Russo Challenges Donalds and Jolly to Debate Florida's Insurance Crisis - Calls for Return of Elected Insurance Commissioner

40-year insurance industry veteran says Florida homeowners deserve a direct voice in who oversees the industry - and proposes putting the state's $17 billion Catastrophe Fund to work for Floridians first

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Non-Party Affiliated candidate for Governor Frank Russo, joined by running mate Rachel Rodriguez, is challenging Republican candidate Byron Donalds and Congressman Jolly to a public debate over one of the biggest issues facing Florida families: who should be accountable for the state's insurance system?

Russo, who spent 40 years in the insurance industry – including as an Allstate executive when Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992 – is calling for Florida to restore an elected Insurance Commissioner who answers directly to voters.

"Let's talk facts, Byron. Let's debate facts," Russo said. "I've spent 40 years in this business. You cannot insure against Mother Nature. You prepare for it. And when families are paying thousands more to insure the same home, somebody should have to look those homeowners in the eye and answer for it."

How Florida Homeowners Lost Their Voice
Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992 and fundamentally changed the state's insurance market. Major carriers pulled back and non-renewed homeowners as the market struggled to absorb catastrophic risk.

Then, in 1998, Florida voters approved a constitutional restructuring that eliminated the elected offices of Insurance Commissioner and Treasurer. Those responsibilities ultimately moved into a system in which Florida's Insurance Commissioner is appointed rather than directly elected by voters.

Russo believes Florida should reverse course.

"When the person overseeing insurance has to earn your vote, homeowners have a voice," Russo said. "When that person is appointed, the accountability changes. After what Florida families have been through with premiums, non-renewals and carriers leaving the state, I think it's time to give that power back to the people."

Put Florida's Safety Net to Work for Floridians
Russo is also calling for a fundamental rethinking of how Florida uses Citizens Property Insurance Corporation and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund.

The Catastrophe Fund has approximately $17 billion in statutory claims-paying capacity and serves as a reinsurance backstop for Florida insurers.

Russo's question is simple: if Floridians ultimately stand behind the system, why shouldn't Florida homeowners come first?

His plan includes:

• Homeowners first – Explore a catastrophic homeowner coverage option of up to $500,000 that would give Florida residents first access to the protection provided by the state's catastrophe infrastructure before private insurers rely on it as their backstop.
• Put the fund to work – Evaluate using a portion of the Catastrophe Fund to stabilize Florida's insurance market, strengthen the underlying coverage available to homeowners and create conditions that encourage major national carriers to expand their presence in Florida again.
• Elect the Insurance Commissioner – Pursue a constitutional amendment restoring an independently elected Florida Insurance Commissioner within the first 100 days of a Russo-Rodriguez administration.

Russo emphasized that his proposal is not an attack on established insurers that have served Florida for decades.

"I know this industry. I know these companies. This isn't about attacking Allstate, State Farm, Chubb or Hartford," Russo said. "It's about asking whether the system we built is actually working for the homeowner paying the bill. If it isn't, we fix it. That's Business 101."

People Before Profits
Russo said Florida's insurance crisis is one of the reasons he believes the state needs leadership independent of the two-party system.

"I left the Republican Party because somewhere along the way we forgot something very basic - people come before profits," Russo said. "We are not going to tax Floridians out of their homes, and we are not going to insure them out of their homes either."

Russo is also calling on Florida's insurance professionals to join the conversation.

After decades in the industry, he said agents across Florida understand better than most what homeowners are experiencing – and can help Floridians understand how the system actually works.

"To my fellow insurance agents – our clients trust us to tell them the truth," Russo said. "They deserve to understand where their money goes, who carries the risk and who is accountable when the system stops working for them. This is bigger than politics. This is about the people we spent our careers serving."

Russo said Donalds and Jolly should be prepared to answer the same fundamental question in any gubernatorial debate:

Should Florida's Insurance Commissioner answer directly to the people of Florida?

"If Byron and Jolly disagree with me, great - come debate me," Russo said. "Tell Florida homeowners why the current system is better. But don't hide behind talking points. Bring the facts, bring your plan and let the people decide."

"Floridians ultimately stand behind Citizens and the Catastrophe Fund. It's their money, their homes and their risk. It's time we started treating them like the owners."
– Frank Russo

Russo • Rodriguez 2026
The People's Choice. The Caring Capitalists. Humanity Over the Dollar.

About Frank J. Russo:
Frank J. Russo is a lifelong Floridian, entrepreneur, insurance executive, real estate developer,  and humanitarian with more than 40 years of business leadership, including over 30 years in the  insurance industry. Based in New Smyrna Beach, Russo is running for Governor to restore  affordability, strengthen Florida's economy, and build a government focused on practical  solutions that put Floridians first. For more information, or to volunteer or donate, visit  Russo2026.com.

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SOURCE Frank J. Russo for Governor