(The Center Square) – Just one Republican received a passing grade for their voting record during Florida’s 2026 legislative session, according to the People’s First Report Card. However, legislators’ scores vary widely based on which report is referenced.
Thirty-six legislators, all Democrats, received A’s for their voting record during the legislative session. The only Republican to receive a passing grade was Sen. Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, who received a D.
The report is compiled by progressive-leaning advocacy organizations Progress Florida and Florida Watch. The grades are based on a list of bills selected for their relevance to Florida voters covering issues related to affordability, the economy, democracy, health care, immigration, and more.
Fifty-six legislators, all Republicans, tied at the bottom for report card scores. Lawmakers’ scores seem to be negatively affected if they voted in favor of property tax relief, stronger voter registration verification, lowering the minimum age for buying firearms, renewing the disaster emergency fund controlled by the governor, or expanding Florida’s wrongful-death law to give legal rights to unborn babies, among other bills.
Scores seem to be favorably influenced if the legislators voted to support restoring the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, prohibiting drilling for oil within 30 miles of the Apalachicola River, preventing large scale dredging projects in sensitive ecosystems, stronger protections for domestic violence survivors, and giving school districts more flexibility in compensating school personnel, among other bills.
For example, Rep. Monique Miller, R-Palm Bay, voted in favor of Amendment 3, which will allow voters to decide on widespread property tax relief, and HB 991, which requires voters to verify citizenship information. Both of those votes counted against her. While she received a few points for supporting the AIDS Drug Assistance and Coastal and Marine Environment Protections bills, she still came out at the bottom of the pack score-wise with an F overall.
Among the legislators who received a perfect voting score was Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando. He voted against redistricting congressional maps, a bill prohibiting local governments from promoting DEI programs or policies, and expanded vaccination exemptions for attending Florida schools.
Meanwhile, a similar report from another organization paints a different story.
Florida’s Legislative Scorecard, which is compiled by Americans for Prosperity-Florida, has a varied list of lawmakers who received A’s – a mix of Republicans and Democrats.
One of the highest scorers on this list is Rep. Shane Abbott, R-DeFuniak Springs, even though he was at the bottom of the People’s First Report Card. His grade from Florida’s Legislative Scorecard was favorably influenced by his votes supporting improved options for Florida charter schools, expanded housing affordability, and strengthening private property rights.
Among legislators who received an F is Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, even though she was one of the lawmakers to receive a perfect voting score from the other report.
