FLORIDA — August 24, 2026
Florida packed plenty into another busy week, with voters setting the stage for November’s elections, Miami recording an exceptionally rare 100-degree day, homeowners watching for signs of insurance relief, and the state’s vulnerable coastline once again taking center stage.
Here’s a look at some of the biggest stories from around the Sunshine State.
Florida’s August 18 primary produced the matchup that will dominate state politics through November.
Republican Byron Donalds won his party’s nomination for governor, while former Republican congressman David Jollycaptured the Democratic nomination. The two will compete to succeed term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Donalds would become Florida’s first Black governor if elected.
The U.S. Senate contest also took shape. Democratic state Rep. Angie Nixon won her party’s nomination and will face Republican Sen. Ashley Moody in November.
With the primary now behind Florida, expect campaigning — and political advertising — to accelerate considerably heading toward the general election.
South Florida residents are accustomed to heat and humidity, but 100°F (37.8°C) in Miami is something altogether different.
Miami officially reached 100°F on August 18, only the second time in more than 130 years of recorded weather history that the city has hit triple digits. The previous occurrence was July 21, 1942.
Unusual westerly winds helped suppress Miami’s typical Atlantic sea breeze, allowing temperatures to soar.
The extreme heat wasn’t limited to Miami. Much of Florida has experienced a particularly hot summer, with Central Florida also seeing an unusually high number of heat advisories.
There may finally be some encouraging news for Floridians who have spent years watching property-insurance costs climb.
Florida insurance regulators recently reported homeowners insurance premiums declining in 51 counties, while Gov. Ron DeSantis has pointed to reductions in both homeowners and automobile insurance rates as evidence that recent insurance reforms are affecting the market.
That doesn’t mean Florida’s insurance problems have disappeared.
Roof age, replacement costs, deductibles and coverage availability remain major concerns for homeowners, particularly in coastal communities. Some homeowners are also discovering that expensive upgrades such as metal roofs don’t necessarily translate into dramatically lower premiums.
For Southwest Florida residents still dealing with the long-term financial consequences of major hurricanes, insurance will remain one of the state’s most closely watched issues.
As sea-level rise, flooding and powerful storms increasingly threaten Florida’s coastal communities, cities across the state are experimenting with new ways to live with water rather than simply trying to keep it out.
Projects highlighted this week include living seawalls, flood-resistant affordable housing, elevated construction and parks designed to double as flood-control infrastructure.
The issue is especially important in low-lying communities where hurricanes, storm surge, tidal flooding and rising insurance costs increasingly overlap.
Florida’s experience could eventually serve as a blueprint for other coastal regions facing similar challenges.
Another emerging trend is taking shape away from Florida’s beaches.
Hurricane exposure, flooding risks and insurance costs are influencing where some Floridians choose to live, with inland communities and former agricultural areas becoming increasingly attractive alternatives to vulnerable coastal neighborhoods.
For decades, Florida growth was largely synonymous with coastal development.
That equation may slowly be changing as buyers increasingly weigh not only the price of a home, but also insurance, flood risk, evacuation zones and long-term storm exposure.
Florida education policy returned to the headlines following an investigation examining how climate-change information appears in school textbooks.
The investigation reported that publishers made changes following state reviews that reduced or altered some material discussing climate change and its effects. Florida is also moving toward updates to its science standards.
The issue is likely to remain controversial as Florida simultaneously confronts hurricanes, extreme heat, coastal flooding and sea-level rise.
Floridians are also adjusting to a large collection of laws that took effect July 1.
The measures cover subjects ranging from public safety and criminal justice to education, property and other statewide policies. More than 200 pieces of legislation had been signed into law during the 2026 legislative cycle.
While the Legislature isn’t currently in its regular lawmaking session, those changes are now beginning to filter into everyday life across Florida.
Late August also marks the time of year when Florida residents pay increasingly close attention to the tropics.
Historically, Atlantic hurricane activity climbs sharply from late August into September, meaning residents should continue reviewing hurricane plans, supplies, insurance documents and evacuation information even when Florida isn’t facing an immediate storm threat.
For Southwest Florida in particular, the lessons of Ian remain difficult to forget.
Florida enters the final week of August with politics, heat, hurricanes, insurance and coastal resilience dominating the statewide conversation.
The November election campaign is officially taking shape, summer heat continues to challenge records, and hurricane season is entering its traditionally busiest stretch.
And because this is Florida, there is always the possibility that by next week’s roundup none of those will be the strangest story in the state.
Marco Island Naples News will continue monitoring major Florida stories throughout the week.
Published August 24, 2026