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Last Updated: Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 05:33 PM
Category: Politics

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Gov. DeSantis: Russians hacked voting databases in two Florida counties

The GOP governor said the incidents took place in 2016 and no election results were compromised.
Image: US President Donald J. Trump campaigns in Florida
Ron DeSantis, then- Republican candidate for Florida, speaks to the crowd with President Donald J. Trump at a rally in Florida on Nov. 3, 2018.Dan Anderson / EPA

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After an FBI briefing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says Russian hackers gained access to voter databases in two Florida counties ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

DeSantis said Tuesday the hackers didn't manipulate any data and the election results weren't compromised.

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The governor said he signed an agreement with the FBI not to disclose the names of the counties, but elections officials in those counties are aware of the intrusions.

He said the hackers gained access through a spearfishing email after a worker clicked a link.

Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio has previously said at least one Florida county had an intrusion. Special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference in the 2016 election also said hackers gained access to the network of at least one Florida county.