decision not only left in place lines designed and signed by DeSantis in 2022, but opened questions about whether any districts drawn with race as a motivating factor should remain.<\/p>\n Perez in September appointed<\/a> members of a select committee, being chaired by Rep. Mike Redondo, a Miami Republican in line for Speaker himself in 2030.<\/p>\n But while the committee met multiple times since then, no cartography has emerged to date. Moreover, there remain questions about timing and tension, considering the frayed relationship<\/a> between the Speaker and Governor, not to mention lower-profile conflict<\/a> with Senate President Ben Albritton.<\/p>\n In December, Albritton, a Wauchula Republican, issued a memo making clear he\u2019s in no rush<\/a> to work on a mid-decade redraw. Both he and DeSantis point to a still undecided redistricting case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, suggesting lines may well wait until a Special Session in Spring. But forces in Washington, most notably Trump, seem eager for action sooner.<\/p>\n California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Utah all implemented new maps in 2025, and Virginia remains in process. How long will the nation\u2019s third-largest state take? Federal qualifying remains in April \u2014 for now.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 8: Trump endorses Donalds<\/p>\n Even before U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds formally launched a campaign for Governor, he secured what may be the most important endorsement in Florida politics right now.<\/p>\n Trump in a Truth Social post all but endorsed<\/a> the Naples Republican to run as the state\u2019s next chief executive in 2026. A formal endorsement would follow Donalds\u2019 official launch in March<\/a>, where the Congressman made clear he will make a statewide run instead of running for re-election to the U.S. House.<\/p>\n \u201cMy plan for Florida is bold and clear,\u201d Donalds said at a rally in Bonita Springs, in the heart of Florida\u2019s 19th Congressional District. He has since raised upward of $40 million, with the campaign declaring itself \u201cthe most dominant gubernatorial candidate in Florida history.\u201d<\/p>\n To date, Donalds faces former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner and Azoria CEO James Fishback in a GOP Primary, while Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and former U.S. Rep. David Jolly compete for the Democratic nomination.<\/p>\n But in federal politics, Donalds\u2019 entry into the state race means at least one vacancy in Florida\u2019s congressional slate. A dozen candidates already filed in 2025 with the Federal Election Commission to succeed Donalds, with others rumored to enter the field. As 2026 begins, the contest remains the only federal office in Florida with no incumbent, once again turning the Southwest Florida district into a hotbed of political activity and spending.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 9: Special Elections in CD 1 and 6<\/p>\n When a new Congress took over at the start of 2025, Florida\u2019s delegation initially saw little turnover from past elections. Only U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, who won an open and safe Republican seat in 2024, joined the incoming freshman class of House members.<\/p>\n But further change was already in the air.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s various political appointments created openings in Florida\u2019s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts. That prompted Special Elections on the Atlantic Coast and in the Panhandle, contests ultimately won by now-U.S. Reps. Randy Fine<\/a> and Jimmy Patronis<\/a>. Both were Republican holds, but the margins would rock the political landscape nationwide.<\/p>\n After some polling had shown Fine at risk of losing a district Trump carried in 2024 by 30 percentage points, the former state Senator beat Democrat Josh Weil by 14 points. Patronis took the same share of the vote over Democrat Gay Valimont in a seat Trump took by 38 points.<\/p>\n By traditional measures, these outcomes were blowouts. But Democrats chopping Trump\u2019s margin in half signaled political risk for Republicans looking toward 2026.<\/p>\n The races also prompted millions in spending by both parties in areas of the state with little exposure to competitive congressional elections. Fine and Patronis individually rode Trump endorsements through Republican Primaries and ultimately to Washington. Both have that political trump card in hand already for 2026.<\/p>\n But the Special Elections also offered Florida Democrats a glimpse at something rarely seen in the post-pandemic area: hope. The results also spurred House Democrats to announce aggressive plans to target four<\/a> Florida GOP incumbents heading into 2026: U.S. Reps. Laurel Lee, Luna, Mills and Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar.<\/p>\n \u2014 No. 10: Florida central in health care debate<\/p>\n Stalled budget talks led this Fall to a record 43-day federal government shutdown<\/a>. But Democrats ultimately failed to secure their top priority: an extension of pandemic-era tax credits for users of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health insurance marketplace.<\/p>\n As 2026 begins, no state will feel the impact of that more than Florida.<\/p>\n That became vividly clear in October with the release of Kaiser Family Foundation<\/a> statistics verifying Florida boasts more ACA users than any other state in the union \u2014 about 4.7 million. Moreover, Florida serves as home to the top 10 congressional districts in the nation with the highest enrollment levels. Miami-Dade County\u2019s four congressional districts make up most of the top 5<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know how to even approach this in Miami-Dade County,\u201d said U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Miami-Dade Democrat representing 258,000 individuals on \u201cObamacare\u201d plans. While most of the high concentration districts are represented by Democrats, U.S. Rep. Mario D\u00edaz-Balart represents the highest number of constituents relying on subsidies. But to date, he remains opposed to the three-year extension of tax credits that Democrats in Congress want.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/FloridaPolitics.com_ColodnyFass_728x90.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-23-180426-640x364.png\")
Skipper oil tanker before a strike. Image via AP<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/download-2025-12-29T083518.893-640x427.webp.webp\")
Conservative influencers including Rogan O\u2019Hanley receive re-released Epstein files. Image via AP.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/RUBIO-MOODY-ART-640x381.jpg\")
Marco Rubio\u2019s ascension creates Ashley Moody\u2019s opportunity.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/cory-mills-ap-640x426.jpeg\")
Nobody expects a Senate run soon from Cory Mills.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Sheila-Cherfilus-McCormick-640x373.webp.webp\")
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick ended 2025 under a legal cloud.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Firefly_Gemini-Flash_Florida-flag-as-an-unfinished-puzzle-with-loose-pieces-cinematic-4K-photorealis.png\")
Will Florida\u2019s political boundaries be carved anew?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Byron-TPUSA-640x427.jpg\")
Byron Donalds at Turning Point USA Am Fest. Image via campaign Facebook.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/patronis-fine-640x417.jpg\")
U.S. Reps. Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/florida-insurance-Large-640x427.jpeg\")
No other state will be impacted more by subsidies expiring than Florida.<\/p>\n