Greenberg Traurig has added former Florida Public Service Commissioner Andrew Fay as of counsel in its Tallahassee office, continuing the expansion of the firm’s Government Law & Policy Practice.

Fay served on the PSC for eight years, including as Chair for 2022-24. During his tenure at the PSC, Fay oversaw regulation of electric, gas, water, and wastewater utilities, managed a staff of 275, and played a central role in policy decisions involving storm protection, nuclear decommissioning, and electric utility cost recovery. He also led efforts to modernize Florida’s Relay services law to accommodate emerging communications technologies.

“Andrew’s deep understanding of legislative and regulatory processes at both the state and national levels, combined with his relationships with key stakeholders, makes him a valuable addition to our Tallahassee office and Government Law & Policy Practice,” said David Ashburn, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Tallahassee office.

“His extensive government and legal experience, particularly his focus on regulation and compliance, will allow him to provide clients with comprehensive legal guidance that anticipates and addresses their needs from every angle.”

Fay previously served as special counsel to now-U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi when she was Florida’s Attorney General, where he helped advance more than a dozen legislative initiatives and advised on major state bond financing. He also managed victim compensation efforts following the Pulse Nightclub attack.

“It’s exciting to return to Greenberg Traurig, where I started my career as a legislative analyst, an experience that was instrumental in shaping my interest in the legal profession,” Fay said.

“The firm’s collaborative culture, expansive platform, and commitment to guiding clients through technology-driven regulatory change set it apart as a law firm of the future. I look forward to working alongside talented colleagues to help our clients address their most complex challenges and achieve their goals in Florida and beyond.”

Voters in House District 87 head to the polls on Tuesday to choose Democratic and Republican nominees in a Special Primary Election that has been in the works for many months.

The coastal Palm Beach County district has been without representation since August, when Republican Rep. Mike Caruso resigned to assume the role of Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller. The prolonged vacancy — and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ delay in calling a Special Election — became a central issue in the race itself.

DeSantis ultimately set a Jan. 13 Primary and a March 24 Special General Election, meaning the District will not hold a vote in Tallahassee during the 2026 Legislative Session. That reality has loomed over the contest, particularly on the Democratic side, where one candidate sought to force the Governor’s hand through the courts.

Two Democrats and two Republicans are competing Tuesday for their respective party nominations in a district that has leaned Republican in recent cycles but that Democrats view as competitive, particularly under Special Election conditions.

On the Democratic side, the Primary pits Emily Gregory against Laura Levites.

Gregory, a Jupiter-based small-business owner and public health professional, has been the most visible Democrat in the race since the vacancy occurred. She drew attention in October when she filed a lawsuit seeking to compel DeSantis to call a Special Election, arguing that HD 87 voters were being denied representation as lawmakers prepared to convene in Tallahassee.

The lawsuit was ultimately rendered moot by the Governor’s executive order setting election dates.

Gregory has focused on public education funding, health care access and property insurance costs. She entered the final stretch of the Primary with a clear fundraising advantage on the Democratic side. Gregory raised more than $101,000 through Jan. 8 and spent nearly $49,000, both outpacing her opponent.

Levites, a Lake Worth Beach resident and first-time candidate, has pitched herself as a community advocate and political outsider. Her campaign has focused heavily on cost-of-living pressures, such as property insurance premiums and housing affordability. Levites has also leaned into environmental issues and local infrastructure concerns, including flooding and traffic congestion.

Levites has run a lower-dollar campaign, adding no campaign contributions and loaning her campaign just $450.

The Republican Primary has arguably drawn more attention, with Jon Maples facing Gretchen Miller Feng.

Maples, a Palm Beach Gardens financial planner, entered the race early and quickly consolidated support from Republican leadership. He secured backing from the Florida House Republican Campaign Committee and a slate of GOP lawmakers, and later landed an endorsement from former President Donald Trump — a significant asset in a Republican Primary, even in a coastal district with a more moderate reputation.

Maples has run as a reliable conservative aligned with Trump-era priorities, emphasizing fiscal restraint, opposition to tax increases, and a pro-business climate.

With party support behind him, Maples has built the largest war chest in the Republican field, raising more than $278,000 between his campaign account and his political committee, Friends of Jon Maples, plus adding another $14,000 in candidate loans. He has spent nearly $157,00 as of Jan. 8.

Feng, a paralegal and regulatory consultant from West Palm Beach, has cast herself as an outsider running against party insiders. She has focused her campaign on affordability, opposition to unchecked growth and outrage over the district being unrepresented during the 2026 Session. Feng has not matched Maples’ fundraising, raising just over $12,000 in total and spending nearly $11,000.

HD 87 runs up the coast of Palm Beach County, spanning Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach and Hypoluxo.

Florida’s business community will converge in Tallahassee today for the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Legislative Fly-In.

The annual event, hosted at the Augustus B. Turnbull Conference Center, brings together CEOs, senior executives, local chamber leaders, trade associations and policymakers for a mix of policy briefings.

“The Florida Chamber’s Legislative Fly-In is a unique opportunity for Florida’s business leaders to engage with policymakers and make sure our state’s economic momentum remains strong,” Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson said. “It is also a moment to build meaningful relationships that will continue driving Florida forward towards becoming a top 10 global economy.”

Frank Walker, the Chamber’s EVP of Government and Political Relations, added, “By connecting business leaders with key decision-makers, the Legislative Fly-In provides essential insight into Florida’s policy, political, and economic landscape. It is a vital step in aligning business priorities with the Florida Chamber’s Florida 2030 Blueprint and uniting the business community behind the 2026 legislative agenda.”

The Fly-in typically serves as an early look at the political and economic issues likely to dominate Session, with segments led by Chamber higher-ups, legislative leadership and members of the Florida Cabinet.

This year’s slate includes the full set, with Gov. Ron DeSantis, Senate President Ben Albritton, House Speaker Daniel Perez, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson all on the agenda.

Other confirmed speakers include Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky, FloridaCommerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly, House Speaker-Designate Sam Garrison, House Education Committee Chair Jennifer Canady, Senate Commerce & Tourism Committee Chair Tom Leek, House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee Chair Chip LaMarcaand Rep. J.J. Grow.

View the full agenda here.