The America First Party of Florida was officially recognized this month by the Florida Secretary of State, qualifying it as a minor party eligible to nominate candidates for the state ballot. Party leaders have also been recruiting candidates to run for the state legislature in the next election cycle.
The party began organizing in March, encouraging Florida residents online to register under the “America First Party” label on voter registration applications. However, early efforts to obtain official recognition were reportedly delayed after the organization was told it needed to use a different three-letter identifier. Publicly available correspondence between the party and the Secretary of State’s office shows the group formally filed for recognition on May 29. The state approved the application on June 4.
Paperwork shows the party is chaired by Jon Arguello, a former Republican who served four years on the Osceola County School Board, with Charles Kelly listed as treasurer. A campaign website associated with Arguello’s 2024 reelection bid describes him as a “MAGA Patriot” and lists endorsements from Republicans for National Renewal as well as former first-term Trump administration officials. Arguello also chairs the League of United Conservative Hispanic Americans, a political action committee he founded in 2022.
Recent social media posts by the Osceola County Conservative Republican Assembly identify both Charles Kelly and Trent Wayman as co-founders of the new party. The two also recently addressed the local Republican Assembly group, speaking about the new organization and what they described as the need for a third party.
“Dysfunction within our [Republican Party of Florida] is the norm, whether it be kicking grassroots, MAGA Republicans out of the party, or the constant fighting between the Legislature and the Governor, what is this dysfunction leading to? Alternatives,” reads advertising for their presentation. “Our guest speaker is Trent Wayman, the rightfully elected Manatee County State Committeeman, who was also replaced by the current regime. He and Chuck Kelly have founded an alternative. Not a third party..a FIRST party.”
There does not appear to be an official website for the America First Party of Florida, but the group is active on social media. Several posts since early June, including one by Chair Arguello, suggest that the organization has been appealing to Republicans dissatisfied with state leadership and is recruiting legislative candidates to run under the America First banner in the 2026 election cycle. The party has also expressed interest in collaborating with America First groups in other states to support the formation of similar parties.
With credit to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for first reporting on the organization’s ballot access.
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