Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed a special prosecutor to examine allegations of election fraud and improper campaign financing involving the Florida Keys Republican Party. The investigation stems from a controversial endorsement made by the Monroe County Republican Executive Committee in April.
The complaint centers on the committee’s endorsement of Sherri Hodies, the committee’s treasurer, in her GOP primary race for supervisor of elections. Hodies eventually won the primary and is set to face Democrat Ron Saunders, a former state House representative, in the November general election.
Phyllis May, a Key West Republican, filed a complaint in July, claiming the endorsement vote did not meet the required majority. The committee’s endorsement should have required 32 out of 63 members to vote in favor. However, May says only 38 members were present at the April 20 meeting, and just 20 voted for Hodies, while 18 opposed the motion.
May and other dissatisfied Republicans argue that without the necessary majority, the endorsement was invalid. Additionally, the complaint alleges that a $20,000 contribution was tied to the endorsement.
Monroe County State Attorney Dennis Ward recused himself from the case because he supported Margaret Romero, Hodies’ Republican primary opponent. The chairwoman of the Republican Party of Monroe County criticized Ward on X (formerly Twitter), calling him a “Republican in name only” and accusing him of using Democratic tactics to interfere in Monroe elections.
In response, DeSantis signed an executive order on Sept. 20 to reassign the case to Amira D. Fox, the state attorney for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida.
If the investigation confirms the allegations of election fraud, those involved could face third-degree felony charges. In Florida, election fraud is punishable by up to five years in prison.
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