Chief Financial Officer
Runs the Department of Financial Services: the state treasury, insurance regulation and consumer services, the state fire marshal, unclaimed property, and audits of state spending. A member of the Cabinet. Term: 4 years.
How we verified who is on the ballot
Third pass (Sept 17, 2026): verified against the Sumter County Supervisor of Elections' official 2026 General Election sample ballot, which lists Blaise Ingoglia (REP) and Annette Taddeo (DEM) for Chief Financial Officer with no other candidates and no write-in line.
Sources: elections.sumtercountyfl.gov · files.floridados.gov
Candidates
Blaise Ingoglia
Ingoglia is a Hernando County homebuilder who served in the Florida House and then the Florida Senate and previously chaired the Republican Party of Florida. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him Chief Financial Officer on July 16, 2025, after Jimmy Patronis resigned March 31, 2025, to run for Congress; he took office July …
Annette Taddeo
Taddeo, 59, of Miami, is a former Florida state senator. She announced her campaign for Chief Financial Officer in June 2026 and has made government accountability the central theme, criticizing Ingoglia's audits of local governments and saying the CFO should be a 'watchdog,' not a 'lapdog.' She won the Aug. 18, 2026 …
Side-by-side on the major issues
AgreeDiffer a littleDiffer stronglyNot enough data· hover for details, click to jump to the row
Taxes & spendingProperty taxesProperty insuranceHousing affordabilityImmigrationAbortionGunsHealth careEducation & school choiceEnvironment & waterGrowth & developmentMarijuanaElections & votingCrime & policingGender identity lawsEnergy & utilitiesTrump administrationVeterans
Where the candidates in this race split, issue by issue.
Strongly agreesLeans agreeMixed / neutralLeans disagreeStrongly disagreesNo public position found
Each row is a statement. The chips show how each candidate's stated positions or record relate to that statement. Expand a row to read the evidence and sources. "No public position found" means we could not find a statement or record on the topic, not that the candidate has none.
| Issue | Blaise Ingoglia Republican | Annette Taddeo Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| Taxes & spendingCutting taxes should be a top priority, even if it means less government spending on services. | Strongly agrees· stated position Ingoglia launched his campaign for a full term saying he would target government waste and pursue tax cuts, and says Florida has room to cut taxes while still funding essential government services. His 'Florida DOGE' (later renamed Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight, FAFO) audits assert that local governments have overspent and should cut budgets rather than raise revenue. Sources: IN DEPTH: Florida CFO candidates talk affordability, insura… (2026-08) · DeSantis-appointed CFO Blaise Ingoglia launches 2026 campai… (2025-09) · What to know about Florida DOGE audits (WUSF) (2025-08-25) · Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia launches 2026 campaign with $2 … (2025-09) · Blaise Ingoglia campaign website (home page) (2026) | No public position found |
| Property taxesFlorida should eliminate or sharply reduce homestead property taxes, even if local governments must cut services or find other revenue. | Strongly agrees· stated position Ingoglia's campaign launch video advocated eliminating property taxes in Florida, and he has described his DOGE/FAFO audits of city and county spending as a 'prelude to a constitutional amendment for property tax reform.' He has held press conferences across the state arguing local governments can absorb property-tax cuts by eliminating what he calls wasteful spending. Sources: Blaise Ingoglia launches campaign for a full term as CFO (F… (2025-09) · What to know about Florida DOGE audits (WUSF) (2025-08-25) · Florida Issues Update on Property Tax Cut Proposal (Newswee… (2025) · Calling himself 'unapologetically conservative,' Blaise Ing… (2025-09-23) · Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia launches 2026 campaign with $2 … (2025-09) · Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia launches 2026 campaign with $2M… (2025-09-02) · CFO says Florida voters shouldn't believe 'big government a… (2026-06-03) · Ingoglia defends property tax plan - Citrus County Chronicle (2026-06-04) | Leans disagree· stated position Taddeo questions the Amendment 3 homestead-exemption expansion, arguing that revenue lost from property taxes would have to be made up elsewhere and that local services still need funding; she has characterized the amendment as an attempt to 'trick' voters into believing the Legislature addressed cost of living. She says lowering property-insurance rates, not property taxes, is what voters raise most. |
| Property insuranceThe state should intervene more directly in the property-insurance market (rate caps, expanding Citizens, stricter insurer regulation) rather than relying mainly on market-based reforms. | Leans disagree· stated position Ingoglia credits the 2022-2023 lawsuit (tort) reforms he supported as a legislator for stabilizing the market and lowering premiums, pointing to declining litigation, lower reinsurance costs and Citizens policyholders returning to private insurers. He has not proposed rate caps or expanding Citizens; as CFO he has emphasized enforcement, announcing more than $2 million in fines against eight insurers for claims-handling misconduct after Hurricanes Ian and Idalia and pledging accountability for insurers. Sources: ICYMI: Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Major Insurance Rate… (2026-01-12) · Florida CFO Ingoglia pledges accountability for insurers, m… (2025-09) · Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia pushes for tax reform and lower… · Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia launches 2026 campaign with $2 … (2025-09) · Blaise Ingoglia campaign website (home page) (2026) | Leans agree· stated position Taddeo says the property-insurance crisis is a main reason she entered the race and argues state leaders have failed to adequately regulate the industry, with homeowners paying through rising premiums and market instability. She calls for stronger CFO oversight and accountability of insurers, especially when policyholders struggle to collect after storms. No specific proposal on rate caps or expanding Citizens was found. Sources: Annette Taddeo says she's running for Florida CFO to hold i… (2026) · Democrats Annette Taddeo and Earle Ford compete to face CFO… (2026-07-24) · Former state Sen. Annette Taddeo joins Florida CFO race, qu… (2026-06) · Former state Sen. Annette Taddeo joins Florida CFO race, qu… (2026-06-09) · Get to know the 2026 Florida candidates for Agriculture Com… (2026-08-04) · Florida Chief Financial Officer Candidates 2026 - Sparker's… (2026-08) |
| Housing affordabilityGovernment should do more to make housing affordable (subsidies, zoning changes, rent measures). | Leans agree· based on record Voted for the Live Local Act (SB 102, 2023), which funded affordable-housing programs and preempted some local zoning limits for affordable projects. | Leans agree· stated position During her 2022 statewide campaign Taddeo said affordable housing was a top priority and called for a limit on how much rents can be raised; as a state senator she sponsored affordable-housing bills. No 2026 housing-specific proposal tied to the CFO office was found. |
| ImmigrationImmigration enforcement should be stricter, including large-scale deportation of people in the country illegally. | Strongly agrees· based on record As a state senator Ingoglia voted for SB 2-C (Feb. 2025), the special-session law that created a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, made entering Florida as an unauthorized immigrant a state crime and required local cooperation with federal detention; his campaign site says he 'passed nation's toughest anti-illegal immigration law.' | Leans disagree· based on record Voted against SB 168 (2019), which banned 'sanctuary' policies and required local agencies to support federal immigration enforcement. She has not campaigned on immigration in the CFO race. |
| AbortionAbortion should be legal in most cases (Florida's six-week ban should be repealed or loosened). | Strongly disagrees· based on record Voted for SB 300 (2023), which limits most abortions to six weeks, and for HB 5 (2022), the earlier 15-week limit, while serving in the Legislature. | Strongly agrees· based on record As a state senator Taddeo voted against HB 5 (2022), the 15-week abortion limit, and against SB 404 (2020), which requires parental consent for a minor's abortion. She left the Senate before the 2023 six-week law. |
| GunsGun laws should be stricter (keep the red-flag law and the age-21 purchase rule; expand background checks) rather than looser (permitless or open carry, lower purchase age). | Strongly disagrees· based on record Voted for HB 543 (2023), which allows carrying a concealed firearm without a permit, and in 2018 voted against SB 7026, the post-Parkland law that created the red-flag process and the 21-and-over purchase rule. His 2026 campaign ad says 'I own guns.' Sources: CS/HB 543 (2023) permitless concealed carry - Senate roll c… (2023-03-30) · CS/HB 543 (2023) Public Safety (carrying a concealed weapon… (2023) · CS/SB 7026 (2018) - House roll call, March 7, 2018 (67-50) (2018-03-07) · CS/SB 7026 (2018) bill page - The Florida Senate (2018) · Blaise Ingoglia releases politically incorrect campaign ad … (2026-07-30) | Strongly agrees· stated position Supported the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (red-flag law and age-21 rule) and has called for a ban on assault-style weapons. |
| Health careGovernment should expand its role in health coverage (expand Medicaid in Florida, extend Affordable Care Act subsidies). | No public position found | Strongly agrees· stated position Long-time supporter of expanding Medicaid in Florida. |
| Education & school choicePublic money should follow students to private, charter or home schools (universal school vouchers). | Strongly agrees· based on record Voted for HB 1 (2023), which made every Florida student eligible for a state-funded scholarship usable at private schools or for home education. | Strongly disagrees· based on record Voted against HB 7045 (2021), which expanded voucher eligibility. |
| Environment & waterProtecting water quality, conservation land and climate resilience should take priority even if it slows development or raises costs. | No public position found | No public position found |
| Growth & developmentGrowth and development should be slowed or more tightly regulated (higher impact fees, density limits, stronger local control). | No public position found | No public position found |
| MarijuanaRecreational marijuana should be legal for adults. | No public position found | No public position found |
| Elections & votingVoting should be made easier (mail voting, drop boxes, restoring voting rights) rather than adding new restrictions. | Strongly disagrees· based on record Voted for SB 90 (2021), which added identification requirements for mail-ballot requests, limited drop-box hours and required mail-ballot requests to be renewed each election cycle; his campaign site says he 'strengthened voter ID and election integrity laws.' | Strongly agrees· based on record Voted against SB 90 (2021), which tightened vote-by-mail and drop-box rules, and against SB 7066 (2019), which required people with felony convictions to pay fines and fees before regaining the vote under Amendment 4. |
| Crime & policingCriminal penalties should be tougher and police funding increased, rather than emphasizing reform and rehabilitation. | Leans agree· stated position Ingoglia lists 'standing up for first responders' as a campaign priority and argues local governments should fund police and fire first; he has not proposed specific sentencing changes as CFO. | No public position found |
| Gender identity lawsFlorida's laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors and classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity should remain in place. | Strongly agrees· based on record Voted for SB 254 (2023), which bars gender-affirming medical treatment for minors and restricts it for adults, and his campaign says he 'led efforts to protect ... parental rights.' | Strongly disagrees· based on record Voted against HB 1557 (2022), the Parental Rights in Education law restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity. |
| Energy & utilitiesGovernment should promote renewable energy and tighten oversight of utility rate increases, even at the expense of fossil-fuel production. | No public position found | No public position found |
| Trump administrationI approve of the direction of the Trump administration. | Strongly agrees· stated position Chaired the Republican Party of Florida from 2015 to 2019, including during President Trump's 2016 campaign, and has modeled his CFO audits on the federal DOGE effort, branding them 'Florida DOGE'. | Strongly disagrees· stated position Democratic former state senator who campaigns against the current administration's direction. |
| VeteransExpanding VA services and veterans' benefits should be a top priority. | No public position found | No public position found |
Where they sit on the map
Each candidate is placed by the average of their documented stances. It is a summary of the table above, not an extra judgment.
RepublicanDemocratic· photo or initials inside each bubble · hover or tap for details
How the axes are computed
Each axis is the average of a candidate's coded stances (+2 to −2) on a fixed set of statements, so it comes straight from the documented positions and nothing else. A candidate needs at least three documented statements on an axis to be placed.
Economic issues (toward "Smaller government (lower taxes, less spending)"): Taxes & spending (agree), Property taxes (agree), Health care (disagree), Housing affordability (disagree), Property insurance (disagree), Energy & utilities (disagree), Social Security & Medicare (disagree).
Social & legal issues (toward "Conservative side of the statements"): Immigration (agree), Abortion (disagree), Guns (disagree), Education & school choice (agree), Elections & voting (disagree), Crime & policing (agree), Gender identity laws (agree), Marijuana (disagree), Environment & water (disagree), Trump administration (agree).
| Candidate | Economic issues | Social & legal issues |
|---|---|---|
| Blaise Ingoglia | 1.00 (4 statements) | 1.88 (8 statements) |
| Annette Taddeo | -1.25 (4 statements) | -1.86 (7 statements) |
Other issues the candidates have raised
Priorities each candidate has brought up on their own, beyond the major-issue list above.
Blaise Ingoglia
- Florida DOGE / FAFO audits of local governments — Leads state audit teams (branded Florida DOGE, later renamed the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight, FAFO) that inspect city and county budgets, records and facilities and hold press conferences alleging overspending; says the audits will be followed by an informational campaign ahead of the property-tax amendment. County leaders have responded that the audit figures lack context, including state-mandated spending.
- Insurer accountability and fines — Announced more than $2 million in fines against eight insurance companies for misconduct in handling claims from Hurricanes Ian and Idalia, and campaigns on holding insurers accountable for how they treat policyholders.
- Unclaimed property returns — Touts record monthly returns of unclaimed property by the Department of Financial Services (e.g., $92 million in March 2026 and $88 million in February 2026), with the division reporting more than $847 million returned to Floridians.
- Fraud investigations and arrests — His office's investigators have announced arrests in a scheme to defraud the state and he highlights anti-fraud enforcement (insurance fraud, public-assistance fraud) as part of his record.
- State Fire Marshal — As CFO he also serves as State Fire Marshal and as a member of the Florida Cabinet.Sources: About the CFO (myfloridacfo.com)
- Local government spending audits (FAFO) — Says his Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight audits found billions in 'excessive and wasteful' local spending and that local general-fund budgets grew 60-120% after the pandemic, so counties and cities can absorb property-tax cuts without cutting police and fire.
Annette Taddeo
- Government accountability / 'watchdog, not a lapdog' — Says the CFO should act as an independent watchdog over state finances and has criticized Ingoglia's high-profile audits of local governments.
- Investigations of no-bid state contracts (Alligator Alcatraz, Hope Florida) — Calls for the CFO to investigate no-bid state contracts and spending from state emergency funds, citing the 'Alligator Alcatraz' detention site and the Hope Florida Medicaid-settlement controversy, and says political connections should not influence how money is spent.
- Insurance company accountability — Says the CFO should use the office's authority to hold insurers accountable for claims handling and premiums; describes the insurance crisis as the reason she ran.
- Oversight of taxpayer dollars / audits — Says the CFO should provide more oversight of how taxpayer money is spent and criticizes the current handling of state contracts and audits.
- Independent watchdog, not a political appointee — Says the CFO should be 'the watchdog for our money' rather than 'the lapdog for whoever is the governor,' and notes she has voted against her own party.