Posted on 06/19/2025 9:30:47 AM PDT by Angelino97
The America First Party of Florida was officially recognized this month by the Florida Secretary of State, qualifying it as a minor party eligible to nominate candidates for the state ballot. Party leaders have also been recruiting candidates to run for the state legislature in the next election cycle.
The party began organizing in March, encouraging Florida residents online to register under the “America First Party” label on voter registration applications. However, early efforts to obtain official recognition were reportedly delayed after the organization was told it needed to use a different three-letter identifier. Publicly available correspondence between the party and the Secretary of State’s office shows the group formally filed for recognition on May 29. The state approved the application on June 4.
Paperwork shows the party is chaired by Jon Arguello, a former Republican who served four years on the Osceola County School Board, with Charles Kelly listed as treasurer. A campaign website associated with Arguello’s 2024 reelection bid describes him as a “MAGA Patriot” and lists endorsements from Republicans for National Renewal as well as former first-term Trump administration officials. Arguello also chairs the League of United Conservative Hispanic Americans, a political action committee he founded in 2022.
Recent social media posts by the Osceola County Conservative Republican Assembly identify both Charles Kelly and Brent Wayman as co-founders of the new party. The two also recently addressed the local Republican Assembly group, speaking about the new organization and what they described as the need for a third party.
“Dysfunction within our [Republican Party of Florida] is the norm, whether it be kicking grassroots, MAGA Republicans out of the party, or the constant fighting between the Legislature and the Governor, what is this dysfunction leading to? Alternatives,” reads advertising for their presentation. “Our guest speaker is Trent Wayman, the rightfully elected Manatee County State Committeeman, who was also replaced by the current regime. He and Chuck Kelly have founded an alternative. Not a third party..a FIRST party.”
There does not appear to be an official website for the America First Party of Florida, but the group is active on social media. Several posts since early June, including one by Chair Arguello, suggest that the organization has been appealing to Republicans dissatisfied with state leadership and is recruiting legislative candidates to run under the America First banner in the 2026 election cycle. The party has also expressed interest in collaborating with America First groups in other states to support the formation of similar parties.
The cynical part of me thinks this is being funded by the left.
Democrats should be thrilled.
Cool. I was worried that the right in Florida might not figure a way to squander their supremacy like the simpletons in the Texas legislature are doing. But now they’ve found a way!
The original “America First Party” was founded in 1943 by a batch of commies pushing American isolationism in 1940 as the America First Committee.
Yep. It called getting too big for your britches. I guess Floridians don’t like finally having a good solid republican majority they fought for decades to finally get. In the 90’s, Florida was blue blue blue. I guess republicans miss those days.
The cynical part of me thinks this is being funded by the left.”
of course it is.
The cynical part of me thinks this is being funded by the left.
Agreed,
It is simply an effort to dilute the vote for Republicans, yes I know many should be primaried and gone! Many libertarians were also funded by Democrats to dilute Republicans vote. In 2020, if half the libertarian vote had gone to Trump he would have won anyway.
The Left will probably take it over. After all they are for America
Keep pressing the attack and keep moving the United States back to the Republic we were meant to be.
Absolutely this will drain Republican votes electing democrats. It won’t attract democrats their all mindless and need someone to tell them what todo.
Like those Tea Party candidates funded by the Rats to draw votes away from the Pugs. Fool me once....
In 1940, only 15% of the American population was interventionist. (Isolationism didn't need much pushing.)
“The cynical part of me thinks this is being funded by the left.”
I was thinking the same thing. I bet the Democrats have a hand in this.
Yeah, splitting off from an established party has always worked so well. Great idea to split the MAGA vote, I’m sure they will elect a lot of representatives by doing so. Look at how much good libertarian candidates have done for the country by running against republicans in close elections.
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