Politics of Florida
Year | Republican / Whig | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 5,668,731 | 51.11% | 5,297,045 | 47.76% | 125,982 | 1.14% |
2016 | 4,617,886 | 48.60% | 4,504,975 | 47.41% | 379,886 | 4.00% |
2012 | 4,163,447 | 49.03% | 4,237,756 | 49.90% | 90,972 | 1.07% |
2008 | 4,046,219 | 48.10% | 4,282,367 | 50.91% | 83,662 | 0.99% |
2004 | 3,964,522 | 52.10% | 3,583,544 | 47.09% | 61,744 | 0.81% |
2000 | 2,912,790 | 48.85% | 2,912,253 | 48.84% | 138,067 | 2.32% |
1996 | 2,244,536 | 42.32% | 2,546,870 | 48.02% | 512,388 | 9.66% |
1992 | 2,173,310 | 40.89% | 2,072,698 | 39.00% | 1,068,384 | 20.10% |
1988 | 2,618,885 | 60.87% | 1,656,701 | 38.51% | 26,727 | 0.62% |
1984 | 2,730,350 | 65.32% | 1,448,816 | 34.66% | 885 | 0.02% |
1980 | 2,046,951 | 55.52% | 1,419,475 | 38.50% | 220,600 | 5.98% |
1976 | 1,469,531 | 46.64% | 1,636,000 | 51.93% | 45,100 | 1.43% |
1972 | 1,857,759 | 71.91% | 718,117 | 27.80% | 7,407 | 0.29% |
1968 | 886,804 | 40.53% | 676,794 | 30.93% | 624,207 | 28.53% |
1964 | 905,941 | 48.85% | 948,540 | 51.15% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 795,476 | 51.51% | 748,700 | 48.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 643,849 | 57.27% | 480,371 | 42.73% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 544,036 | 54.99% | 444,950 | 44.97% | 351 | 0.04% |
1948 | 194,280 | 33.63% | 281,988 | 48.82% | 101,375 | 17.55% |
1944 | 143,215 | 29.68% | 339,377 | 70.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 126,158 | 25.99% | 359,334 | 74.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 78,248 | 23.90% | 249,117 | 76.08% | 67 | 0.02% |
1932 | 69,170 | 25.04% | 206,307 | 74.68% | 775 | 0.28% |
1928 | 144,168 | 56.83% | 101,764 | 40.12% | 7,742 | 3.05% |
1924 | 30,633 | 28.06% | 62,083 | 56.88% | 16,438 | 15.06% |
1920 | 44,853 | 30.79% | 90,515 | 62.13% | 10,313 | 7.08% |
1916 | 14,611 | 18.10% | 55,984 | 69.34% | 10,139 | 12.56% |
1912 | 4,279 | 8.42% | 35,343 | 69.52% | 11,215 | 22.06% |
1908 | 10,654 | 21.58% | 31,104 | 63.01% | 7,602 | 15.40% |
1904 | 8,314 | 21.15% | 27,046 | 68.80% | 3,949 | 10.05% |
1900 | 7,355 | 18.55% | 28,273 | 71.31% | 4,021 | 10.14% |
1896 | 11,298 | 24.30% | 32,756 | 70.46% | 2,434 | 5.24% |
1892 | 0 | 0.00% | 30,153 | 85.01% | 5,318 | 14.99% |
1888 | 26,529 | 39.89% | 39,557 | 59.48% | 414 | 0.62% |
1884 | 28,031 | 46.73% | 31,769 | 52.96% | 190 | 0.32% |
1880 | 23,654 | 45.83% | 27,964 | 54.17% | 0 | 0.00% |
1876 | 23,849 | 50.99% | 22,927 | 49.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
1872 | 17,763 | 53.52% | 15,427 | 46.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
1860 | 0 | 0.00% | 223 | 1.68% | 13,078 | 98.32% |
1856 | 0 | 0.00% | 6,358 | 56.81% | 4,833 | 43.19% |
1852 | 2,875 | 39.97% | 4,318 | 60.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
1848 | 4,120 | 57.20% | 3,083 | 42.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
Politics of Florida reflect a state that has experienced conflict between its liberal southern region and its traditionally conservative northern region. Politics often revolve around budgeting and how money for budgets should be raised.
Florida was originally part of the
The Florida Elections Commission was established in 1973. In 2005, Jeb Bush signed a bill to abolish primary runoff elections,[3] resulting in all primary and general elections being determined by plurality rather than majority.
The state is dominated by Republicans on the state level, as Democrats have not held the governorship or either house of the legislature since 1999. Republicans currently have veto-proof majorities in both houses of the Florida legislature.[4] However, the state has become increasingly red since the late 2010s, as in 2018, Republicans captured both Senate seats in the state for the first time since Reconstruction.[5] In 2020, Florida voted 7.8 points right of the nation as a whole, the furthest it has voted from the nation since 1988, and it was the first election since 1992 that Florida backed the losing candidate. In 2022, Republicans won their largest statewide victories since Reconstruction and neared 60% of the vote. In 2021, registered Republicans surpassed Democrats for the first time in state history.[6] Florida approved its lottery by amending the constitution in 1984. It approved slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade County in 2004. It has disapproved casinos (outside of sovereign Seminole and Miccosukee tribal areas) three times: 1978, 1986, and 1994.[7]
Federal representation
Florida currently has 28 House districts In the 118th Congress, 8 of Florida's seats are held by Democrats and 20 are held by Republicans. There are as follows:
- The 1st district, represented by Matt Gaetz (R)
- The 2nd district, represented by Neal Dunn (R)
- The 3rd district, represented by Kat Cammack (R)
- The 4th district, represented by Aaron Bean (R)
- The 5th district, represented by John Rutherford (R)
- The 6th district, represented by Michael Waltz (R)
- The 7th district, represented by Cory Mills (R)
- The 8th district, represented by Bill Posey (R)
- The 9th district, represented by Darren Soto (D)
- The 10th district, represented by Maxwell Frost (D)
- The 11th district, represented by Daniel Webster (R)
- The 12th district, represented by Gus Bilirakis (R)
- The 13th district, represented by Anna Paulina Luna (R)
- The 14th district, represented by Kathy Castor (D)
- The 15th district, represented by Laurel Lee (R)
- The 16th district, represented by Vern Buchanan (R)
- The 17th district, represented by Greg Steube (R)
- The 18th district, represented by Scott Franklin (R)
- The 19th district, represented by Byron Donalds (R)
- The 20th district, represented by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D)
- The 21st district, represented by Brian Mast (R)
- The 22nd district, represented by Lois Frankel (D)
- The 23rd district, represented by Jared Moskowitz (D)
- The 24th district, represented by Frederica Wilson (D)
- The 25th district, represented by Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D)
- The Mario Diaz-Balart(R)
- The Maria Elvira Salazar(R)
- The 28th district, represented by Carlos A. Giménez (R)
Florida's two United States Senators are Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, serving since 2010 and 2019, respectively.
Florida is part of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in the federal judiciary. The district's cases are appealed to the Atlanta-based United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Issues
Budget
Florida is one of the nine states that do not impose a personal income tax (list of others). The state had imposed a tax on "intangible personal property" (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market funds, etc.), but this tax was abolished after 2006. The state sales tax rate is 6%.[8] Local governments may levy an additional local option sales tax of up to 1.5%. A locale's use tax rate is the same as its sales tax rate, including local options, if any. Use taxes are payable for purchases made out of state and brought into Florida within six months of the purchase date. Documentary stamps are required on deed transfers and mortgages. Other taxes include corporate income, communication services, unemployment, solid waste, insurance premium, pollutants, and various fuel taxes.
Florida has a
Florida's state budget is funded one-third from General Revenue and two-thirds from hundreds of
In 2008, the state was one of four that had fully funded pension systems for government employees, including teachers.[11] There are five classes of state employees for pension investment: Regular and Special Risk Administrative employees accrue retirement benefits at 1.6–1.68% per year; Senior Management, 2%; Special Risk employees, such as police and firefighters, 3%; and elected officers, including judges and legislative at 3% to 3.3%. The higher rate for the latter is to encourage early retirement.[12][13] In 2010 there were 304,000 state retirees and 655,000 active employees. The average teacher's retirement check is $1,868 monthly. The average regular-class retiree gets $970 per month.[14]
In 2011 to 2012 fiscal year, the state collected over $2.2 billion from the tax on gasoline.[15]
In 2011, Medicaid costs were 20% of the budget. These are mandated by the federal government. While the state administers the program, it has no actual control over expenses.[16] From 2000 to 2010, Medicaid costs rose from $8 billion to $18 billion.[17]
Education costs were 30% of the budget.[16]
The $70 billion budget for 2010–11 contained the following allocations:[18]
- Health and Social Services $30 billion
- Education $21.2 billion
- Transportation $7.9 billion
- Criminal Justice and Corrections $4.5 billion
- General government $4 billion
- Natural Resources and Environment $3 billion
- Reserves $2.28 billion
- Courts $459 million
In 2011, undocumented immigrants were estimated to cost the Florida government $700 million. This included $548 million for children (excluding American-born children of undocumented aliens). Average student cost is $9,035. There are an estimated 60,750 undocumented immigrant children of school age. There are 5,641 undocumented in Florida prisons at an average cost of $18,980 annually, for a total of $107 million. A 2003 study indicated unpaid hospital costs of $40 million annually.[19]
High-level state officers use one of two airplanes to get around Florida. Flights take 90 minutes to get from the capital at Tallahassee to Miami.[20] In February 2011, Governor Scott directed the sale of both airplanes.[21]
Employees
In 2011, as a result of Governor Rick Scott's executive order, the department required that all workers be verified as U.S. citizens with
Statutes
Real estate
Florida is one of several states where the courts are
Gun laws
Florida is considered "accommodating" to guns, by national standards. There are 56 laws relating to owning, transporting, and using guns. Open carrying of firearms is nearly always illegal. Convicted felons have few rights to gun possession.[24]
Merchandising alcohol in bulk
Florida has a 3-tier system requiring a producer, a wholesaler and a retailer. A franchise law designates who can market what alcoholic beverages where.[25]
See also
- Elections in Florida
- Florida Democratic Party
- Florida Student Association exercises constitutional and statutory powers
- Government of Florida
- Political party strength in Florida
- Republican Party of Florida
Notes
- ^ "Florida Presidential Election Voting History - 270toWin".
- ^ Florida:Timeline Archived 2007-04-04 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Runoff primary election is history now, Orlando Sentinel
- ^ "Republicans win big in Florida, flipping long Democratic Miami-Dade". 9 November 2022.
- ^ "Florida to have 2 Republican senators for the first time since the Reconstruction era". 10NEWS. November 18, 2018. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- ^ "Voter Registration - By Party Affiliation - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". dos.myflorida.com. Archived from the original on 2021-09-17. Retrieved 2022-02-14.
- ^ Haridopolos, Mike (March 11, 2014). "Legislature aims to rewrite gaming rules. 'Complex' issue affects billions of dollars in state revenue". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2014.
- ^ "Florida Sales and Use Tax". State of Florida. Archived from the original on 2006-10-16. Retrieved 2007-11-17.
- ^ The Conference Report for Senate Bill 2800, the 2011-2012 General Appropriations Act, authorizes the expenditure of $23,182,748,671 from the General Revenue Fund and $46,493,890,488 from Trust Funds (before gubernatorial veotes).
- ^ Governor's Press Office (2008-06-11). "GOVERNOR CRIST SIGNS $66 BILLION BALANCED BUDGET, VETOES $251.1 MILLION". Archived from the original on 2010-05-06.
- ^ Mulvihill, Geoff (16 September 2010). "States cutting benefits to close pension funds gaps". Burlington, Vermont: Burlington Free Press. pp. 1A.
- ^ http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/committees/joint/jcla/meetingpackets/030810.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ Flemming, Paul (30 January 2011). "Pension crunch affects courts". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 10B.
- ^ "State pension reform". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. 13 February 2011. pp. 22A.
- ^ Gunnerson, Scott (April 21, 2013). "Toll". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 3A.
- ^ a b Reed, Matt (23 January 2011). "GOP has changes planned this year". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1B.
- ^ Reed, Matt (April 28, 2011). "Watchdog:Medicaid, education key issues". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1B.
- ^ Cottrell, Bill (May 7, 2011). "Senate passes budget". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A.
- ^ Reed, Matt (25 January 2011). "$700M paid for illegal migrants". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1B.
- ^ Flemming, Paul (7 February 2010). "State sees drop in plane use". Melbourne, Florida: Florida Today. pp. 1A.
- ^ [1], Announcement from the Governor's Office.
- ^ "City must 'E-verify' workers as legal". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. 6 March 2011. pp. 1A.
- ^ Fishkind, Hank (February 2, 2013). "Lawmakers can help boost economy". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 4B.
- ^ "Owners face dovetailed laws, rights". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. February 3, 2013. pp. 1A.
- ^ Reed, Matt (May 21, 2015). "How brewing went big-time in Brevard". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 8A. Retrieved August 13, 2015.