Florida GOP Shuts Down Manatee County Republican Executive Committee Amid Internal Unrest – Florida National News

ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) – The race for Orange-Osceola County State’s Attorney is heating up, with unlikely alliances and explosive allegations rocking the political landscape. At a recent news conference in downtown Orlando, Republican lawmaker Thomas Feiter stood next to suspended Democratic state attorney Monica Worrell launch a united offensive against the governor Ron DeSantis and current state attorney Andrew Bain.

Feiter, who lost the Republican Party primary against Seth Hymanaccused the Republican Party of foul play. He announced plans to file a lawsuit against Hyman, Bain and others, claiming Hyman was a “fake candidate” who entered the race only to drop out, providing Bain with a clearer path to victory in the upcoming November general election.

Worrell and Feiter’s Common Denominator

While Feiter and Worrell may be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, they found common ground in their criticism of Gov. DeSantis. Worrell, who was suspended from office by the governor last year, argued that DeSantis overstepped his authority by meddling in the state attorney’s office. Feiter echoed her concerns, pointing to what he said was political interference aimed at manipulating the Republican primary in Bain’s favor.

“The very foundation of our democracy is at risk,” Worrell said, calling on the FBI to investigate. Feiter added: “It’s clear that those in power are playing a dangerous game here.”

Hyman’s departure and collusion allegations

Hyman, who defeated Feiter in the Republican primary, withdrew shortly after his victory, citing a lack of financial resources to continue his campaign. But Feiter doesn’t believe that. He claimed Hyman colluded with Bain and the DeSantis administration, accusing them of engineering his candidacy with the intention of withdrawing, which would give Bain a boost among Republican voters in the general election.

At a news conference Monday, Feiter slammed DeSantis, saying the camp had lured him with the prospect of political gain, including a chance to become a judge or state representative if he dropped out of the primary.

In response, Hyman called Feiter a “soror failer” and said Feiter needed to work with Democrats to undermine Bain’s campaign. “This is nothing more than political theater,” Hyman said in a brief statement. “Feiter’s accusations are absurd.”

Feiter’s accusations against Bain and DeSantis

During the press conference, Feiter outlined his case, saying he would file a lawsuit accusing Bain, Hyman and other unnamed parties of collusion. He also alleged that Bain, with DeSantis’ support, was preparing to disqualify Worrell or remove her from office if she regained her position in the upcoming election.

Feiter also filed a complaint with Florida Barclaiming that DeSantis’ chief of staff James Uthmeier and lawyer Jeff Aaron offered him political incentives to withdraw. The bar dismissed the complaint, calling it a civil matter.

Bain Campaign Response

In a stinging critique, Bain’s campaign called the news conference a “distraction” and portrayed the November election as a clear choice for voters.

“In this election, voters have a clear choice between a former suspended State’s Attorney who failed to prosecute crimes and State’s Attorney Andrew Bain, who has proven his ability to hold violent criminals accountable and protect our community,” the campaign said in a statement.

As the November election approaches, all eyes are on this contentious race, with even members of opposing parties appearing to be banding together to revive the status quo.