RSW braces for Thanksgiving travelers Thanksgiving is one day away, and as many prepare to take to the skies to be reunited with family, travelers are expected to encounter large lines at the airport.
Tice Shooting in Tice neighborhood injures 1 man The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that injured one in a neighborhood in Tice.
Plenty of sunshine for your Wednesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a sunny Wednesday along with mild afternoon conditions.
port charlotte Port Charlotte to host electronic recycling event Residents of Port Charlotte can free up space in their homes as the city has announced an electronic recycling event.
CAPE CORAL Local non-profit, Family Initiative, has big plans after receiving $5 million from Golisano A multi-million dollar donation is helping people with autism have priceless experiences.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County deputies bust park drug deal after community tip One man’s drug deal in Charlotte County wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Dog alerts Lee County woman to home intruder The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 22-year-old man for burglary and loitering after he broke into a woman’s home and stood inches away from her bed as she slept.
NAPLES Naples business owner accused of rape In 2023, 14,021 domestic violence 911 calls came into Collier County.
manasota key Charlotte County Commissioners vote ‘Yes’ to changes and redevelopment on Manasota Key The Charlotte County Commissioners voted to pass charges that residents on Manasota Key have been dreading.
The debate over fluoride in Florida’s water The water you drink and use to brush your teeth is fueling a community, state and national conversation.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL agencies bring chaplains on staff to offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
RSW braces for Thanksgiving travelers Thanksgiving is one day away, and as many prepare to take to the skies to be reunited with family, travelers are expected to encounter large lines at the airport.
Tice Shooting in Tice neighborhood injures 1 man The Lee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting that injured one in a neighborhood in Tice.
Plenty of sunshine for your Wednesday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a sunny Wednesday along with mild afternoon conditions.
port charlotte Port Charlotte to host electronic recycling event Residents of Port Charlotte can free up space in their homes as the city has announced an electronic recycling event.
CAPE CORAL Local non-profit, Family Initiative, has big plans after receiving $5 million from Golisano A multi-million dollar donation is helping people with autism have priceless experiences.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County deputies bust park drug deal after community tip One man’s drug deal in Charlotte County wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Dog alerts Lee County woman to home intruder The Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 22-year-old man for burglary and loitering after he broke into a woman’s home and stood inches away from her bed as she slept.
NAPLES Naples business owner accused of rape In 2023, 14,021 domestic violence 911 calls came into Collier County.
manasota key Charlotte County Commissioners vote ‘Yes’ to changes and redevelopment on Manasota Key The Charlotte County Commissioners voted to pass charges that residents on Manasota Key have been dreading.
The debate over fluoride in Florida’s water The water you drink and use to brush your teeth is fueling a community, state and national conversation.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL agencies bring chaplains on staff to offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
FILE: Woman submitting a ballot. (Credit: WINK News) There are no challengers in sight for six Republicans in Florida House and Senate races here in Southwest Florida. The Southwest Florida lawmakers running unopposed are: Naples Republican Senator Kathleen Passidomo Port Charlotte Republican Representative Michael Grant North Fort Myers Republican Representative Spencer Roach Cape Coral Republican Representative Michael Giallombardo Naples Republican Representative Bob Rommel Naples Republican Representative Lauren Melo “If you’re a Democrat, you’re gonna see very few candidates on the ballot,” said Frank Schwerin, chairman of the Collier County Republicans. Schwerin is right. Locally, Democrats are conceding race after race. UCF political scientist Aubrey Jewett said there are lots of reasons why, but he narrowed it down to four. “One, because we’ve had redistricting and you have a lot of districts that are favoring Republicans,” said Jewett. That is not a huge factor in Southwest Florida but it is statewide. In all, 56 republicans are on the ballot unopposed. Jewett said reason number two is because of the president. Joe Biden’s approval rating is below 40% and sinking. Democrats all over the country, and especially in Florida, are paying for it. “I suspect if they were being honest, they would point out to some of these factors,” said Jewett. That trickles down to reason number three, incumbency. “In most of these races where Democrats aren’t feeling a candidate, not all but in many, there are republican incumbents,” Jewett said. Jewett said that translates to a hard time fielding Democratic candidates. His fourth reason behind the lack of Democrats in the upcoming election is money. Republicans have it and Democrats don’t. “Because of all these other things I’m talking about, Democrats are going to have a more difficult time raising money and being competitive,” said Jewett. “They can’t afford to lose any more seats, because the majorities are so big in the Florida legislature,” said Schwerin. WINK News reached out to every prominent Democrat in Southwest Florida in hopes of including them in this story. WINK News reached out to candidates for governor Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried, Senate candidate Val Demings, the man in charge of the Democratic party statewide, the party’s leaders in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, and none of them responded. The GOP says for the first time, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 200,000 registered voters. In Florida, two Senate Democrats are running unopposed and six Democrats in the Florida House are running unopposed.