Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and state party leadership forced the Palm Beach County GOP to retract support for an embattled candidate facing child molestation charges.
The Palm Beach County Republican Party scrambled to scrub its voter guide this week. pulling its support for a local candidate just hours after a stinging public rebuke from Governor Ron DeSantis. The internal political firestorm centered on Michael Caruso. a 67-year-old former state representative who refuses to drop his bid for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. despite facing serious criminal charges.
Caruso’s legal troubles began in August. when he was arrested on multiple felony counts. including kidnapping. lewd or lascivious molestation. lewd or lascivious exhibition. luring or enticing a child. and child abuse causing mental injury. The allegations. involving a male relative under age 5. prompted DeSantis to issue an executive order removing Caruso from the post he had held since his 2025 appointment.
Even with the charges pending, Caruso has remained defiant. “I maintain my innocence and remain a candidate for Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. My name is on the November ballot, and I intend to win this election,” he said in a statement released by his spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer.
That stubbornness put the Palm Beach County GOP in a difficult position. On Monday, the party released a voter guide that still listed Caruso, prompting a swift backlash. DeSantis led the criticism. writing on social media. “We serve our party best by putting our citizens. state and country first. Disappointing to see this endorsement. Some things are bigger than party.”.
The political pressure intensified as bipartisan voices joined the fray. Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly publicly backed a call from GOP Senator Rick Scott. who labeled the local party’s support for Caruso “disgusting” and insisted the candidate should “IMMEDIATELY withdraw” from the race. Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power echoed that sentiment. emphasizing that the state party had pushed for Caruso’s departure the moment the arrest was made public.
“He should have stepped aside to allow the party to move forward. ” Power said. noting that while the party recognizes a person’s right to a legal defense. the candidate lacked the time or platform to pursue a campaign. Power confirmed that the state party specifically directed the Palm Beach GOP to remove the guide from circulation.
By Monday evening, the local party had complied. They posted an “UPDATED” voter guide that removed Caruso’s name. claiming that their initial inclusion of him had been a matter of following Florida statute requiring them to list all nominees. Power signaled an end to the standoff, posting that he appreciated the local organization “doing the right thing.”.
Despite the retreat of party leadership. the local infrastructure now faces the fallout of a candidate who insists he is staying on the ballot through November. The tension between local party procedure and the state executive’s demand for moral accountability remains a visible crack in the Florida Republican Party’s unified front ahead of the election.
Ron DeSantis Michael Caruso Palm Beach GOP Florida politics Evan Power Rick Scott David Jolly child assault charges