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SARASOTA – Florida’s home insurance market is in crisis. In April, a monthly index of rent increases led by three universities found Florida accounted for eight of the nation’s Top 10 markets with the biggest rent increases year over year.

Fort Myers was the largest, rising 32% year over year. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton was also in the Top 10 — in the country — at 30.88%.

Others in the Top include Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Lakeland, and Melbourne.

This has become a big election issue with Governor Ron DeSantis and Senator Marco Rubio running for reelection. I interviewed Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried, who talked about her affordable housing plan and what she thought of the Florida legislature’s recent special session to tackle Florida’s property insurance crisis.

Here are Part 1, Part 2, and the full unedited interview.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Full unedited interview: