Politics

Federal Elections

Florida used to be considered a swing state, meaning it could switch between Republican and Democratic. However, it has now become a Republican state.

The people in the South tend to be Democratic, the people in the center tend to be mixed and the people in the North and the Panhandle tend to be Republican.

Urban areas generally support Democrats, while rural areas generally support Republicans.

State Government

The state government has 3 branches: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.

Executive Branch

The governor of Florida is Ron DeSantis, who is a Republican. The government is the chief executive, who has four year terms. Their job is to enforce state laws, propose the state budget and appointing state officials and judges.

Florida has a plural executive system, where several key officials are elected independently:

• Attorney General – Chief legal officer of the state.
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Oversees finances, including auditing and insurance.
• Commissioner of Agriculture – Regulates agriculture, consumer services, and food safety.

These officials and the Governor form the Florida Cabinet, which makes joint decisions on certain matters like land use.

Legislative Branch

The Legislative branch has two chambers:

• Florida Senate – 40 members, each serving 4-year terms.
• Florida House of Representatives – 120 members, serving 2-year terms.

Their responsibilities are passing state laws, approving the state budget and more.

Judicial Branch

• Florida Supreme Court: The highest court in the state, with 7 justices appointed by the governor and subject to retention votes.
• District Courts of Appeal: Handle appeals from lower courts across 6 appellate districts.
• Circuit and County Courts: Handle civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases at the trial level.