State Representative Shane Abbott

10/20/2026

Congressman Byron Donalds will be visiting District 5 at two locations this weekend!

I truly believe Byron will be a Governor who genuinely cares about the people he serves. I can say that with confidence because I’ve seen it firsthand!

I encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of the opportunity to meet the next Governor of Florida!

📍 Jackson County – Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Marianna
Sunday, October 25 | 3:30 PM CST

📍 Walton County – Donut Hole, Inlet Beach
Sunday, October 25 | 6:30 PM CST

Check out the flyers below for additional details. Hope to see you there!

10/19/2026

🗳️ Early Voting Is Underway! 🇺🇸

Early voting officially kicked off this morning in Calhoun and Walton Counties! Jackson County will begin early voting on October 22nd, followed by Holmes and Washington Counties on October 24th.

Whether you choose to vote early, by mail, or in person on Election Day, exercising our right to vote is one of the most important responsibilities we have as Americans. It’s a freedom we should never take for granted, and every voice deserves to be heard!

🇺🇸 Make your plan, get out, and VOTE!

10/17/2026

WALTON COUNTY ANNOUNCES MULTI-AGENCY RESOURCE CENTER TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WITH STORM RECOVERY

WALTON COUNTY, FL — Walton County is coordinating with state and local agencies and community partners to establish a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) to assist residents and business owners as recovery efforts continue following recent storm impacts.

The resource center will provide residents with opportunities to connect directly with representatives from agencies and organizations offering recovery assistance, guidance, and information about available services.

Participating organizations will address a variety of needs, including insurance and financial recovery, small business assistance, rebuilding resources, consumer protection, legal services, veterans’ services, elder affairs, agricultural support, and other community resources.

Expected participating partners include the Florida Department of Commerce, American Red Cross of North and Central Florida, U.S. Small Business Administration, Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Hope Florida, veterans’ services representatives, legal aid providers, elder affairs representatives, agricultural agencies, county departments, municipalities, and other organizations serving Walton County residents.

Further scheduling of the Multi-Agency Resource Center will be disseminated once scheduling and locations have been confirmed.

Location:
• 361 N 10th St, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433

Resource Center Schedule
October 19–24, 2026
Monday, October 19th, 2026, beginning at 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Tuesday, October 20th – October 24th, 2026, from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.

The State of Florida will assist with the resource center setup, including tables, chairs, designated spaces, and internet access to help participating agencies provide services efficiently.

Residents are encouraged to monitor official Walton County and Walton County Emergency Management communication channels for updates regarding locations, operating hours, participating agencies, and available services.

10/16/2026

FPL has announced financial assistance for eligible customers impacted by Hurricane Isaias. If you were affected by the storm, I encourage you to review the available assistance programs and see if you qualify!

FPL and community partners are providing more than $2 million in financial assistance to help Hurricane Isaias-impacted customers with bills, repairs and basic needs.

10/16/2026

Thursday night Walton County Fair Association, Inc. at the fair is the best. The students that have put in long hours and tireless efforts to raise and show pigs, get their well deserved reward at the pig sale. I was excited to be able to purchase Madison Caraway’s pig, after getting to meet her last school year during Paxton’s FFA preparation for state tournament. Congratulations to all the students that participated and great job putting in the work to get to tonight.

10/16/2026

Today, Senator Jay Trumbull and I joined Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioner Roger Young, Secretary Alexis Lambert of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, officials from the Governor’s Office, and others to survey the damage to the State’s coastal state parks and coastal line.

Our beaches are some of the most amazing in the world and a vital part of our communities. The damage and erosion was significant. Thank you to Senator Trumbull and our state partners for your partnership in making sure we are working on a plan to preserve and protect the beautiful beaches of Northwest Florida.

10/14/2026

As the last students in District 5 returned to school this morning following the hurricane, I want to express my gratitude to our incredible school districts and the dedicated individuals who keep them running.

The Walton, Holmes, Washington, Jackson and Calhoun County school districts have done a fantastic job working to ensure students could return to their classrooms as quickly and safely as possible.

The damage left behind by this storm was significant, but the response of our communities as they came together to recover has been even greater. I am incredibly proud of the resilience and dedication shown throughout District 5!

10/14/2026

We finished up our series of Town Halls regarding Amendment 3 last night in Jackson County!

I want to thank everyone who attended and participated in these meetings across District 5. We had some great discussions, and I appreciate everyone who took the time to come out, ask questions, and share their perspectives.

As we approach the November election, I encourage everyone to stay informed and make their voices heard at the ballot box!

10/13/2026

Today in Washington County, Governor DeSantis announced over $13.5 million in Rural Infrastructure Fund awards for critical projects across District 5!

Calhoun County, the City of Chipley, Jackson County, Walton County, and Washington County all received funding for important projects in their communities.

I am incredibly grateful to Governor DeSantis and the Florida Department of Commerce for recognizing these important needs and continuing to invest in our rural communities!

10/13/2026

In Holmes County, I stopped by West Florida Electric Cooperative to thank them for the incredible work they’re doing to restore power following the hurricane. We also had the opportunity to head out into the field and deliver lunch to one of their crews.

We are so thankful for the hard work and long hours these crews are putting in to get power restored to our communities!