Attorney and Democrat donor John Morgan has challenged State Senate candidate Rep. Tom Leek to a debate, criticizing Leek’s role in changes to Florida’s homeowners’ insurance laws and alleging that these changes favor insurance companies at the expense of homeowners.

Attorney and Democrat donor John Morgan on Tuesday publicly challenged State Senate candidate Rep. Tom Leek to a debate over changes to Florida’s homeowners’ insurance laws.

In a video statement addressed to residents of Flagler and St. Johns counties, Morgan criticized Leek’s legislative record and his connections to the insurance industry. Morgan alleged that Leek played a key role in a special legislative session aimed at resolving the homeowners’ insurance crisis, though claimed that Leek’s leadership resulted in changes that now require homeowners to pay their own attorney’s fees out of their insurance payouts if their claims are denied, which could leave them without enough money for necessary repairs.

“Before Tom Leek’s bill, insurance companies were responsible for attorney’s fees if they denied a claim,” Morgan said in the video. “Now, homeowners have to cover these costs themselves, leaving them short of funds to fix their homes.”

The legislation, House Bill 1A, introduced major reforms to Florida’s property insurance laws through the alteration of the attorney fee structure, often shifting costs to claimants if their recovery is below certain thresholds. It allowed Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to levy up to a 15 percent surcharge on policyholders to cover deficits, mandated conditions for policies requiring binding arbitration, and required flood insurance disclosure on homeowners’ policies. The bill additionally promoted the depopulation of Citizens by incentivizing private insurers to assume policies, exempting them from certain deficit assessments.

Morgan also raised concerns about Leek’s financial gains while in office, suggesting a conflict of interest.

“When he came to Congress, he was worth about a million bucks. When he left, he was worth about 16 million bucks, working for the insurance industry,” Morgan stated. However, Leek has not served in Congress, but in the Florida Legislature.

Despite the reforms, Morgan argued that insurance rates have continued to rise. He noted that Donald Trump advised against the legislative changes, and referenced a tweet from the former President that claimed it to be the “biggest insurance company bailout to ‘globalist insurance companies’ in history.” Morgan also highlighted Leek’s vote against an amendment that would have reduced insurance rates by 6 percent for two years.

“Not only did Tom Leek do this to ‘fix’ the crisis, but we never saw rates go down. Rates went up,” Morgan said.

In his statement, Morgan offered to donate $100,000 to a charity of Leek’s choice if Leek agrees to a public debate on the issue, with the condition that the charity is not one of Leek’s favorites.

“If you have the courage to do it, we will debate this issue,” Morgan challenged. “But you don’t have the courage. Your courage is with the insurance companies.”

Morgan concluded by urging voters to reconsider supporting Leek.

“If you vote for him, you’re voting against yourself,” Morgan said.

Leek is currently engaged in a competitive GOP primary race, anticipated to be the most closely watched in Florida’s 2024 election cycle. Elected to represent House District 25 in 2016 and re-elected in House District 28 in 2022 following redistricting, Leek is now aiming to defeat Trump-endorsed St. John’s County Sheriff David Shoar. Additionally, Gerry James, another Republican, is a qualified candidate for the August 20 primary.

The trio looks to succeed Sen. Travis Hutson in Senate District 7, as he faces term limits. Senate District 7 includes Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and parts of Volusia Counties.

Leek currently chairs the House Appropriations Committee and has previously chaired the Public Ethics and Integrity Committee, the Pandemics and Public Emergencies Committee, and the Redistricting Committee. He has received endorsements from Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, U.S. Representatives Michael Waltz and Cory Mills, and Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. He has also been backed by various state senators, representatives, and organizations such as Americans for Prosperity-Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

Shoar, meanwhile, has received the support of Florida Congressmen John Rutherford and Greg Steube.