Florida constitution

A Florida judge refused to remove gubernatorial candidate James Fishback from the ballot, ruling he did not establish residency in Washington, D.C., and stating the court should not decide the election. The decision upholds Fishback's eligibility despite claims he violated Florida's seven-year residency requirement for governor.

James Fishback faced a Leon County hearing to determine his eligibility for the gubernatorial race after admitting to voting and purchasing property in Washington, D.C., which could violate Florida's constitutional requirements. During the hearing, Fishback threatened to imprison the lieutenant governor’s senior adviser and exchanged insults with supporters. The judge delayed ruling on his ballot status.

Jay Collins, a Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate, has filed a lawsuit challenging James Fishback's eligibility to run for governor, alleging Fishback has not met Florida's seven-year residency requirement. Collins claims Fishback's activities in Washington, D.C., including voting and property ownership, disqualify him, while Fishback provided a 2016 Florida driver's license to counter the claim.

The Florida Department of Education and state officials defend the legality of the school voucher system, arguing that damages claimed by the Florida Education Association are speculative and not caused by the state. The FEA and other plaintiffs, including parents and a teacher, filed a lawsuit alleging the voucher system violates the Florida Constitution's requirement for a uniform public education system. The state maintains that the Family Empowerment Scholarship program supplements, rather than replaces, public schools.