Jesse Scheckner
Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t jumping on the MAGA train in House District 94. He’s backing businessman Anthony Aguirre over another Republican candidate who has been racking up endorsements from notable Donald Trump supporters.
“Anthony Aguirre is a strong conservative who has my support and endorsement for the Florida House of Representatives, and I look forward to working with him in the Legislature,” DeSantis said in a statement.
“His opponent and her husband have donated money to Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and my former opponents, Andrew Gillum and Charlie Crist. Anthony will be a fighter for the values that we champion — lower taxes, law and order, and putting our families first.”
The opponent DeSantis referenced is Meg Weinberger, an animal rescue nonprofit executive and Chair of the Palm Beach chapter of Moms for Liberty. Her endorsements from Trump, Gus Bilirakis, Matt Gaetz, Brian Mast, Michael Flynn and Kari Lake, among others, earned her the nickname “MAGA Meg.”
Florida Division of Elections records show Weinberger indeed gave $2,000 to Gillum and his political committee, Forward Florida, in July 2018. In 2016, she donated to the Senate campaign of Democrat Michael Steinger. And in 2021, she chipped in $5,000 to the political committee of Democratic Melissa McKinlay, a former Palm Beach County Commissioner who at the time was mulling a run for Agriculture Commissioner.
Weinberger’s husband, Eric, gave $77,500 to Gillum’s 2018 campaign, $13,000 to Charlie Crist in 2013 and 2014, and $17,500 to the Florida Democratic Party through 2020.
While Eric Weinberger also gave $1,500 to Clinton in 2015 and $1,000 to Biden in 2019, the couple has also contributed amply to many Republicans — including more than $128,000 to Trump’s presidential campaign and more than $30,000 to DeSantis’ state-level political committee — over the years.
Aguirre has donated almost exclusively to Republicans, though state records show he chipped in $1,000 to Democratic state Rep. Hillary Cassel in 2021.
Other Republicans running for HD 94, which runs from West Palm Beach to Belle Glade’s agricultural areas, include college professor Christian Acosta, Palm Beach County Commission Chief of Staff Jon Carter, and entrepreneur Gabrielle Fox.
Former Palm Beach Gardens Mayor Rachelle Litt is the only Democrat in the contest.
In the last election, HD 94 voters supported DeSantis by 15 percentage points over Crist, according to MCI Maps elections data analyses.
But the area’s affinity for DeSantis doesn’t necessarily translate into a shoo-in for Trump-associated candidates. District data from 2020 showed Biden beat Trump by 1 percentage point.
Two years earlier, Gillum earned a 5-point lead over DeSantis there.
The Primary is on Aug. 20, followed by the General Election on Nov. 5.
28 comments
Joe
August 13, 2024 at 4:53 pm
Simplistic and petty Tiny D, as always.
Gerardo aguirre
August 13, 2024 at 6:01 pm
Good article. About time somebody reports what actually going on in HD 94.
Truth matters
August 14, 2024 at 11:46 am
Gerry here’s the truth. You’re related to a guy at big sugar. You and Anthony want to try to take over the state health care system and line your pockets like you have for years, scamming doctors, scamming patients and hospitals. You have bullied specialists for years and you don’t imagine your son would be polling so poorly. He’s low energy, no passion and just an entitled little boy. You can’t buy or bully your way out of this. It’s so comical that once again his daddy has to protect him!!!
Terry
August 14, 2024 at 12:27 pm
Gerry,
Here is the truth. You are related to big sugar and you and your family have done everything to help your son and you have failed. You tried to get him endorsed by trump, YOU FAILED. You tried to get him endorsed by the FMA, YOU FAILED. Your were only able to get him endorsed by your cousins organizations. YOUR EX-WIFE AND YOUR COUSIN SHOWED UP WITH ANTHONY AT EVENTS, BECAUSE HE CAN’T STAND ON HIS OWN. LOOK AT HIS DONATIONS, ALL TALLAHASSE ABD OUT OF TOWN MONEY. NOT RESIDENTS OF 94!! PATHETIC!! Your son is polling so poorly and you know it. He has low energy, no personality and no ethics. You got him a job with Medtronic so your doctors can send business to Medtronic. STARK VIOLATION!!!
Terry
August 14, 2024 at 3:36 pm
Gerry,
Here is the truth. You are related to big sugar and you and your family have done everything to help your son and you have failed. You tried to get him endorsed by trump, YOU FAILED. You tried to get him endorsed by the FMA, YOU FAILED. You were only able to get him endorsed by your cousins organizations. YOUR EX-WIFE AND YOUR COUSIN SHOWED UP WITH ANTHONY AT EVENTS, BECAUSE HE CAN’T STAND ON HIS OWN. LOOK AT HIS DOANTIONS, ALL TALLHASSE AND OUT OF TOWN MONEY. NOT RESIDENTS OF 94!! PATHETIC!!! You son is polling so poorly and you know it. He has low energy, no personality and no ethics. You got him a job with Medtronic so your doctors can send business to Medtronic. STARK VIOLATION!!!
Fran
August 13, 2024 at 6:15 pm
Thank you for the input
I have changed my mind and will vote for Anthony Aguirre
Erik Sanderson
August 13, 2024 at 6:48 pm
Anthony is the ONLY option. About time the truth was put out there. Great article and I’m voting 1000% for Anthony! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Dylan
August 14, 2024 at 8:19 am
Sanderson you don’t even live in the district. You can’t vote for Aguirre. Unless you plan on cheating. All you do is screw sub contractors anyway. Stop being such a grifter.
George
August 13, 2024 at 6:54 pm
Love watching Republicans snipe each other. Gives me hope.
Barbara
August 13, 2024 at 7:13 pm
Trust Gov. DeSantis. I will vote for Aguirre. I don’t think of it as sniping, just transparency. Of which democrats wouldn’t understand.
Dr t
August 13, 2024 at 9:09 pm
I’m voting for MAGA MEG!! Trump endorsed. I heard Aguirre was in a meeting and told people Trump would never endorse anyone in the race. He was WRONG!! How can anyone trust anyone other than DJT. LOYALTY ABOVE ALL!!!
Joseph
August 13, 2024 at 10:07 pm
Well , when you buy the million dollar membership at marlago , write multiple checks to him and others , you get the endorsement ! Rumor has it he’s not to happy finding out her past !! DeSantis wouldnt emdorse her because she endorsed and supported Gilium ! She also supported Hillary in 2016 ! If you don’t believe it , Google who her husband made huge contributions to. (Obama also on the list)) and I guess you support BLM as she headed the little march a few years ago from jupiter farms !! Be careful who you vote for. She goes with the trend !!! And trends change !!!!
Truth hurts
August 14, 2024 at 8:13 am
The only one who’s a member at Mara Lago is Gerry Aguirre. He traded a discounted cabin for memberships.
Lynn
August 13, 2024 at 10:05 pm
According to my research, Aguirre earned his multiple endorsements; he did not pay for them.
Joseph
August 13, 2024 at 10:08 pm
100%
Don
August 13, 2024 at 11:09 pm
His daddy bought everything for him. He didn’t even get the FMA endorsement and he’s the “conservative healthcare advocate.”
You can’t pay for an endorsement. Any moron knows that. Very sad day when a candidates daddy has to stand up to protect him. These other two idiots are probably his wife and mommy.
I heard Anthony brought family members to all his interviews.
VOTE FOR ACOSTA! The only candidate who’s not corrupt!!!
KG
August 14, 2024 at 8:12 am
What did his daddy do?
Sarah J
August 13, 2024 at 11:31 pm
Why has DeSantis endorsed him? I haven’t seen him campaign or know anything about him but I do see Meg out campaigning and her policies are clear. When you have several conservative congressmen endorsing her as well as President Trump’s endorsement that speaks for itself. DeSantis to say she’s donated to democrats with no evidence… just believing all the lies. So let’s just say the governor is so loyal to republicans that he won’t endorse anyone who’s given a check to a dem but he would primary Trump? Yeah that’s backwards loyalty.
Robert Hamila
August 14, 2024 at 10:24 am
Anthony Aguirre is the most honest man I have ever known. He truly wants to help the people in the district. I’ve done my own research on Meg Weinberg and her husband, and the results are disturbing. Anthony clearly has the right intentions and is by far the best choice for this district.
Robert Hamila
August 14, 2024 at 10:26 am
I’m sorry to say they’re not lies. Her democratic donations are public record.
Just the facts
August 14, 2024 at 10:33 am
Robert, you own lighthouse dry cleaning. You begged Trump International employees to help get Anthony endorsed by Trump. They shot you down. How can someone who gets paid 200k a year from Medtronic to refer business from the doctors his daddy owns be honest? I love the home teaming. First his daddy, then his mommy, then his wife. Now his Drycleaner? Who’s next Sarah Baxter?? The county commissioner whom nobody likes? She has had multiple ethics complaints. Not very honest. Plus his company got sued for millions for fraud.
Jupiter farms resident
August 15, 2024 at 7:58 am
According to my research. Anthony and Megan’s democratic donations are the same amount. Megs donations. Span over a period of time. If we are going to start looking at family members then let’s look at the cantens family, Anthony’s relatives. They have given millions to democrats, they hire democrats, the lobby for democrats. Acosta is endorsed by Rick Roth who is the biggest crook out there. The worst rep we ever saw. Fox is a liar and fake. Look at the records then decide. Looks like a trump versus DeSantis match up to me.
Mimi Vanderberg-Mustardseed
August 14, 2024 at 8:19 am
This is what you write about?
Jon Carter dropped out of this race months ago.
Gabby Fox is a flagrant anti-semite and a former stripper.
But you write about DeSantis having an extended hissy fit over Weinberger’s past donations?
Truth Hurts
August 14, 2024 at 9:26 am
Anthony Aguirre is not a businessman. The only jobs he has ever held are through his fathers various healthcare companies. Anthony has no business in politics and he has never accomplished anything on his own. He has always relied on his families resources and connections. Not a good choice for the people of Palm Beach County.
Marco
August 14, 2024 at 1:55 pm
Thank goodness the truth is starting to come out. No more Rino’s!
Chris
August 14, 2024 at 4:28 pm
I agree no more rinos…anthony Aguirre. Related to the lobbyist for Florida crystals. He has been campaigning with their liberal democrat. People want to talk about donations. Millions to democrats. VOTE ACOSTA. Aguirre is a little boy who has no clue about life.
kelly
August 14, 2024 at 4:36 pm
Gerry,
Here is the truth. You are related to big sugar and you and your family have done everything to help your son and you have failed. You tried to get him endorsed by trump, YOU FAILED. You tried to get him endorsed by the FMA, YOU FAILED. You were only able to get him endorsed by your cousins organizations. YOUR EX-WIFE AND YOUR COUSIN SHOWED UP WITH ANTHONY AT EVENTS, BECAUSE HE CAN’T STAND ON HIS OWN. LOOK AT HIS DOANTIONS, ALL TALLHASSE AND OUT OF TOWN MONEY. NOT RESIDENTS OF 94!! PATHETIC!!! You son is polling so poorly and you know it. He has low energy, no personality and no ethics. You got him a job with Medtronic so your doctors can send business to Medtronic. STARK VIOLATION!!
lady k
August 14, 2024 at 4:36 pm
why does anthony aguirre keep going after meg’s husband? is he running? very sad. i am sure anthony does not want his family secrets coming out!!! he has an arrest record and much much more.
Comments are closed.