RINOs Undermine MAGA Republicans In Palm Beach County – JP

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Guest post by Publius Palmense

Palm Beach County – Our publication has previously reported on the depredations of the RINO leadership of the Republican Party of Florida against MAGA grassroots conservatives serving in Republican Executive Committees of counties throughout our state. Now the RINO campaign against MAGA has reached Palm Beach County.

Last month several unusual events involving members and candidates of the Republican Executive Committee of Palm Beach County (REC) occurred on the same day. As Steve Bannon has observed, “There are no conspiracies, but there are no coincidences.”

In what critics describe as part of RPOF Chairman Evan Power’s ongoing “reign of terror” against MAGA, eight members of the REC received termination letters via U.S. Postal Service and email, effective immediately. Two received no prior notice, and the other six were told their terminations stemmed from failing to return affidavits—sent the week before Christmas 2025—denying membership in the Florida Republican Assembly. Twelve other members, including Vice Chairman Lonnie Weinburg and General Counsel Mary-Ellen Manning, had returned their affidavits on a timely basis. Yet seven months later, neither they nor the other 10 who faced similar allegations have received exoneration letters from Chairman Power or the RPOF.

That same day marked the statewide candidate qualifying deadline. Three additional controversies emerged for Republican candidates right at the wire:

Drama in State House District 89

State House District 89 seemed poised to go uncontested by Republicans. Yet the electorate of the District had narrowed significantly, shifting from D+8 to D+ 1, thanks to new Republican voters. Republican election integrity warrior Jeff Buongiorno, who has long alleged issues with Vote-By-Mail ballots and challenged Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link in 2024 (after a 2022 Congressional run in District 21), noticed late in the day before the deadline for qualification, that no Republican had qualified to run for House District 89. He filed and completed qualifying on the deadline.

However, later on the same day, another name appeared as “Qualified:” Cathy Higgins of Atlantis, a former Mayor and Town Councilor who had not been active in recent cycles. Her campaign treasurer is listed as Noreen Fenner of Tallahassee. Fenner is a highly influential, low-profile figure in Florida GOP circles who handles treasurer duties for a large share of incumbent Republican House and Senate members, leadership PACs, and other committees.

Developments in State House District 92

State House District 92 had remained without a candidate on the Republican side for months. REC Recruitment Chairwoman Lynn Redmond reportedly encouraged newcomer Republican candidate Steve Iacullo to step aside from challenging former State Representative Rick Roth, another Republican, running for the first time in State Senate District 26, and instead to file for State House District 92. Iacullo’s qualifying forms, however, reportedly faced issues, including questionable signatures.

Meanwhile, Steve Byers, a strong MAGA Republican and business owner who ran for State Senate District 26 in 2022, filed late during the filing period, believing that Iacullo’s candidacy would not be approved by the Supervisor of Elections. Yet late on the deadline, Iacullo reportedly qualified despite the irregularities.

Situation in State Senate District 30

Jerusa Zitta, a dedicated single mother, MAGA Republican from Deerfield Beach, and a legal Brazilian immigrant, filed to challenge incumbent Democrat Tina Polsky in State Senate District 30 (a district that includes parts of both Palm Beach and Broward counties). Zitta has campaigned tirelessly, emphasizing God, family, and country, which are MAGA principles. State Senator Polsky announced a surprise resignation in early May. Soon after, former Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book—term-limited and based in Davie, Broward County, about 50 miles outside the district—entered the race amid significant publicity.

Zitta believed that she faced no Republican primary opponent—until the qualification deadline last month. Late during that day, Hector Rivera had qualified. Rivera does not live in the District (he resides in the City of North Miami, Miami-Dade County) and previously ran for Congressional District 25 as a No-Party Affiliation candidate in 2020. Questions remain about who facilitated his late entry.

Broader REC Leadership Concerns

The result is that in three Republican legislative primaries, MAGA candidates that filed for the race where challenged at the last minute by other Republicans. Where did they come from? Who is backing them? Where does the REC stand?

At the April 8, 2026 meeting, REC Chairman Cascio reportedly invited longtime Democrat operative Joe Abruzzo (former County Clerk and high-paid administrator with ties to Democratic get-out-the-vote efforts) as a surprise speaker—a move seen by critics as a serious misstep. The Treasurer’s detailed financial report on a major Mar-a-Lago fundraiser allegedly allowed Abruzzo to compile sensitive party information.

These events paint a picture of internal division, with loyal MAGA supporters being targeted by establishment RINO forces. The REC leadership faces calls for accountability and change from grassroots conservatives. This is a complex, fast-moving story with significant implications for Republican unity heading into the 2026 elections.