Florida Attorney General election, 2018 (August 28 Republican primary)

Elections in Florida, 2018

* General election: Nov. 6
* Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
* Early voting: Oct. 27 - Nov. 3[2]
* Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6

* Online registration: Yes
* Same-day registration: No
* Voter ID: Photo ID required
* Poll times: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

* * *

On the ballot: U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • Attorney General • State executive offices • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • Supreme court • Appellate courts • Local judges • State ballot measures • Local ballot measures • School boards • Municipal • Democratic primaries • Republican primaries

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Florida Attorney General

Democratic primary
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General election
Election details
Filing deadline: June 22, 2018Qualifying period ends for Governor and Cabinet, State Senator, State Representative, county offices and special districts
Primary: August 28, 2018
General: November 6, 2018

* * *

Pre-election incumbent(s):
Pam Bondi (Republican)
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Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Former circuit court judge Ashley Moody defeated state Rep. Frank White in the Republican primary for attorney general. Moody received 57 percent of the vote to White's 43 percent.

White and Moody competed for a chance to succeed term-limited Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R). With the candidates expressing similar views on a number of policy issues including taxes, abortion, gun restrictions, and government regulations, the race was characterized by criticisms of one another's ideological backgrounds and experience.[3]

Moody faced claims from White that she was not an ideological fit for the party, with one White mailer arguing that Moody was "running as a Republican on a record of a liberal."[4]

Moody responded that she is a Republican who supports President Donald Trump. White countered by pointing to contributions Moody made to gubernatorial candidate Bill McBride (D) in 2002 and her registration as a Democrat when she was a teenager. He also pointed to a 2009 lawsuit in which Moody represented family members seeking refunds for deposits paid on condos in the Trump Tower Tampa project, which was not completed. Moody held that the lawsuit did not pertain to her politics.[5][6]

Moody argued that White did not have the courtroom experience to serve as attorney general.[5] She released a campaign ad in which one Florida sheriff said that White had never prosecuted a case and another called him "a car salesman turned politician."

White responded to such criticisms by saying that his experience in the private sector would enable him to reduce regulations on businesses and improve Florida's economy.[7]

Moody was backed by outgoing Attorney General Pam Bondi in addition to state Senate President Joe Negron (R) and state Senate Majority Leader Wilton Simpson (R), among others.

White endorsers included U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R), former U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R), and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry (R).

State Rep. Jay Fant was also running and had received the backing of over a dozen state legislators, but he withdrew on June 19 to apply for the Office of Financial Regulation Commissioner. State Rep. Ross Spano withdrew in April to run for Florida's 15th Congressional District.[8]

The primary election took place on August 28, 2018. The winner competed in the November 6, 2018, attorney general election.

## Contents

* 1 Candidates and election results
* 2 Candidate profiles
* 2.1 Ashley B. Moody
* 2.2 Frank White
* 3 Timeline
* 4 Endorsements
* 5 Campaign finance
* 5.1 Self-funding
* 5.2 Public matching funds
* 6 Campaign themes and policy stances
* 6.1 Ashley Moody
* 6.2 Frank White
* 7 Campaign strategies and tactics
* 7.1 Campaign finance criticisms
* 7.2 Dueling attacks: "soft on child predators" vs. "uniquely unfit to serve"
* 7.3 Questioning of Moody's ideological leanings
* 7.3.1 Feb. 3 Federalist Society forum and aftermath
* 7.4 Responses to school shooting in Parkland, Florida
* 7.5 Courtroom experience of candidates
* 7.6 Position on voting rights for felons
* 7.7 Campaign ads
* 7.7.1 Ashley Moody
* 7.7.1.1 Support
* 7.7.1.2 Opposition
* 7.7.2 Frank White
* 7.7.2.1 Support
* 7.7.2.2 Opposition
* 8 Polls
* 9 Noteworthy events
* 9.1 White's Truth Test ad
* 10 Media coverage
* 11 Race background
* 12 Past elections
* 12.1 2014
* 12.2 2010
* 13 Voter information
* 13.1 How the primary works
* 13.2 Poll times
* 13.3 Registration requirements
* 13.4 Automatic registration
* 13.5 Online registration
* 13.6 Same-day registration
* 13.7 Residency requirements
* 13.8 Verification of citizenship
* 13.9 Verifying your registration
* 13.10 Voter ID requirements
* 13.10.1 Background
* 13.11 Early voting
* 13.12 Absentee voting
* 14 Pivot Counties
* 14.1 Presidential results by legislative district
* 15 See also
* 16 External links
* 17 Footnotes

## Candidates and election results[edit]

Ashley B. Moody defeated Frank White in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Florida on August 28, 2018.

Republican primary election

#####  Republican primary for Attorney General of Florida

Candidate

Votes

|
|
|

✔ |

| Ashley B. Moody |

56.8

| 882,028

| Frank White |

43.2

| 670,823

* * *

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

| Total votes: 1,552,851

|
|

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

## Candidate profiles[edit]

#### Ashley B. Moody[edit]

Prior to her election to the 13th Judicial Circuit Court, Moody served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Her experience also includes work as an associate for the law firm Holland & Knight LLP, an assistant to the president of the American Bar Association, and an adjunct professor for Stetson University College of Law.[9]

Moody earned a B.S. in accounting, a master's degree in accounting, and a J.D. from the University of Florida. She also earned a master of laws degree in international law from Stetson University College of Law.

Moody's campaigning focused on adhering to the Constitution, the rule of law, reducing government spending, and addressing opioid overdose.[10] She was endorsed by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), and Maggie's List, among others.

#### Frank White[edit]

White was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. His professional experience includes working as the chief financial officer and general counsel for the Sansing Dealer Group. He also practiced as an attorney at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. White graduated from the Southern Methodist University School of Law.[11]

White's campaign highlighted defending the Constitution, promoting a free market, opposing abortion, supporting the Second Amendment, and lowering taxes as priorities.[12] He was endorsed by Rep. John Rutherford (R) and Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, among others.

## Timeline[edit]

* August 4, 2018: A St. Pete Poll showed White with 39 percent support to Moody's 28 percent, with 33 percent undecided.
* July 11, 2018: A St. Pete Poll showed White with 26 percent support to Moody's 19 percent; 55 percent were undecided.
* June 19, 2018: State Rep. Jay Fant dropped out of the race.
* May 1, 2018: Florida State Sen. President Joe Negron (R) endorsed Ashley Moody.
* April 18, 2018: State Rep. Ross Spano withdrew from the race to run for Florida's 15th Congressional District.[8]
* February 3, 2018: The Federalist Society held a debate for the candidates where Fant and White brought attention to Moody's past associations with the Democratic Party and Moody and Spano criticized Fant and White for their lack of courtroom experience.
* January 5, 2018: A poll from St. Pete Polls showed that 69 percent of voters were undecided in the race. Moody had 10.1 percent support, while Jay Fant had 9 percent, Ross Spano had 6.3 percent, and White had 5.4 percent.
* November 7, 2017: U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) announced that he was supporting state Rep. Frank White in the race.
* June 11, 2017: Ashley Moody was endorsed by sitting Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) shortly after announcing she would run to replace term-limited Bondi in 2018.

## Endorsements[edit]

Republican candidate endorsements

Endorsement  | Moody[13] | White
Federal officials
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R)  |  ✔  |
Rep. John Rutherford (R)[14] |  | ✔
National figures
Former Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R)[15] |  ✔  |
Former Rep. Ric Keller (R)  |  ✔  |
Former Sen. George LeMieux (R)  |  ✔  |
Former Rep. Jeff Miller (R)[16] |  |  ✔
State figures
Former Gov. Bob Martinez (R)  |  ✔  |
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera (R)[17] |  ✔  |
State Representative and former opponent Ross Spano (R)[18] |  ✔  |
24 state legislators[19][20][17] |  | ✔
17 state legislators  |  ✔  |
Attorney General Pam Bondi (R)[21] | ✔  |
12 state circuit attorneys  | ✔  |
John Stemberger, president of Florida Family Action[22] |  | ✔
Local figures
43 county sheriffs  | ✔  |
7 county sheriffs[23][22] |  | ✔
8 mayors  |  ✔ |
3 mayors[14][22] |  | ✔
41 local elected officials  |  ✔ |
4 county commissioners  |  |  ✔
Tampa Bay Times[24] |  ✔ |
The Palm Beach Post[25] |  ✔ |
Organizations
Maggie's List[26] | ✔  |
Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida[27] | ✔  |
Florida Home Builders  | ✔  |
Police Benevolent Association  | ✔  |
Fraternal Order of Police  | ✔  |
PACs
Florida Right to Life PAC[28] |  | ✔
Florida Realtors PAC  | ✔  |
Florida Medical Association PAC[29] | ✔  |
Florida Police Chiefs Association[30] | ✔  |
Family Research Council Action PAC  |  | ✔

## Campaign finance[edit]

These campaign finance figures were current through August 22, 2018:[31]

Campaign finance figures through August 22, 2018

Candidate | Contributions | Expenditures
Ashley Moody | $3,323,353 | $2,062,380
Frank White | $3,724,786 | $3,187,953

These figures are for political committees know to be affiliated with the candidates. The figures were current through August 22, 2018:

Political committee finance figures through August 22, 2018

Candidate | Contributions | Expenditures
Frank White (United Conservatives) | $1,127,280 | $801,282
Ashley Moody (Friends of Ashley Moody) | $1,288,100 | $921,015

These figures came from Florida's campaign finance database: expenditures and contributions.

### Self-funding[edit]

Frank White loaned $2.75 million to his campaign through August 22.

### Public matching funds[edit]

Through August 17, Moody had received $335,313 in public matching funds.[32] Florida's program matches contributions of $250 or less from Florida residents.[33]

## Campaign themes and policy stances[edit]

#### Ashley Moody[edit]

The following was found on Moody's campaign website.

“  |

I stand for:

OUR FLAG
Always have. Always will.

OUR CONSTITUTION
Strictly adhering to the protections of our Constitution and the fundamental rights that make our country strong. We must never waiver from advocating for the freedoms our Founding Fathers demanded, including the right to free speech, to keep and bear arms, and the right to be free from unreasonable governmental intrusion.

THE RULE OF LAW
Enforcing our laws, securing our borders, and eliminating gangs and criminal organizations. I will ardently defend against politicians that violate our separation of powers and fight against activist judges.

FOR ALL LIFE
Protecting the rights of every Floridian includes the rights of the unborn - Ashley Moody is 100% Pro-Life.

FLORIDA TAXPAYERS
Reducing government waste by constantly exploring innovative ways to reduce costs to taxpayers while reducing crime.

A HEALTHY FLORIDA
Coordinating a data-based attack on the opioid epidemic gripping our state. I will relentlessly pursue ways to fight the battle on all fronts, in all available jurisdictions, effectively using the expertise and resources of the Attorney General’s Office.

LAW ENFORCEMENT
Respecting and commending those who belong to this selfless and noble profession. I thank God there are brave men and women who will sacrifice their safety for the safety of others. As the wife of a federal law enforcement officer, I will ensure law enforcement personnel have the tools, training, and support they need to do their jobs.

OUR COMMUNITIES
Vigorously prosecuting violent criminals, scam artists, identity thieves, price gougers, human traffickers, pill pushers, and drug dealers.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Fiercely defending and protecting our religious freedom and opposing government overreach into matters of faith.

OUR SENIORS
Protecting our seniors and creating a statewide task force to partner with law enforcement and prosecutors to aggressively punish those responsible for the physical and financial abuse of those who have given so much to our state.

OUR ECONOMY
Working with the private-sector and business leaders to ensure our state has a fair, competitive, and free marketplace. I understand that the success of Florida’s businesses directly affects the prosperity of our citizens and communities.[34]

|  ”

|
|

—Ashley Moody's campaign website (2018)[35]

#### Frank White[edit]

The following was found on White's campaign website.

“  |

DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION
With the Constitution under constant attack by Nancy Pelosi and other Washington liberals, our freedoms and values must be defended at all costs. We need strong leadership who will stand up for what our Founding Fathers wrote 230 years ago. I pledge to always fight to uphold the original intent of the Constitution by making sure every branch of government follows it. No exceptions. No special privileges.

STAND AGAINST GOVERNMENT OVERREACH
The 10th Amendment is extremely clear: rights not expressly given to the federal government are left to the states and to the people. Government bureaucrats and career politicians have obviously forgotten that, and some are blatantly ignoring it. And as a result, overregulation and unnecessary red tape are killing small businesses. This is unacceptable. I will stand up for Florida’s workers and business owners by protecting them from harmful government overreach.

PROTECT FAMILIES AND CONSUMERS WITH FREE MARKET SOLUTIONS
Government doesn’t create jobs, the free market does – mostly through hardworking small business owners and entrepreneurs. If we want to see continued economic growth in our state, we have to stand up for families and consumers by defending the free market. That means keeping a watchful eye on government bureaucrats so they don’t stifle new jobs or products with unneeded regulations.

PROTECT THE UNBORN, 100% PRO-LIFE
The government’s primary purpose is to defend our God-given rights, and that’s especially true for those who can’t defend themselves. On the issue of protecting innocent life, there isn’t any place for compromise – and that’s why I am 100% pro-life. We must work together to end the murder of unborn children in Florida, but also show compassion by assisting pro-life women’s help centers and making adoption an easier process.

PROTECT THE SECOND AMENDMENT
Our right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. It’s just that simple. My promise to you is that I will stand strong against gun-grabbers in Washington who are always looking to use the latest tragedy to further their anti-gun agenda. Under my watch, they won’t succeed. I am a staunch defender of your right to gun ownership and you can rest assured that I will always be on the lookout for anyone that might infringe upon that right.

DEFEND TAXPAYERS
For many Floridians, one single tax increase means a bill goes unpaid. That’s unacceptable. Government should be the servant of the people, but too often it causes harm. I promise to be a taxpayer champion by fighting unnecessary spending and tax increases. Because you deserve your hard-earned tax dollars to be spent as efficiently as possible.

PREVENT THE SPREAD AND HARM OF OBAMACARE
Anyone with two eyes can clearly see that Obamacare is an absolute failure. It was built on lies, and it has caused premiums to skyrocket. We can’t let it expand in Florida. I will do everything in my power to make sure Obama’s failed pet project won’t cause any more harm to Floridians.

PROTECT OUR BORDERS AND END SANCTUARY CITIES
My heart breaks for the family of Kate Steinle. Not only was she shot by an illegal immigrant who had been deported five times, but now her killer has been declared not guilty. To honor her and prevent future tragedies, we must do everything in our power to secure our border and end sanctuary cities.[34]

|  ”

|
|

—Frank White's campaign website (2018)[36]

## Campaign strategies and tactics[edit]

### Campaign finance criticisms[edit]

Moody and White took different approaches to fundraising, and they criticized one another's routes. Frank White primarily self-funded, loaning more than $2.7 million to his campaign. Moody participated in Florida's public matching funds program, which matches contributions from Florida residents of $250 or less. Through August 17, she received $335,313 from the program.

In June, White sent out a mailer criticizing Moody for requesting public matching funds. The mailer suggested that this was inconsistent with her expressed support for reducing wasteful government spending, stating that she requested "hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money from government for political ads." Christina Johnson, a spokesperson for Moody's campaign, said in response to the mailer, "The public campaign finance program was established for this purpose—to combat the self-funding of a candidate running for statewide office with absolutely no experience or qualifications for the office they are seeking."[37]

### Dueling attacks: "soft on child predators" vs. "uniquely unfit to serve"[edit]

In mid-July, White's political committee United Conservatives sent out a mailer that read, "Liberal Judge Ashley Moody is soft on child predators." The mailer claimed that, as a judge, Moody gave a reduced sentence to someone convicted of possessing and distributing child pornography and that, as a prosecutor, she asked for a reduced sentence for another man with similar convictions.[38]

The first accusation referred to a case Moody presided over in 2004, in which she cited the 16-year-old defendant's age as a reason for giving a reduced sentence; the second referred to a case in which the defendant pled guilty, which, according to the Tampa Bay Times, requires prosecutors to recommend a lower offense level for sentencing.[6]

The Moody campaign responded to the mailer by releasing a letter signed by nine state attorneys saying that White's "most recent attack against Ashley Moody only underscores his lack of understanding or qualifications to be the top prosecutor in Florida." The attorneys stated that "it has become increasingly clear that not only is Ashley Moody the only one qualified to be our next Attorney General, but that Frank White is uniquely unfit to serve."[39]

### Questioning of Moody's ideological leanings[edit]

Jay Fant and Frank White said that Moody was liberal-leaning. Moody was previously registered as a Democrat, but she withdrew her registration in 1999.[40]

In December 2017, Fant tried to have Moody banned from a meeting of the state Republican Party based on his suspicions that she was not a Republican.

White sent out mailers alleging that Moody was a Democrat and he set up the website Liberaljudge.com making similar allegations.[5]

Moody emphasized her Republican credentials, saying she voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and would favor conservative positions on guns and sanctuary jurisdictions. She said she registered as a Democrat as a teenager because her father "was likely a Democrat. … When I figured out my own policies and beliefs, I switched."[41]

#### Feb. 3 Federalist Society forum and aftermath[edit]

At a forum held by the Federalist Society on February 3, 2018, Fant pointed to Moody's family's involvement in a 2009 fraud lawsuit against The Trump Organization, her employment by Democratic American Bar Association President Martha Barnett, and her donations to Democrat Bill McBride in his 2002 gubernatorial run against Jeb Bush (R) as evidence that she was a Democrat. Moody responded to the charge about the Trump lawsuit by saying it "has nothing to do with me being a conservative or me supporting our president and his conservative agenda." She also said that Fant's remarks were not worthy of the office of attorney general.[5]

Following the forum, Fant sent out a letter saying that Moody had not made her positions on gun policy and property clear and that she made an anti-gun decision as a judge with respect to the state's "Stand your ground" law. At the end of the letter he said, “Therefore, I challenge you to agree to a Second Amendment debate.”

Moody responded by saying, "You do not understand ‘Stand Your Ground’ as it existed then or now, criminal law, or how to try a case. This is not surprising since you have never actually tried a case, prosecuted anyone, nor really practiced law."[42]

### Responses to school shooting in Parkland, Florida[edit]

On February 14, 2018, there was a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Using an AR-15 rifle, former student Nikolas Cruz killed 17 students and staff members.

On February 19, Jay Fant tweeted, "We can’t let [Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum] and the DC liberals win. The Parkland killer has taken away enough from us. Let’s not let this tragedy take away our right to bear arms too." He then tweeted, "Of course [Gillum] is using the DC liberal playbook to capitalize on a tragedy to push a gun control agenda. No surprise there." Gillum called for gun restrictions after the shooting occurred.[43]

On February 23, Ross Spano and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd released a set of policy recommendations to respond to the shooting. The recommendations included provisions related to mental health and an expansion of a program that would allow certain teachers and administrators to carry weapons on the school's campus.[44]

Fant opposed a gun bill that passed the Florida Legislature and was signed by Gov. Rick Scott (R) in early March 2018. The bill included provisions that increased the minimum age for buying rifles from 18 to 21 and created a program that would allow some school employees to carry guns. Fant said he opposed the legislation for putting limits on guns.[45]

On March 1, Fant held a mock debate between himself and Ashley Moody on Facebook Live. Moody did not accept Fant's invitation to attend. The event stemmed from a pre-Parkland challenge that Fant gave to Moody about debating the Second Amendment.

During the Facebook Live event, Fant said that Moody had not issued a public statement on the Parkland shooting or a statement on Broward County Sheriff Steve Israel, who Fant called on to resign due to criticisms that his department did not do enough to prevent the Parkland shooting.

Moody issued a statement after the event that said, “I would urge my opponent to stop grandstanding, and while respecting our Second Amendment, find solutions to prevent mentally deranged individuals and criminals from harming our children. We must protect those we love, and that means we must continue learning from Parkland, uncovering all the facts of what happened, so this never happens again."[46]

### Courtroom experience of candidates[edit]

Ashley Moody and Ross Spano said that Frank White and Jay Fant did not have the courtroom experience necessary to be attorney general. Moody previously served as a judge while Spano was a litigator. Fant was an attorney for his family's financial services company while White was the general counsel and chief financial officer of a chain of auto dealerships.

At a forum held by the Federalist Society on February 3, 2018, Spano pointed out his record as a litigator and contrasted it with Fant. Fant replied, “This is the attorney general position, not the solicitor position.”

When Moody asked White if he had served as lead counsel on a case that went to a jury verdict, he said that there were “many paths to be an effective attorney general.”[40]

### Position on voting rights for felons[edit]

Moody and White opposed Florida Amendment 4, the Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative, which was on the ballot in November 2018. Amendment 4 was designed to automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions, except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense, upon completion of their sentences.

Both candidates also said they supported an effort by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Gov. Rick Scott (R) to defeat a federal lawsuit that would require an overhaul of Florida's process for restoring the voting rights of felons. As of 2018, the process required felons to wait five to seven years after their sentences ended before they could apply for restoration.

Jay Fant's campaign did not respond to requests from the News Service of Florida to lay out his positions on felons' voting right.[47]

### Campaign ads[edit]

#### Ashley Moody[edit]

##### Support[edit]

Ashley Moody's campaign released its first digital ad on July 15, 2018.

"Ashley Moody: Prosecutor Not A Politician," released July 15, 2018

##### Opposition[edit]

"Ashley Moody Facts," released July 25, 2018

"Ashley Moody Sued Trump," released August 6, 2018

#### Frank White[edit]

##### Support[edit]

"Florida Right to Life endorses Frank White for Attorney General," released July 9, 2018

"Hold Accountable," released June 5, 2018

"Support for Florida Businesses and Jobs," released April 10, 2018

"Faith," released March 29, 2018

"Consumer and Senior Protection," released April 2, 2018

"Protecting Life," released April 2, 2018

"Florida Sheriffs Support Frank White," released August 10, 2018

##### Opposition[edit]

"Sheriffs Stand with Moody," released August 7, 2018[48]

## Polls[edit]

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Florida Attorney General Republican primary, 2-way race, 2018

Poll | Ashley B. Moody | Frank White| Undecided| Margin of error| Sample size
St. Pete Polls
Released August 4, 2018 | 28%| 39%| 33%| +/-2.3| 1,755
St. Pete Polls
Released July 11, 2018 | 19%| 26%| 55%| +/-2.6| 1,387
AVERAGES|  23.5%|  32.5%|  44%|  +/-2.45|  1,571
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Florida Attorney General Republican primary, 3-way race, 2018

Poll | Ashley B. Moody | Jay Fant| Frank White| Undecided| Margin of error| Sample size
St. Pete Polls
Released June 2018 | 15%| 10%| 14%| 61%| +/-3.0| 1,046
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Florida Attorney General Republican primary, 4-way race, 2018

Poll | Ashley B. Moody | Jay Fant| Ross Spano| Frank White| Undecided| Margin of error| Sample size
St. Pete Polls
Released in January 2018 | 10%| 9%| 6%| 5%| 69%| +/-Unknown| Unknown
Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org.

## Noteworthy events[edit]

### White's Truth Test ad[edit]

The week before the primary, White released an ad based on a "Truth Test" segment that aired on Orlando TV station WESH. The segment fact-checked White's campaign ad claiming that Moody sued President Trump for fraud and has been a lifelong Democrat.

The WESH segment said that White's claim about Moody suing Trump for fraud was true but that his claim that the lawsuit, filed in 2009 and settled in 2012, helped Hillary Clinton was false. The segment said it's true that "Moody was first a registered Democrat" but deemed White's claim that she is a lifelong Democrat false, noting that she became a Republican in her 20s. View the segment here.

White's ad used edited footage from the WESH segment. The ad showed the WESH reporter saying it was true that Moody sued Trump and that she was a registered Democrat. The word "first" was edited out of the reporter's quote that "Moody was first a registered Democrat."

On August 23, the Tampa Bay Times published an article about the ad entitled, "Watch the most misleading campaign ad so far this year," criticizing the White campaign's editing of WESH's footage.[49]

On August 24, White released a revised ad that replaced the word "first" in the WESH reporter's quote about Moody being registered as a Democrat.

Watch the original ad here and the revised version here.

Florida's News Channel 8 contacted the campaigns for comment. White's campaign spokesperson Erin Isaac said the following:[50]

“  |

Ashley Moody’s campaign has been whining about our ad all week, because they don’t want voters to know the truth about her liberal record - including taking a $100,000 check from a single lobbyist two days ago. Was Ashley Moody a Democrat? Yes, she was. Did Ashley Moody personally sue Donald Trump for fraud? Yes, she did. I realize these are inconvenient facts for Judge Moody, but they are just that - FACTS.[34]

|  ”

|
|

A spokesperson from Moody's campaign responded to News Channel 8 with the following:

“  |

Frank White altered recordings to deceive the public while asking voters to trust him to be the state’s top law enforcement officer and oversee consumer protection against false and deceptive marketing practices. His repeated willingness to deceive has crossed all bounds. Responding to previous false and unjust attacks, eight Florida State Attorneys said Frank White is “uniquely unfit to serve” as Attorney General.[34]

|  ”

|
|

## Media coverage[edit]

Brian Burgess, The Capitolist (April 23, 2018):

“  |

Like [Jeb] Bush in 2016, Ashley Moody is posting big endorsements, including outgoing Attorney General Pam Bondi, a handful of prominent prosecutors, and more than half of Florida’s county sheriffs. On the fundraising side, through the end of March, she’d collected close to $1.9 million in hard and soft money donations, and she’s touting that support the same way Jeb Bush’s campaign did last cycle.

Speaking of Pam Bondi, perhaps there’s an even more relevant case study we can look at to better analyze Moody’s strength relative to her opponents. During the 2010 campaign cycle, Bondi faced off against another seemingly formidable “Jeb-like” candidate: anyone remember Jeff Kottkamp? Few people outside of Florida political circles do. But in 2010, he looked an awful lot like Jeb Bush looked in 2016: inevitable. And an awful lot like Ashley Moody looks right now. At least on paper...

Moody may be the establishment favorite, she may have an endorsement advantage, but she’s facing two well-funded opponents who are both raising questions about her conservative bona fides. When considered in that light, Ashley Moody’s campaign looks an awful lot like Jeff Kottkamp’s 2010 effort, and might not be long before she asks supporters to "please clap."[51][34]

|  ”

|
|

## Race background[edit]

Heading into the election, the sitting attorney general was Pam Bondi (R), who was first elected in 2010 and was re-elected in 2014.

Bondi was prevented by term limits from seeking a third term in 2018.

Florida is currently under a Republican trifecta. It has held this status since Gov. Rick Scott (R) took office in 2011. Heading into the 2018 elections, Florida is a Republican triplex, which means the Republican Party controls the governorship and the offices of attorney general and secretary of state.

## Past elections[edit]

### 2014[edit]

See also: Florida attorney general election, 2014

Pam Bondi ran for re-election as attorney general of Florida in the 2014 election. Bondi was unopposed in the Republican primary.[52] She won the general election with 55 percent of the vote.

Attorney General of Florida, 2014

Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes
| Republican  | Pam Bondi Incumbent | 55.1% | 3,222,524
| Democratic  |  George Sheldon | 42% | 2,457,317
| Libertarian  |  Bill Wohlsifer | 2.9% | 169,394
Total Votes | 5,849,235
Election results via Florida Division of Elections

### 2010[edit]

Pam Bondi was first elected as attorney general in 2010. She defeated Jeff Kottkamp and Holly Benson in a closely contested Republican primary before going on to win the general election with about 55 percent of the vote.

2010 Race for Attorney General - General Election[53]

Party  | Candidate  | Vote Percentage
|  Republican Party |  a Pam Bondi |  54.8%
|  Democratic Party |  Dan Gelber |  41.4%
|  Independent  |  Jim Lewis  |  3.8%
Total Votes  |  5,263,392

## Voter information[edit]

### How the primary works[edit]

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. Florida utilizes a closed primary process, in which the selection of a party's candidates in an election is limited to registered party members.[54][55][56][57]

### Poll times[edit]

In Florida, all polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote. Florida is split between Eastern and Central time zones.[58]

### Registration requirements[edit]

To vote in Florida, one must be at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, and a legal resident of Florida and the county in which he or she intends to vote.[59][60]

Voters may retrieve registration applications at the following locations:[59]

* Local elections offices
* Public assistance agencies
* Disability services agencies
* Independent living centers
* Military recruitment offices
* Public libraries
* Offices that issue driver's licenses
* Fishing and hunting license shops

A registration form is also available online. The form can be printed and submitted via mail.[60]

### Automatic registration[edit]

Florida does not practice automatic voter registration.

### Online registration[edit]

See also: Online voter registration

Florida has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

### Same-day registration[edit]

Florida does not allow same-day voter registration.

### Residency requirements[edit]

To register to vote in Florida, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

### Verification of citizenship[edit]

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Florida does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.

### Verifying your registration[edit]

The page Voter Information Lookup, run by the Florida Department of State, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

### Voter ID requirements[edit]

Florida requires voters to present photo identification with a signature while voting.[61][62]

The following list of accepted ID was current as of November 2019. Click here for the Florida Secretary of State's page on accepted ID to ensure you have the most current information.

* Florida driver’s license
* Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
* United States passport
* Debit or credit card
* Military identification
* Student identification
* Retirement center identification
* Neighborhood association identification
* Public assistance identification
* Veteran health identification card issued by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
* License to carry a concealed weapon or firearm issued pursuant to s. 790.06
* Employee identification card issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the federal government, the state, a county, or a municipality

A voter who presents an ID without a signature must show a second form of identification that includes the voter’s signature.

#### Background[edit]

In 1977, the Florida Legislature required every voter to present an ID in order to vote. In 1998, the legislature required voters to present a photo ID.[62]

As of April 2021, 35 states enforced (or were scheduled to begin enforcing) voter identification requirements. A total of 21 states required voters to present photo identification at the polls; the remainder accepted other forms of identification. Valid forms of identification differ by state. Commonly accepted forms of ID include driver's licenses, state-issued identification cards, and military identification cards.[63][64]

### Early voting[edit]

Florida permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

As of April 2021, 38 states and the District of Columbia permitted early voting. Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on election day. States that do not permit early voting still permit some or all citizens to vote early by mail—often known as absentee voting. Some states allow no-excuse absentee voting, while others require an excuse. States that allow in-person absentee voting without an excuse are counted among early voting states. Click here for early voting laws by state.[65]

### Absentee voting[edit]

All voters are eligible to vote by mail in Florida. There are no special eligibility requirements for voting by mail.[66]

To vote by mail, an application must be received by election officials at least six days prior to the election. A returned ballot must then be received by election officials by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.[66]

## Pivot Counties[edit]

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Four of 67 Florida counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008

County  |  Trump margin of victory in 2016  |  Obama margin of victory in 2012  |  Obama margin of victory in 2008
Jefferson County, Florida | 5.06% | 1.75% | 3.66%
Monroe County, Florida | 6.82% | 0.44% | 4.90%
Pinellas County, Florida | 1.11% | 5.65% | 8.25%
St. Lucie County, Florida | 2.40% | 7.86% | 12.12%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Florida with 49 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 47.8 percent. Florida was considered a key battleground state in the 2016 general election. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Florida voted Democratic 56.67 percent of the time and Republican 43.33 percent of the time. Florida went to the Republicans in 2000, 2004, and 2016, and it went to the Democrats in 2008 and 2012.

#### Presidential results by legislative district[edit]

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Florida. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[67][68]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 55 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 29.1 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 54 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 30.3 points. Clinton won 14 districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.

In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 65 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 17.7 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 120 state House districts in Florida with an average margin of victory of 21.1 points. Trump won two districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.

2016 presidential results by state House district

District |  Obama |  Romney |  2012 Margin |  Clinton |  Trump |  2016 Margin |  Party Control
1 | 36.20% | 62.79% | R+26.6 | 34.08% | 62.44% | R+28.4 | R
2 | 40.60% | 58.27% | R+17.7 | 39.85% | 55.53% | R+15.7 | R
3 | 22.07% | 76.75% | R+54.7 | 19.63% | 76.01% | R+56.4 | R
4 | 25.64% | 73.07% | R+47.4 | 24.90% | 69.68% | R+44.8 | R
5 | 25.87% | 73.02% | R+47.2 | 21.51% | 76.01% | R+54.5 | R
6 | 28.12% | 70.72% | R+42.6 | 25.59% | 70.40% | R+44.8 | R
7 | 35.78% | 63.03% | R+27.3 | 29.54% | 67.81% | R+38.3 | R
8 | 76.69% | 22.32% | D+54.4 | 74.29% | 22.33% | D+52 | D
9 | 52.23% | 46.70% | D+5.5 | 52.98% | 42.92% | D+10.1 | D
10 | 29.54% | 69.49% | R+40 | 24.47% | 73.15% | R+48.7 | R
11 | 29.10% | 69.98% | R+40.9 | 28.75% | 67.52% | R+38.8 | R
12 | 38.82% | 60.18% | R+21.4 | 39.91% | 55.90% | R+16 | R
13 | 66.27% | 33.01% | D+33.3 | 64.06% | 33.01% | D+31.1 | D
14 | 67.05% | 32.34% | D+34.7 | 64.74% | 32.99% | D+31.8 | D
15 | 43.22% | 55.85% | R+12.6 | 43.85% | 52.54% | R+8.7 | R
16 | 36.02% | 63.09% | R+27.1 | 38.53% | 57.46% | R+18.9 | R
17 | 29.91% | 69.15% | R+39.2 | 31.55% | 64.91% | R+33.4 | R
18 | 27.33% | 71.82% | R+44.5 | 27.27% | 69.17% | R+41.9 | R
19 | 31.02% | 68.02% | R+37 | 25.79% | 71.54% | R+45.8 | R
20 | 65.02% | 33.40% | D+31.6 | 63.38% | 32.58% | D+30.8 | D
21 | 47.01% | 51.55% | R+4.5 | 47.92% | 47.87% | D+0.1 | R
22 | 40.28% | 58.79% | R+18.5 | 35.09% | 62.28% | R+27.2 | R
23 | 38.65% | 60.23% | R+21.6 | 31.70% | 65.06% | R+33.4 | R
24 | 41.79% | 57.34% | R+15.6 | 35.96% | 61.17% | R+25.2 | R
25 | 43.38% | 55.73% | R+12.4 | 37.23% | 59.47% | R+22.2 | R
26 | 57.57% | 41.40% | D+16.2 | 49.01% | 47.49% | D+1.5 | D
27 | 50.25% | 48.70% | D+1.6 | 42.51% | 54.04% | R+11.5 | R
28 | 46.01% | 52.86% | R+6.9 | 46.02% | 49.59% | R+3.6 | R
29 | 44.35% | 54.70% | R+10.4 | 45.97% | 50.16% | R+4.2 | R
30 | 50.06% | 48.88% | D+1.2 | 51.93% | 43.61% | D+8.3 | R
31 | 40.55% | 58.49% | R+17.9 | 37.12% | 59.50% | R+22.4 | R
32 | 43.05% | 56.11% | R+13.1 | 40.66% | 56.10% | R+15.4 | R
33 | 33.03% | 66.40% | R+33.4 | 29.41% | 68.70% | R+39.3 | R
34 | 38.74% | 60.18% | R+21.4 | 28.67% | 68.26% | R+39.6 | R
35 | 45.66% | 53.25% | R+7.6 | 34.40% | 62.35% | R+28 | R
36 | 51.81% | 46.55% | D+5.3 | 37.97% | 58.18% | R+20.2 | R
37 | 42.35% | 56.41% | R+14.1 | 34.77% | 61.75% | R+27 | R
38 | 44.80% | 54.00% | R+9.2 | 39.90% | 56.32% | R+16.4 | R
39 | 43.29% | 55.62% | R+12.3 | 38.74% | 57.77% | R+19 | R
40 | 46.30% | 52.68% | R+6.4 | 41.48% | 54.62% | R+13.1 | R
41 | 48.78% | 50.29% | R+1.5 | 45.76% | 51.24% | R+5.5 | R
42 | 49.88% | 49.23% | D+0.7 | 46.82% | 49.98% | R+3.2 | R
43 | 74.04% | 25.31% | D+48.7 | 73.13% | 24.03% | D+49.1 | D
44 | 45.77% | 53.48% | R+7.7 | 51.21% | 45.05% | D+6.2 | R
45 | 68.39% | 30.95% | D+37.4 | 67.75% | 29.32% | D+38.4 | D
46 | 85.10% | 14.40% | D+70.7 | 82.72% | 14.71% | D+68 | D
47 | 49.79% | 49.04% | D+0.8 | 53.85% | 41.40% | D+12.5 | R
48 | 71.31% | 27.89% | D+43.4 | 71.71% | 25.05% | D+46.7 | D
49 | 59.87% | 38.85% | D+21 | 61.07% | 33.94% | D+27.1 | D
50 | 46.33% | 52.71% | R+6.4 | 46.10% | 49.78% | R+3.7 | R
51 | 43.21% | 55.60% | R+12.4 | 37.31% | 58.51% | R+21.2 | R
52 | 39.39% | 59.51% | R+20.1 | 36.49% | 59.05% | R+22.6 | R
53 | 48.93% | 49.90% | R+1 | 42.52% | 53.45% | R+10.9 | R
54 | 39.76% | 59.51% | R+19.8 | 37.01% | 60.11% | R+23.1 | R
55 | 38.22% | 60.83% | R+22.6 | 31.47% | 66.00% | R+34.5 | R
56 | 41.15% | 57.81% | R+16.7 | 35.36% | 61.69% | R+26.3 | R
57 | 42.15% | 56.94% | R+14.8 | 42.01% | 54.38% | R+12.4 | R
58 | 46.77% | 52.09% | R+5.3 | 43.06% | 53.20% | R+10.1 | R
59 | 49.52% | 49.33% | D+0.2 | 47.68% | 48.08% | R+0.4 | R
60 | 45.69% | 53.23% | R+7.5 | 47.16% | 48.50% | R+1.3 | R
61 | 84.25% | 14.95% | D+69.3 | 80.00% | 16.79% | D+63.2 | D
62 | 64.91% | 34.12% | D+30.8 | 63.03% | 33.28% | D+29.8 | D
63 | 52.82% | 46.09% | D+6.7 | 53.22% | 42.91% | D+10.3 | R
64 | 43.41% | 55.66% | R+12.3 | 43.51% | 52.80% | R+9.3 | R
65 | 45.20% | 53.72% | R+8.5 | 41.15% | 55.05% | R+13.9 | R
66 | 47.12% | 51.78% | R+4.7 | 41.07% | 55.29% | R+14.2 | R
67 | 52.12% | 46.53% | D+5.6 | 45.78% | 49.98% | R+4.2 | R
68 | 54.01% | 44.56% | D+9.5 | 50.98% | 44.15% | D+6.8 | D
69 | 51.25% | 47.57% | D+3.7 | 46.57% | 49.53% | R+3 | R
70 | 79.17% | 20.00% | D+59.2 | 73.65% | 23.39% | D+50.3 | D
71 | 45.45% | 53.64% | R+8.2 | 42.72% | 53.89% | R+11.2 | R
72 | 47.80% | 51.26% | R+3.5 | 46.03% | 50.71% | R+4.7 | D
73 | 37.59% | 61.60% | R+24 | 35.82% | 61.14% | R+25.3 | R
74 | 42.64% | 56.48% | R+13.8 | 37.10% | 60.20% | R+23.1 | R
75 | 42.40% | 56.68% | R+14.3 | 34.70% | 62.49% | R+27.8 | R
76 | 35.45% | 64.01% | R+28.6 | 35.24% | 61.90% | R+26.7 | R
77 | 41.60% | 57.61% | R+16 | 36.05% | 60.86% | R+24.8 | R
78 | 44.44% | 54.88% | R+10.4 | 42.96% | 53.85% | R+10.9 | R
79 | 45.93% | 53.26% | R+7.3 | 39.89% | 57.01% | R+17.1 | R
80 | 38.79% | 60.51% | R+21.7 | 36.96% | 60.49% | R+23.5 | R
81 | 60.36% | 39.13% | D+21.2 | 59.06% | 39.12% | D+19.9 | D
82 | 38.70% | 60.58% | R+21.9 | 36.91% | 60.22% | R+23.3 | R
83 | 48.78% | 50.42% | R+1.6 | 43.71% | 53.43% | R+9.7 | R
84 | 53.34% | 45.89% | D+7.5 | 47.96% | 49.59% | R+1.6 | D
85 | 47.28% | 52.04% | R+4.8 | 44.74% | 52.71% | R+8 | R
86 | 58.97% | 40.46% | D+18.5 | 56.40% | 41.24% | D+15.2 | D
87 | 68.41% | 30.79% | D+37.6 | 65.09% | 32.03% | D+33.1 | D
88 | 82.26% | 17.18% | D+65.1 | 78.19% | 19.67% | D+58.5 | D
89 | 47.47% | 51.83% | R+4.4 | 48.96% | 48.44% | D+0.5 | R
90 | 62.95% | 36.37% | D+26.6 | 59.38% | 38.20% | D+21.2 | D
91 | 58.67% | 40.92% | D+17.8 | 59.17% | 39.23% | D+19.9 | D
92 | 74.08% | 25.42% | D+48.7 | 71.50% | 26.66% | D+44.8 | D
93 | 47.43% | 51.88% | R+4.5 | 48.32% | 49.43% | R+1.1 | R
94 | 83.50% | 16.05% | D+67.5 | 81.01% | 17.21% | D+63.8 | D
95 | 86.68% | 12.99% | D+73.7 | 85.09% | 13.47% | D+71.6 | D
96 | 61.11% | 38.32% | D+22.8 | 60.59% | 37.30% | D+23.3 | D
97 | 65.66% | 33.79% | D+31.9 | 65.26% | 32.41% | D+32.9 | D
98 | 60.99% | 38.39% | D+22.6 | 61.02% | 36.58% | D+24.4 | D
99 | 61.62% | 37.75% | D+23.9 | 59.47% | 38.07% | D+21.4 | D
100 | 57.57% | 41.85% | D+15.7 | 58.15% | 39.86% | D+18.3 | D
101 | 79.29% | 20.19% | D+59.1 | 76.54% | 21.27% | D+55.3 | D
102 | 85.86% | 13.86% | D+72 | 83.21% | 15.08% | D+68.1 | D
103 | 54.82% | 44.76% | D+10.1 | 58.71% | 39.21% | D+19.5 | R
104 | 58.34% | 41.21% | D+17.1 | 62.33% | 35.40% | D+26.9 | D
105 | 53.14% | 46.37% | D+6.8 | 56.16% | 41.22% | D+14.9 | R
106 | 31.21% | 68.26% | R+37.1 | 33.84% | 63.71% | R+29.9 | R
107 | 86.16% | 13.52% | D+72.6 | 83.68% | 14.67% | D+69 | D
108 | 89.58% | 10.12% | D+79.5 | 87.11% | 11.24% | D+75.9 | D
109 | 90.13% | 9.58% | D+80.6 | 86.38% | 12.14% | D+74.2 | D
110 | 50.15% | 49.43% | D+0.7 | 52.71% | 45.14% | D+7.6 | R
111 | 47.97% | 51.64% | R+3.7 | 52.16% | 45.66% | D+6.5 | R
112 | 53.53% | 45.94% | D+7.6 | 61.62% | 35.70% | D+25.9 | D
113 | 63.42% | 35.97% | D+27.5 | 67.40% | 30.24% | D+37.2 | D
114 | 50.14% | 49.27% | D+0.9 | 55.75% | 41.60% | D+14.2 | D
115 | 49.45% | 50.03% | R+0.6 | 54.08% | 43.37% | D+10.7 | R
116 | 44.48% | 55.04% | R+10.6 | 50.91% | 46.43% | D+4.5 | R
117 | 82.64% | 17.02% | D+65.6 | 78.36% | 19.57% | D+58.8 | D
118 | 51.39% | 48.14% | D+3.3 | 54.87% | 42.54% | D+12.3 | D
119 | 50.32% | 49.20% | D+1.1 | 55.15% | 42.23% | D+12.9 | R
120 | 52.28% | 46.85% | D+5.4 | 49.21% | 47.52% | D+1.7 | R
Total | 50.01% | 49.13% | D+0.9 | 47.82% | 49.02% | R+1.2 | \-
Source: Daily Kos

## See also[edit]

Florida government:

* Florida state executive offices
* Florida State Legislature
* Florida courts

Elections:

* Florida state executive official elections, 2018
* Gubernatorial elections, 2018
* Lieutenant gubernatorial elections, 2018
* Attorney General elections, 2018
* Secretary of State elections, 2018
* State executive official elections, 2018, 2017, 2016

Ballotpedia exclusives:

* State executives compensation
* State of the state addresses
* Trifecta control of state government

|
|

## External links[edit]

|  Suggest a link

|

* Attorney General of Florida official website

## Footnotes[edit]

1. ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
2. ↑ Counties could add additional early voting days from October 22 through October 26 and/or November 4.
3. ↑ The Palm Beach Post, "Florida election 2018: Attorney general candidates square off," August 11, 2018
4. ↑ The Capitolist, "Sparks Fly at Federalist Society Attorney General Debate," February 3, 2018
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Tampa Bay Times, "Florida Republicans are turning Attorney General contest into race to the right," February 6, 2018
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tampa Bay Times, "Ashley Moody hits back against negative ads in nasty Florida Attorney General GOP primary," July 20, 2018
7. ↑ News Talk Florida, "Republican AG Hopeful Frank White Showcases Conservative Credentials," August 2, 2018
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `spanogone`
9. ↑ Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough County, "Ashley B. Moody," accessed August 8, 2017
10. ↑ Ashley Moody 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed June 24, 2018
11. ↑ Frank White 2018 campaign website, "About," accessed June 24, 2018
12. ↑ Frank White 2018 campaign website, "Issues," accessed June 24, 2018
13. ↑ Ashley Moody for Attorney General, "Endorsements," accessed July 26, 2018
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Florida Politics, "Lenny Curry, John Rutherford back Frank White for Attorney General," November 7, 2017
15. ↑ Facebook, "Ashley Moody for Attorney General," January 18, 2018
16. ↑ Florida Politics, "Former U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller backing Frank White for Attorney General," November 1, 2017
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sunshine State News, "Florida Republicans Take Sides in the GOP Attorney General Primary," July 26, 2018
18. ↑ The Capitolist, "Ashley Moody picks up the endorsement of a former rival," July 11, 2018
19. ↑ Sunshine State News, "AG Candidate Frank White Reels in Endorsements Including Incoming Speaker Jose Oliva," July 11, 2018
20. ↑ Florida Politics, "Frank White gets endorsements from N.W. Fla. lawmakers," October 18, 2017
21. ↑ Ashley Moody for Attorney General, "FloridaPolitics.com - In bid for Attorney General, Ashley Moody already has one key supporter – Pam Bondi," June 11, 2017
22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 Frank White for Attorney General, "News," accessed July 26, 2018
23. ↑ Florida Politics, "Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics – 4.13.18," April 12, 2018
24. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Times recommends: In Republican primary, Ashley Moody for attorney general," July 30, 2018
25. ↑ The Palm Beach Post, "Editorial: Endorsements for primary elections," August 22, 2018
26. ↑ Maggie's List, "Maggie's List Proudly Endorses Ashley Moody for Florida Attorney General," December 7, 2017
27. ↑ Florida Politics, "Builders back Ashley Moody for Attorney General," July 31, 2018
28. ↑ Sunshine State News, "Florida Right to Life PAC Backs Candidates Across the Sunshine State," July 10, 2018
29. ↑ WESH, "Florida Medical Association endorses Rep. Ron DeSantis and former judge Ashley Moody," August 4, 2018
30. ↑ Florida Politics, "Florida police chiefs back Ashley Moody for Attorney General," July 24, 2018
31. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Campaign Finance Database," accessed August 22, 2018
32. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Public Campaign Finance 2018," accessed August 22, 2018
33. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "2018 Public Campaign Financing Handbook," January 30, 2018
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 34.3 34.4 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
35. ↑ Ashley Moody's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed August 3, 2018
36. ↑ Frank White's campaign website, “Issues,” accessed August 3, 2018
37. ↑ Florida Politics, "Frank White attacks Ashley Moody for requesting matching funds," June 26, 2018
38. ↑ Florida Politics, "Mudslinging mailer drives ad hominem slams in GOP primary for Attorney General," July 18, 2018
39. ↑ Florida Politics, "State Attorneys: Frank White ‘unfit to serve,’" July 20, 2018
40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 Pensacola News Journal, "Florida Attorney General race: Republican candidates are already battling," February 5, 2018
41. ↑ Tampa Bay Times,"Trump supporter Ashley Moody still accused of being Democrat. Welcome to the GOP primary for Florida Attorney General.," February 26, 2018
42. ↑ Herald-Tribune, "Sniping continues in Florida attorney general race," February 16, 2018
43. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, "Florida attorney general candidate on Parkland: ‘Let’s not let this tragedy take away our right to bear arms’," February 20, 2018
44. ↑ Florida Politics, "Ross Spano, Grady Judd call for allowing guns in schools, churches," February 23, 2018
45. ↑ The Ledger, "School safety bill passes after emotional debate," March 7, 2018
46. ↑ Florida Politics, "Ashley Moody says ‘meh’ to Jay Fant’s one-man ‘debate’," March 1, 2018
47. ↑ Orlando Sentinel, "How Florida attorney general candidates stand on felon voting rights," May 7, 2018
48. ↑ Frame.io, "Moody for AG," accessed August 8, 2018
49. ↑ Tampa Bay Times, ""Watch the most misleading campaign ad so far this year," August 23, 2018
50. ↑ News Channel 8, "Attorney General candidate changes misleading ad," August 25, 2018
51. ↑ The Capitolist, "Is Ashley Moody the Jeb Bush of the 2018 Attorney General Race?" April 23, 2018
52. ↑ Florida Department of State, "Election Results - 2014 Primary," accessed September 25, 2017
53. ↑ Florida Department of State - 2010 Republican Attorney General Election Results
54. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 25, 2019
55. ↑ FairVote, "Primaries," accessed October 25, 2019
56. ↑ Ballotpedia research conducted December 26, 2013, through January 3, 2014, researching and analyzing various state websites and codes.
57. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Closed Primary Election," accessed October 25, 2019
58. ↑ Florida Secretary of State, "FAQ - Voting," accessed October 17, 2019
59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Florida Division of Elections, "National Voter Registration Act (NVRA)," accessed October 6, 2019
60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Register to Vote or Update your Information," accessed October 6, 2019
61. ↑ Florida Division of Elections, "Election Day Voting," accessed September 29, 2019
62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Florida History: Voter ID at the Polls," accessed September 29, 2019
63. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Voter Identification Requirements|Voter ID Laws," June 5, 2017
64. ↑ The Washington Post, "Do I need an ID to vote? A look at the laws in all 50 states," October 27, 2014
65. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Laws Governing Early Voting," August 2, 2019
66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 Florida Division of Elections, "Vote-by-Mail," accessed August 6, 2020
67. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
68. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017

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