Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday said he has instructed Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd to formulate and immediately announce a schedule for special elections. This follows the expectation that Florida Congressmen Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz will join President-elect Donald Trump’s administration next year.

Florida elections officials are seeking accommodations from Gov. Ron DeSantis after multiple counties were devastated by Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

Florida state officials say some counties had difficulty reporting primary election results to the public because of an unspecified glitch involving a vendor.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to hold a news conference at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at JAXPORT Cruise Terminal.

One Republican and one Democrat are running in this legislative district, which covers the northern third of Clay County. The seat had been represented by Cord Byrd, who Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Florida’s secretary of state earlier this summer.

Former Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee on Tuesday joined a growing Republican field of candidates in the redrawn Congressional District 15, which covers parts of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday responded to criticism from Democrats who attacked his selection of state Rep. Cord Byrd to replace current Secretary of State Laurel Lee.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that state Rep. Cord Byrd will replace Secretary of State Laurel Lee, a former circuit judge who helped steer Florida through the 2020 elections and is now stepping down after a little more than three years in her post.

News4JAX has been speaking with politicians on both sides of the aisle about what the end of Roe could mean for abortion rights in Florida.

Governor DeSantis signed the new congressional maps into law on Friday -- triggering voting rights groups to sue Florida saying it will diminish the state’s Black representation and benefit Republicans.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced that he has appointed Esther Byrd to the state board of education.

The president of the Florida Senate said state legislators will consider a similar bill to Texas’ controversial new abortion law.

A Leon County judge has ruled that Florida school districts can require students to wear masks, and on this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” we hear from Duval County School Board Chair Elizabeth Andersen and local attorney and parent Chris Hand. We also have state Rep. Cord Byrd, who supports parental choice. And the rush to evacuate Afghanistan has turned violent. With American and Afghan casualties, it has become emotional for veterans. U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, the first Green Beret elected to the U.S. House, gives his view.

As President Joe Biden lays out a vision to tackle a spike in violence in numerous large cities around the country, he is also re-igniting two major political debates in the country — gun control and police funding.

With Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, running for the Florida Senate next year, a second candidate has emerged to try to replace him in the Florida House.

A controversial bill is expected to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis soon that increases security in Florida's elections. But the GOP-led bill is being criticized by Democrats as a partisan move to suppress the vote.

As calls for police reform continue, a bill addressing use of force and police employment requirements unanimously passed both chambers of the Florida Legislature on Thursday.

A law enforcement officer would have to intervene when another officer uses excessive force under a bill unanimously passed by the Florida House.

A bipartisan proposal to add hiring standards and bolster use-of-force training for police and correctional officers began moving forward Thursday in the House.

The Florida House heard two bills Tuesday attempting to combat foreign influence and intellectual theft in the state.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville City Councilman Terrance Freeman joins this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville” to discuss the City Council meetings in March that included discussions of the NOPE bill and the replacement of septic systems in the Christobel neighborhood. Then, Hillsborough County State Attorney Andrew Warren and state Rep. Cord Byrd join the show to share their views on HB 1, the so-called “anti-riot” bill. Finally, Susan King, president and CEO of Feeding Northeast Florida, joins the show to talk about her meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and the help her organization is receiving and providing for COVID-19 relief.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With supporters saying the issue is about property rights, the Florida House on Friday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow people to carry guns at churches that share locations with schools. House members voted 76-37 to approve the measure (HB 259), sponsored by Rep. Jayer Williamson, R-Pace, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach. Florida law generally allows people to carry concealed weapons at churches, synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions, but it bars being armed on school properties. That leads to people being prevented from carrying guns on properties shared by religious institutions and schools. The bill would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to bring guns on properties shared by churches and schools.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Senate and House are split on how to respond to the civil unrest spurred by the death of George Floyd last year. Pizzo, who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, is sponsoring the policing reform package. The police reform bill is being held up in the House by the prime co-sponsor of the anti-rioting legislation. Likewise, the anti-rioting bill is being blocked in the Senate by the sponsor of the police reform bill. House Criminal Justice Chair Cord Byrd is skeptical of the police reforms proposed in the Senate.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Republicans are taking aim at public sector labor unions with two bills passed through a House committee Monday. One of the measures specifically targets teachers unions by not allowing teachers to have their union dues deducted directly from their paychecks. AdUnder the bill, unions representing university and college employees would also have to meet the 50-percent threshold. One of the other union bills was also approved in the same meeting. It would require all public sector employees to reauthorize their membership every three years or any time their contract is renegotiated.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – With state Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, planning to run for the Senate in 2022, a second candidate has emerged to seek his Northeast Florida House seat that currently covers parts of Duval and Nassau counties. Hilliard Republican Bo Wade Hodges opened a campaign account this week to run in what is now House District 11, according to the state Division of Elections website. The filing came a week after Jacksonville Beach Republican Heath Brockwell opened an account for the race. The district boundaries -- and potentially the number -- will change before the 2022 elections because of the once-a-decade reapportionment process.

Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, makes his closing remarks on his sponsored E-verify bill during session Wednesday, March 11, 2020, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)TALLAHASSSEE, Fla. – The first candidate has emerged to try to replace Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, while two freshman Democrats are preparing to run for reelection next year. Jacksonville Beach Republican Heath Brockwell opened a campaign account this week to run in 2022, according to the state Division of Elections website. With Byrd planning to run for the Senate next year, Brockwell will try to replace him in what is currently District 11 in Nassau and Duval counties. District boundaries -- and potentially the numbers -- could change before the 2022 elections because of the once-a-decade reapportionment process, although that process will be delayed as the U.S. Census Bureau announced Friday the necessary data to begin that process will be delayed until September.

With Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, facing term limits next year, a battle is shaping up among Republicans seeking to succeed him in a district that currently covers all of Nassau County and part of Nassau County. The district’s boundaries and potentially the number will change before the 2022 elections because of reapportionment. Byrd is in his third term in House District 11, which also includes Nassau and part of Duval counties. Rep. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, and Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville, also have opened accounts to try to succeed Bean. Yarborough is in his third term in Duval’s House District 12, while Fischer is in his third term in Duval’s House District 16.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida lawmaker who represents the state’s 11th district is clarifying a tweet posted by his wife, and both have since left Twitter. The post was made by the wife of Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach. The tweet by his wife, Esther, read: “In the coming civil wars (We the People vs the Radical Left and We the People cleaning up the Republican Party), team rosters are being filled. “No, and I laugh because you’re in journalism and people use hyperbole all the time,” Byrd replied. “Right, and people talk about civil wars in the Republican party,” Byrd replied.

The Times cites people familiar with the discussions saying President Trump and Republican officials decided Monday night to move the three nights of the convention to be held in Jacksonville -- including Trumps nomination and acceptance speech -- would be held outdoors. The same sources added that since Trump often shifts his positions, this plan could change. At a news conference Tuesday, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry would not confirm whether reports of moving the RNC outdoors. He said its too early to make any sort of declaration on what will happen with the RNC. Curry was also asked if Jacksonville was selected as one of three federal surge testing sites for COVID-19 because the RNC was coming to Jacksonville next month.

Plans to host the Republican National Convention in Jacksonville are running into some hurdles politically, legally and logistically. One political issue came up this weekend after a visit by Vice President Mike Pence. We had our temperature taken. He added there was social distancing when the vice president spoke and barriers in place. Reports surfaced late last week that the RNC was contemplating moving from inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena to outdoor venues. News4Jax Crime and Safety Expert Ken Jefferson said securing an outdoor event would require much more police officers.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second time in a month, Jacksonville’s waterways were teeming with boats filled with supporters of President Donald Trump — this time to celebrate the president’s birthday. The rally, dubbed “Trump’s Birthday Boat Rally,” began on Sunday morning. The Republican Party of Duval County tweeted photos of the event saying more than 1,000 boats joined the boat rally. The rally comes days after Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced that Jacksonville will host part of the Republican National Convention. “Momentous and historic things are happening in Jacksonville and this is just one way to build up to a crescendo resulting in the Republican National Convention being held in Jacksonville," Black said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second time in a month, Jacksonville’s waterways will be teeming with boats filled with President Trump’s supporters — this time to celebrate the president’s birthday. The rally, dubbed “Trump’s Birthday Boat Rally,” is scheduled to kick off on Sunday morning, according to a Facebook event flyer. Boaters plan to disembark from Metropolitan Park at 11 a.m. and cruise down the St. Johns River to Fleming Island. “Rig up those patriotic flags, fuel up the boat, and head out to meet a couple thousand of your fellow Trump supporters for a day on the beautiful St. Johns River,” organizers stated in the flyer. One commenter said that “Florida weather forecasts are 100% Fake News,” while another said the rally "is rain or shine!”

The bill, as filed, would apply to all Florida private employers -- big and small, Lee said. Employers would lose "all applicable licenses" if they do not register with the E-Verify system, operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "This is much more central to the problem, because the job market is the magnet for illegal immigration," Lee said. Byrd told the News Service he intends to file an E-Verify bill in the House ahead of the 2020 session, which starts Jan. 14. "Under the umbrella of E-Verify, there are a lot of nuances that we need to figure out," Byrd said in September.

According to the complaint filed in May in the U.S. District Court in Jacksonville, Dallas was suspended from the St. Augustine school after she appeared in a Facebook photo holding a handgun. After the photo of Dallas was reported to administrators by a student, the school said the photo would cause a "material and substantial disruption at school" and suspended Dallas indefinitely in April, according to the lawsuit. The school suspension prevented her from graduating and advancing her career, she said. The St. Johns County School District agreed to pay out $35,000 to settle the lawsuit, including $20,000 to Dallas and $15,000 in legal fees. The school district declined further comment.

Senator Marco Rubio talks about Red Flag gun laws, and student loan debt. Representative Cord Byrd also talks about Red flag gun laws. Dr. John Avendano talks about his role and vision as the new President of Florida State College at Jacksonville

Senator Marco Rubio talks about Red Flag gun laws, and student loan debt. Representative Cord Byrd also talks about Red flag gun laws. Dr. John Avendano talks about his role and vision as the new President of Florida State College at Jacksonville

This encroaches into an area of exclusive federal authority and will interfere with the comprehensive federal immigration system enacted by Congress in violation of the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, said. Ron DeSantis pushed for passage of the sanctuary cities ban, which was one of the most hotly debated issues of the legislative session that ended in May and was a cornerstone of DeSantis campaign last year. The suit, filed by the city of South Miami and nine other plaintiffs, names as defendants DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody. The plaintiffs want a court to deem the new law unconstitutional and keep the state from enforcing it. When he signed the bill, DeSantis said it would allow Florida officials to help ICE remove criminal aliens. Moody and DeSantis did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - After successfully pushing through a controversial law that bans so-called sanctuary cities, the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida is planning a statewide listening tour on immigration. Sen. Joe Gruters, a Sarasota Republican who doubles as state GOP chairman, announced Monday that plans are in the works to hear from Floridians on immigration, a key issue heading into the 2020 presidential election. I want to hear straight from Floridians and listen to their ideas on what additional reforms theyd like to see the Legislature address next session.Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 14 signed the sanctuary-cities bill (SB 168), sponsored by Gruters and Rep. Cord Byrd, a Neptune Beach Republican who will take part in the listening tour. The new law is designed to force local law-enforcement agencies to fully comply with federal immigration detainers and share information with federal immigration authorities after undocumented immigrants are in custody.