The Daily Populous Monday January 13rd, 2025 morning edition
Authored by democracydocket.com and submitted by SpaceElevatorMusic

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) speaks after being sworn in to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol Jan. 3, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit Thursday on behalf of a couple voters against Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for failing to call special elections for two vacant seats in the state legislature.

The voters from Brevard and Santa Rosa counties argued DeSantis violated his mandatory duty to set special elections for vacancies under the Florida constitution and state law.

“The Santa Rosa community has the right to full representation in the Legislature; the governor’s refusal to call a special election deprives us of that right, breaking with decades of precedent,” Plaintiff Christina Forrest said. “It’s undemocratic and wrong.”

State Rep. Joel Rudman (R) and Sen. Randy Fine (R) resigned from the legislature over six weeks ago to run for congressional seats previously held by Republicans Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz, who President-elect Donald Trump tapped to join his cabinet.

Florida governors have historically taken action within a week of resignations to “ensure timely representation for constituents,” the ACLU said in a statement.

This is not the first time DeSantis has been sued over a special election. The ACLU of Florida filed a lawsuit against him in 2023 after he didn’t call for an election for a vacant state House seat in Miami-Dade County.

“From Jeb Bush to Rick Scott, past governors moved quickly to ensure the people retained their voice in government. DeSantis’s refusal to do so is both troubling and illegal,” said Nicholas Warren, staff attorney for the ACLU of Florida.

Learn more about the case here.

Hot_Ambition_6457 on January 13rd, 2025 at 01:32 UTC »

Florida is literally the fraud capital of the united states. I know because I live here.

Yes I've been to LA, Vegas, NYC too.

More grifting charlatans per capita in FL by far.

Being a slimy PoS "savvy businessman" who sues his way out of bills and offers terrible quality services is the heights of virtue in the sunshine state.

They literally celebrate their succesful scams openly in front of the victims.

There are people paying for a new roof every year because some scammer convinces them insurance or some hurricane regulation requires a 5-15k labor job to throw up a few sheets of new shingle.

There are ads for payday loans on the busses because they know people using public transit can't afford their wages. They want that business anyway.

EG: Rick Scott is a fucking senator bro. Old people voted for him after he robbed their Healthcare demonstrably harming care in Florida specifically.

Significant_Web_4851 on January 12nd, 2025 at 21:00 UTC »

DeSantis sold this state to the billionaires your rights are an illusion here this is the most fascist state in the union

alabasterskim on January 12nd, 2025 at 20:13 UTC »

I mean unfortunately the Florida constitution doesn't specify deadlines. And his courts are not gonna force him.