Deborah Adeimy vs Paola Branda: Court Denied the Ballot Challenge

If you searched for Deborah Adeimy vs Paola Branda, here is what the current court record shows: Deborah Adeimy asked a Leon County judge to remove Paola Branda from the 2026 Republican primary ballot. On July 11, 2026, the judge denied Adeimy's complaint and ruled that Branda would remain a qualified candidate. Adeimy appealed that decision. As of August 14, the appeal remains pending, and the trial-court order has not been reversed.

This article explains what happened, what the court actually ruled, and why Paola believes the final choice belongs with the voters of Florida's 23rd Congressional District.

What Deborah Adeimy Asked the Court to Do

On June 16, 2026, Deborah Adeimy filed a complaint in Leon County Circuit Court against Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd, Paola Branda, and Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Link. The case is Deborah Adeimy v. Cord Byrd, Paola Branda, and Wendy Link, No. 2026 CA 001269.

Adeimy challenged Paola's candidacy and ballot qualification and asked the court for relief that would remove Paola from the ballot. Two days later, Adeimy filed an emergency motion seeking immediate judicial action.

Read Adeimy's complaint in the official Leon County court record

Read Adeimy's emergency motion

Paola answered through counsel on June 29. Her filing argued that she had satisfied Florida's qualifying requirements and that the allegations did not provide a lawful basis for removing her from the ballot. Those were Paola's legal arguments at that stage of the case, not yet the court's findings.

Read Paola's response

What the Court Ruled

On July 11, 2026, the circuit court entered a final order denying Adeimy's complaint. The court found that:

• Paola timely submitted the items Florida law required for candidate qualification.
• The Florida Division of Elections found those items facially sufficient and properly qualified her.
• Adeimy did not prove that Paola was statutorily or constitutionally ineligible to hold the office.
• The request to remove Paola from the ballot was denied.
• Paola would remain a qualified candidate for Florida's 23rd Congressional District.

The court also concluded that alleged violations of federal campaign law could not be converted into a basis for disqualification under Florida's candidate-qualifying statute in this case.

Read the court's July 11 final order

The court later denied Adeimy's motion for rehearing on July 23.

What the Ruling Did—and Did Not—Decide

The final order resolved the trial-court request to disqualify Paola from the Florida ballot. The judge denied that request and upheld the state's decision to qualify her.

The order did not prevent Adeimy from seeking appellate review, and it should not be described as a final appellate decision. The legally precise statement is this: Paola won in the trial court, Adeimy appealed, and no appellate court has reversed the order as of August 14, 2026.

A Message From Paola

When my opponent asked a court to remove me from the ballot, I had a choice: step aside or stand up—for my candidacy and for the voters' right to make this decision.

I chose to stand and fight.

I respect the right of any candidate to bring a legal challenge. I also believe elections should be decided by voters whenever the law says a candidate is qualified to stand before them. The court examined the challenge, denied the complaint, and kept me on the ballot.

This moment is personal to me. I came to America as a legal immigrant, built a life here, raised a family, and spent more than fifteen years serving students and families as an educator. I entered this race because the freedoms this country gave my family are worth defending.

I am still here. I am still qualified. And I am asking you—not a judge or a party insider—to decide who should represent Florida's 23rd Congressional District.

Why Some Search Results May Look Incomplete

Some third-party case pages show the opening filings without making the later outcome equally visible. For example, when reviewed on August 14, the public Trellis page for Deborah Adeimy vs Paola Branda said it was last refreshed on June 20 and its visible timeline did not show the July 11 final order.

View the Trellis case page

That timing matters. A page showing only the complaint and emergency motion can tell voters what Adeimy alleged, but not what the court ultimately decided. The official final order provides that missing outcome.

The Appeal Is Still Pending

Adeimy filed a notice of appeal on July 31. The appeal is pending in Florida's First District Court of Appeal as case No. 1D2026-2252.

On August 11, the appellate court entered a procedural order stating that the case may be appropriate for summary disposition and that the appellees should not serve an answer brief unless directed. That order did not reverse the trial court or decide the merits of the appeal.

View the official First District Court of Appeal docket

This page reflects the docket as reviewed on August 14, 2026, and will be updated if the appellate court enters a decision that changes the legal status of the case.

Is Paola Branda Still on the Ballot?

Yes. The Florida Division of Elections lists Paola Branda as a qualified Republican candidate for United States Representative in District 23, with a qualification date of June 8, 2026. The official Palm Beach County Republican sample ballot also lists both Deborah Adeimy and Paola Branda in the FL-23 primary.

Confirm Paola's official candidate status

View the official Palm Beach County Republican sample ballot

The Court Has Ruled. Now the Voters Decide.

No lawsuit casts your vote. You do.

Early voting in Palm Beach County runs through Sunday, August 16, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Election Day is Tuesday, August 18, with polls open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Confirm your voting plan through the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections.

Check official election dates and deadlines

Vote early or vote on Election Day. Vote Paola Branda for Congress.

America First. Freedom Always.