The Price of Loyalty

Josie Tomkow Voted to Bail Out Insurance Companies. We Got the Bill.

If you live in South Tampa, you know the feeling. It’s like a storm surge hitting your bank account each time the envelope from your home insurance carrier arrives. Will it be a 30% hike? A 50% hike? Or will it be a non-renewal notice forcing you into the state-run Citizens Insurance?

Florida is in the midst of a property insurance catastrophe. And while families in Senate District 14 are draining their savings just to keep a roof over their heads, Josie Tomkow has been in Tallahassee voting to make the problem worse.

The “Reform” Scam

In 2023, the Florida Legislature passed a sweeping “tort reform” package (HB 837). Supporters like Tomkow sold it as a fix for the insurance market. They claimed that if we just made it harder for homeowners to sue their insurance companies when claims were wrongfully denied, premiums would come down. However, since the bill passed, the average family in South Tampa has seen their home insurance premiums increase by approximately $500 per year, directly impacting household budgets and providing no financial relief as promised.

It was a massive giveaway to the insurance lobby. It stripped away long-standing consumer protections, making it nearly impossible for regular people to fight back against billion-dollar corporations that refuse to pay out legitimate claims. Take, for instance, John Hernandez, a Tampa resident who, after a devastating storm, found himself with a roof stripped of shingles. When he filed a claim, the insurance company denied it on a technicality, leaving him with thousands in repair costs and no legal recourse under the new law. This is the reality many are facing while trying to protect their homes.

Josie Tomkow voted YES.

But here is what she didn’t vote for: A guarantee.

During the debate, Democrats and consumer advocates tried to introduce amendments requiring insurance companies to lower their rates in exchange for the massive legal protections they would receive. In a moment of truth, when those with the power to protect consumer interests could have acted, the amendment faced a pivotal vote. The anticipation was palpable; would these proposed amendments pass, ensuring relief for struggling households? Yet, the Republican majority blocked the amendment, forcing everyone to grapple with the immediate impact of that decision.

The Republican majority rejected those requirements. Tomkow sided with the lobbyists. She gave them everything they wanted—stripping your rights away—and asked for absolutely nothing in return for you.

The Result?

Two years later, we know precisely how that vote played out:

• Premiums: Still skyrocketing.
• Accountability:
• Profits: Insurance companies are reporting healthy quarters while pleading poverty to regulators.

Josie Tomkow didn’t cast that vote because it was good for the people of Polk County or Hillsborough County. She cast it because the insurance industry and business lobbies are among the largest donors to her political committee. Picture this: while her donors dine in luxury at opulent banquets discussing increasing profit margins, families across Polk and Hillsborough are making cuts at their kitchen tables, trying to figure out how to cover rent and rising insurance costs. When the choice was between her donors’ profit margins and her constituents’ financial survival, she didn’t hesitate. She chose the donors.

The Worker vs. The Rubber Stamp

This is why the choice in this special election is so fundamental. This isn’t just a race; it’s “The Roof Over Your Head Race.” This election frames voters as protectors of their homes and families. It’s a chance for neighbors to align their identities with safeguarding what matters most: the security and affordability of their homes.

The insurance lobby doesn’t fund Brian Nathan. He’s an IBEW electrician. When insurance rates go up, he doesn’t get a campaign check to smooth it over; he gets a bill, just like you.

We need a Senator who views the insurance crisis as an emergency to be solved, not a fundraising opportunity to be exploited. We need someone who will go to Tallahassee and demand that if corporations get a bailout, homeowners get a break.

Check your mail-in ballot deadline now. By knowing the deadline, you can ensure your vote counts in this crucial election.

Josie Tomkow has already shown us whose side she’s on. We can’t afford to give her a promotion. Instead, let’s look towards a brighter future with Brian Nathan. As our next Senator, he pledges to prioritize homeowners and push for innovative insurance reforms that level the playing field. We can finally expect accountability and fair rates for our families.