Politics
Republican voters prefer Casey DeSantis as next governor of Florida, FAU poll shows
Could the DeSantis family remain in the Florida governor’s mansion even after Ron DeSantis terms out of office?
According to a new political poll from Florida Atlantic University and Mainstreet Research, in a hypothetical primary matchup, 38% of Republican voters surveyed prefer First Lady Casey DeSantis as the Sunshine State’s next governor over U.S. Rep Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, who picked up 16%.
Neither Casey DeSantis nor Gaetz have announced their candidacy for governor in the 2026 election. Ron DeSantis’ term officially ends in January of 2027.
In the poll, 26% of GOP voters surveyed said they “don’t know” who they would vote for in a DeSantis/Gaetz matchup, while 20% said they would support “another candidate.”
You can read the complete poll by clicking here.
“There is clear interest among Republican voters in seeing Casey DeSantis run for governor in 2026,” said Kevin Wagner, Ph.D., the co-director of FAUs Political Communication and Public Opinion Research Lab and professor of political science. “This poll also suggests that the race is still open for new candidates to emerge over the next couple of years.”
Casey DeSantis, who finished chemotherapy in 2022 in her battle against breast cancer, has made mental health one of her top priorities as first lady.
Gaetz, a Pensacola congressman and ally of former President Donald Trump, has been mentioned as a potential successor to Ron DeSantis.
The FAU/Mainstreet Research poll was conducted from April 15 to 17 and surveyed 865 adults in Florida. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.3%.
By: Matt Papaycik
Title: Republican voters prefer Casey DeSantis as next governor of Florida, FAU poll shows
Sourced From: www.wptv.com/news/political/republican-voters-prefer-casey-desantis-as-next-governor-of-florida-fau-poll-shows
Published Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2024 16:31:59 GMT
In a matter of hours, reproductive health care in Florida will change dramatically.
The state’s six-week abortion ban takes effect Wednesday. It’s a point when many women don’t even know they are pregnant.
At Planned Parenthood in West Palm Beach, leaders say their staff will stay as late as needed to make sure every patient on the schedule is seen until the clock strikes midnight and everything changes.
Michelle Quesada, the Planned Parenthood vice president of communications for southeast and north Florida, said it was a somber mood inside the clinic Tuesday. “It’s tragic, it’s frustrating knowing our staff has the skills and capabilities and resources to offer this care, but the law says we can’t, and politicians without medical degrees are making these decisions and they are not the ones in the exam rooms with the patients,” she said. “We have staff that are very compassionate with their patients, they care about their job, and they care about what’s happening with reproductive health care so it’s a really sad time.”
Quesada added, “Even today we’ve already had patients that if they are beyond six weeks today, day one consultation, when they return 24 hours for their second consultation they are too far along, and we will not be able to offer that care.” She said they rearranged schedules to move up appointments from May to April. “It’s been a very challenging time but it was important we moved those patients up to April, so they had enough time to make the right decision for themselves.”
As of May 1, the six-week abortion ban will be in effect with certain exceptions.
According to the law, “Two physicians must certify in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, the termination of the pregnancy is necessary to save the pregnant womans life or avert a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman other than a psychological condition.”
It also states there is an exception if, “the pregnancy has not progressed to the third trimester, fetus has not achieved viability under s. 390.01112 and two physicians certify in writing that, in reasonable medical judgment, the fetus has a fatal fetal abnormality.” Or if “the pregnancy is the result of rape, incest, or human trafficking and the gestational age of the fetus is not more than 15 weeks as determined by the physician. At the time the woman schedules or arrives for her appointment to obtain the abortion, she must provide a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record, or other court order or documentation providing evidence that she is obtaining the termination of pregnancy because she is a victim of rape, incest, or human trafficking.”
Dr. Grazie Christie, a South Florida radiologist working with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said the Heartbeat Protection Act, as it’s known, will do just that. “I don’t like to think of this as a ban. I like to think of it as protection. And that’s because these patients of mine that are very small inside their moms are just as much patients to me as their moms. They are dignified, they are human,” she said. “If an elective abortion is going to be performed, it shouldn’t be performed later.”
Christie added that “it’s very rare to find a mother or father say ‘if only I had been able to abort my child.’ I’ve never heard a parent say that. … Expectant moms are going to find their health care in relation to their pregnancy isn’t going to change. We treat the baby and the mother as dignified important patients to us, so nothing really is going to change except elective abortions.”
While supporters are glad to see this take effect, opponents hope it’s only temporary, as Florida voters head to the polls in November and can choose to return Florida abortion laws to about 24 weeks.
By: Stephanie Susskind
Title: ‘Terrifying new normal:’ Planned Parenthood faces 6-week abortion ban Wednesday
Sourced From: www.wptv.com/news/state/terrifying-new-normal-planned-parenthood-faces-6-week-abortion-ban-wednesday
Published Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:36:31 GMT
Read More
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.news4palmbeach.com/politics/desantis-attends-naming-of-william-r-laurie-field-at-american-heritage-school-2/
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday attended the ceremonial naming of the football stadium at American Heritage School in Delray Beach.
William R. Laurie Field is named after the CEO and founder of American Heritage Schools, which has locations in Delray Beach and Plantation.
Laurie, who was in attendance at Monday’s dedication, founded American Heritage Schools in 1965. American Heritage has “grown to become the top private school in the nation for academic excellence,” according to its website.
“American Heritage has been recognized as being No. 1 among all private schools for producing National Merit Scholars, including 15 among the class of 2024,” DeSantis said.
Laurie spoke with WPTV about what the announcement means to him.
“I am overwhelmed with some of the comments that were made, but so much of it, I have to say, were the people that were working with me all these 60 years,” Laurie said. “Each and every one of them has been a very positive part of my success and our success in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach counties. When you find something that you love, you are very, very fortunate in this world. So many people go through their lives and never find something they love no matter whether it’s a low-paying job or a high-paying job. That’s what’s important to find your likeness, your love for something.”
He said having the field bear his name is something the 94-year-old has hoped for.
“I’ve wanted the field named after me because it’s meant so much to me from my playing football days in high school to watching college football and developing the football program here,” Laurie said.
By: Matt Papaycik
Title: DeSantis attends naming of William R. Laurie Field at American Heritage School
Sourced From: www.wptv.com/sports/local-sports/high-school/desantis-attends-naming-of-william-r-laurie-field-at-american-heritage-school
Published Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2024 16:07:11 GMT
Politics
Florida ‘will not comply’ with new protections for transgender students in Title IX, Gov. Ron DeSantis says
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state “will not comply” with new changes to Title IX by the Biden administration, which offers added protections for transgender students.
“Florida rejects Joe Biden’s attempt to rewrite Title IX,” DeSantis said in Thursday in a post on X. “We will not comply, and we will fight back.”
A new rule unveiled by the Biden administration on April 19 blocks blanket policies that would prevent transgender students from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity.
A nearly 1,600-page document outlines the new rules for any school that receives federal funding. It explains how discrimination based on sex also includes discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
The rule makes it “crystal clear that everyone can access schools that are safe, welcoming and that respect their rights,” Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said.
“No one should face bullying or discrimination just because of who they are, who they love,” Cardona told reporters on April 19. “Sadly, this happens all too often.”
The changes take effect in early August.
However, in a letter to school district superintendents and charter school leaders this week, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz told them not to begin implementing any changes because “Florida will fight this.” He wrote, “In Florida, we respect parents’ rights to direct their children’s education. We protect our students’ safety and privacy.”
Read the full letter from Diaz to school leaders:
Last August, the Florida Board of Education approved a rule that prohibits someone from willfully entering a restroom or changing area of the opposite sex, specifically in Florida’s colleges and universities.
“We are not gonna let Joe Biden try to inject men into women’s activities,” DeSantis said Thursday on X. “We are not gonna let Joe Biden undermine the rights of parents. And we are not gonna let Joe Biden abuse his constitutional authority to try to impose these policies on us here in Florida.”
Jon Harris Maurer, the public policy director for Equality Florida, supports the move by the federal government.
“We’ve been waiting for these rules for some time, and we’re excited to see rules to affirm what we’ve long understood that these regulations protect LGBTQ students including transgender students,” Maurer said.
While Maurer said the group was excited to see the new Title IX regulations, they were not surprised to see DeSantis take a stand against them.
“What we see is the governor now playing cruel politics that will hold hostage students across the state who risk their education funding at the federal level because of these challenges,” Maurer said.
He said Equality Florida will continue to fight to make sure parents and students understand their rights.
Legal challenges are expected to pile on from Florida and other states.
Schools could lose federal funding if they are not in compliance, but it’s not clear if the federal government would exercise that ability. It is also not yet decided how this will impact athletics. The Department of Education said it is still going through the rulemaking process on that front.
Andrew Spar, the president of the Florida Education Association, provided the following statement to WPTV:
“Every student in Florida deserves a world-class education. When elected officials decide to place their political agendas ahead of students in Florida and ignore federal protections meant to keep students safe, students lose out. We know that in order for students to learn in a classroom, they must feel safe in their schools. At the Florida Education Association, we remain committed to working with our statewide partners to ensure every student can learn, grow, and thrive in our classrooms and that every educator has the ability to advocate for their students, and fight for better lives for themselves and their loved ones.” By: Matt Papaycik
Title: Florida ‘will not comply’ with new protections for transgender students in Title IX, Gov. Ron DeSantis says
Sourced From: www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-will-not-comply-with-new-protections-for-transgender-students-in-title-ix-governor-says
Published Date: Fri, 26 Apr 2024 15:43:58 GMT
-
Business3 months agoReddit’s Bid for Public Listing
-
Business2 months agoInvesting in Bicester: A Commutable and Affordable Option
-
Business4 months agoWhy Millennials Should Consider Gold IRAs for Their Future
-
Technology5 months agoHow to Re-Energize Disconnected Classroom Participants
-
Business2 months agoConvenient Solutions for Busy Lives: How Silkrute Makes Indian Grocery Shopping Easy In USA
-
Local News5 months agoFellsmere residents angry about drainage issues
-
Business3 months agoStay Ahead of the Curve With an Online MBA in Accounting
-
Business3 months agoAre Robot Vacuum Cleaners Worth The Investment?