Former Republican state Sen. Frank Artiles has become the fifth person convicted or pleading guilty in Florida’s 2020 “ghost candidate” scandal, uncovered by watchdog journalism. This scheme involved fake candidates running to confuse voters and sway election results. While the orchestrators have faced consequences, two Republican state Senators who benefited from the scheme, Jason Brodeur and Ileana Garcia, remain in office.
The scandal involved a fake candidate in Seminole County and a more successful one in Miami, where the fake candidate got 6,000 votes, leading to Garcia’s election. Operatives behind the Miami scheme paid the fake candidate $50,000 to siphon votes from the Democratic incumbent.
The newspaper also uncovered that Florida Power & Light (FPL) played a role in promoting the fake candidates, as the real candidates opposed FPL’s interests. FPL’s CEO ordered to make the life of one candidate “a living hell,” and the schemes were supported by advertising paid for by a dark money group associated with FPL consultants.
Despite the convictions and investigations, Brodeur and Garcia claim they were unaware of the schemes. Both have filed for re-election in 2026. The article calls for aggressive prosecution of political crimes and urges voters to elect officials who are not part of such schemes. The scandal has raised concerns about the influence of special interests and the need for greater accountability in Florida’s political landscape.
Source
Photo credit www.sun-sentinel.com