A state lawmaker turned clerk landed his county’s GOP in the hot seat with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) after a voter guide continued to support the alleged child predator.
In August 2025, DeSantis appointed then-Florida state Rep. Mike Caruso (R) to the role of Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. As the official continued to pursue reelection following his arrest over alleged molestation of a young boy, the governor addressed what he called a “disappointing” endorsement for Caruso from the Palm Beach GOP.
“We serve our party best by putting our citizens, state and country first,” America’s governor wrote on X in response to a report stating the “Palm Beach GOP endorses candidate accused of child sex abuse” that cited the Miami Herald. “Disappointing to see this endorsement. Some things are bigger than party.”
We serve our party best by putting our citizens, state and country first.
Disappointing to see this endorsement.
Some things are bigger than party.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) October 5, 2026
🚨 JUST IN: Palm Beach GOP lists suspended clerk Mike Caruso as nominee amid pending child sex-abuse case as state party pulls support
The guide, posted to the county party’s social media account, named Caruso the Republican nominee for the Nov. 3 election https://t.co/H6CS0tFz3N
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) October 6, 2026
A year after his appointment, Caruso was arrested in August on charges of kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse causing mental injury. Along with reporting on previous allegations of sexually assaulting a child that were leveled by Caruso’s first wife, the Miami Herald detailed that the alleged victim of the August charges was a male relative under the age of five years old.
DeSantis responded swiftly after the arrest, issuing an executive order removing the clerk from his role.
Meanwhile, as the voter guide circulated with Caruso’s name on it, Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power denied support for the official, stating, “We pulled our support the moment he was arrested, and asked the local party to pick a replacement, which they did. Mike refused to withdraw. Mike Caruso has every right to defend himself–but he does not have the time or platform to run a campaign. He should have stepped aside to allow the party to move forward.”
Florida Sen. Rick Scott (R) reacted to Power’s post, “This is disgusting. Mike Caruso should IMMEDIATELY withdraw. The people of Palm Beach deserve better.”
This is disgusting. Mike Caruso should IMMEDIATELY withdraw.
The people of Palm Beach deserve better.
— Rick Scott (@ScottforFlorida) October 6, 2026
Power went on to share a post from the party calling on Caruso to drop out of the race back in August, asserting, “The @FloridaGOP has been consistent on asking Mike Caruso to step aside. There has been no official endorsement, our team asked the Palm Beach GOP to take down its voter guide–they obliged. We renew our call for Mike Caruso to withdraw from the race.”
The @FloridaGOP has been consistent on asking Mike Caruso to step aside. There has been no official endorsement, our team asked the Palm Beach GOP to take down its voter guide-they obliged.
We renew our call for Mike Caruso to withdraw from the race
— Evan Power (@EvanPower) October 6, 2026
It was only hours after the controversy circulated on social media that an updated voter guide was shared that removed the position for which Caruso is running. The Palm Beach GOP argued it could only do so after gaining permission as Florida Statute required inclusion of every Republican nominee.
UPDATED: PBC REPUBLICAN VOTER GUIDE
For the record, our guide originally listed every Republican nominee, as Florida Statute requires. As soon as we were permitted to remove the nominee running for a constitutional office, we did.
It is LEGAL to take this guide with you to vote https://t.co/6w1IItIMur
— Palm Beach GOP (@PalmBeachGOP) October 6, 2026
In a statement made through spokesman Juda Engelmayer, Caruso expressed after his arrest, “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.”
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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