OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – Congresswoman Kat Cammack arrived 20 minutes late to a town hall where she first told guests that she would not be hugging anyone.
“Honestly, yesterday with a sick husband and a sick baby, I was like, God, this day has been the longest month ever,” Cammack told the crowded room.
Attendees laughed and got comfortable with paper plates of Publix subs.
With a smile as big as the bun on her head, she began a talk with locals about taxes, elections, and her fear of what could happen in November.
“I will tell you honestly, I’m scared to death of what happens if we do not keep the House and the Senate. And, the fact that we are now hearing that the Senate is in jeopardy scares me to death because we know that at the rate that they’re electing DSA candidates, the Democratic Socialists of America, I mean, we are seeing they have 24 DSA candidates that have made it through their primaries already. Twenty-Four,” Cammack said.
Americans for Prosperity-Florida is a nonprofit grassroots organization that educates and empowers citizens to engage in the civic and policy processes shaping their communities. Through research, public education, and outreach, the group works to expand understanding of policies it believes help people improve their lives and strengthen their communities. Its stated goal is to give residents a voice and help remove government barriers so they can pursue their own version of the American dream.
Deputy State Director Rachel Moscoso explained the approach.
“We’re a grassroots organization. Our goal is that we’re just trying to reach out to people to give them a voice and help them remove government barriers,” Moscoso said.
Moscoso noted that the organization operates under three related structures. The August 11, 2026 event was a 501(c)(4) gathering. AFP Action, a separate political action committee, handles endorsements. A 501(c)(3) arm handles certain educational work. The conversation itself was not an endorsement, according to Moscoso.
The Ocala conversation focused on the Working Families Tax Cuts included in H.R. 1, along with other measures AFP has backed, including the Rescissions Act of 2025, efforts to prevent extension of expired Affordable Care Act subsidies, the SPEED Act, and the REINS Act.
Volunteer Frank Gordon, a retired Navy veteran who moved to Marion County about three years ago, described the day-to-day work. He helps set up events and makes phone calls.
“I support them because they’re political. They’re conservative,” Gordon said.
He has joined AFP-sponsored trips to Tallahassee that included tours of legislative offices and the House chambers.
The point of the appearance was practical education and activation. AFP-FL uses these gatherings to connect residents with lawmakers on specific bills, explain how policies affect household budgets and small businesses, and encourage civic participation. Cammack’s remarks touched on the tax legislation’s impact, health-care cost pressures, and efforts to increase accountability in Washington, all of which aligned with the organization’s focus on limiting barriers and expanding opportunity.
She also lamented the lack of enthusiasm she sees from conservatives leading up to the November general election.
“When I look at some of the things that [Democratic Socialists of America] is pushing for, I mean, there it is radical beyond radical. We know that they want to pack the court. We know that they want to abolish the Senate; they want to do Medicare for all. They want to do a massive, massive expansion of government that I don’t know if we could ever come back from because once you hit that tipping point of critical services and people being wholly dependent on government, they’ll never vote against their own pocketbook, right,” she said.
“So that’s the thing that’s very scary. Is this really a tipping point, and I just don’t see the enthusiasm to fight coming out of our side. And so I think we need to do more,” she continued.
In the room, attendees applauded her passion before moving on to share personal experiences with recent tax refunds and lower prescription drug costs.
AFP-FL positions events like this one as a way to cut through the overwhelm many people feel when trying to engage government, offering concrete starting points through education, community-building, and direct access to elected officials.
“I think it’s overwhelming sometimes, where to start getting involved with, you know, something that frustrates you at the local, state or federal level. So we have offices all throughout the state,” Moscoso said.
“Honestly, our goal is that we’re just trying to reach out to people to give them a voice and help them remove government barriers to live out their own unique version of the American dream,” she continued.
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