Florida Lt. Gov. Jay Collins launched what he called his “Come and Take It” tour on June 16 during a campaign stop at Gray Man Armory in Milton, saying that he will push to repeal Florida’s red flag laws, lift a bump stock ban lower the age for firearm purchases to 18-to-20-year-olds.

Paul Renner, the former speaker of the Florida House and current gubernatorial candidate, made a campaign stop in Pace on June 1, pitching himself as the candidate best positioned to lower property taxes, rein in utility costs and take on out-of-state-interests.

When Erin Nisewonger came back to Santa Rosa County after spending four years in Hawaii, she expected more green space and improved infrastructure. What she got was storage units and car washes

A new Florida law will make it easier for religious congregations to protect themselves, after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation allowing houses of worship to establish their own armed security teams without obtaining costly state licenses.

As Florida lawmakers gathered April 28 for a special session to consider a new congressional map proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the debate landed close to home for with the area’s state senator filing the bill and local Democrats firing back.

Money is already flowing into Santa Rosa County’s 2026 election races, with candidates tapping local businesses, private individuals, and their own wallets to fund campaigns for races that will be decided this August.

John Frankman didn’t plan on running for Congress. The former Army Special Forces Green Beret says he spent years after leaving the military fighting for service members punished under the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, writing op-eds, testifying on Capitol Hill and appearing on national media. What he saw in Washington convinced him that wasn’t enough.

State Rep. Nathan Boyles, R-Baker, is wrapping up what he calls his first full legislative session in Tallahassee, and the freshman Republican said the biggest adjustment has been learning how to move policy in a chamber with far more colleagues — and competing interests — than the Okaloosa County Commission he came from.

Matthew Taylor, a candidate for Florida commissioner of agriculture who goes by “Matt the Welder” on social media, made a campaign stop in Pace on March 23, where he said the political establishment, including his own party, is working to keep him off the ballot.

Doug Chico didn’t plan to run for Congress. The 35-year-old Navy veteran and sixth-generation Northwest Florida native said he’d rather spend more time with his family. But a local surveillance camera rollout last fall set him on a path to challenge incumbent Rep. Jimmy Patronis in the August Republican primary for Florida’s 1st Congressional District.