DRAFT HEADLINE: Longtime Florida Politics Reporter Brendan Farrington Dies at 60 DRAFT DEK: Brendan Farrington, who reported on the Florida State Capitol and major hurricanes for The Associated Press for 25 years, died at his home at age 60. DRAFT BODY: Brendan Farrington, a veteran journalist who covered Florida politics and natural disasters for The Associated Press for more than 25 years, died on Friday, September 18, 2026. He was 60 years old. Family friend Steve Schale reported that Farrington died at his home in Tallahassee following a brief illness.
Originally from Wilbraham, Massachusetts, Farrington began his professional career in 1988 at The Patriot Ledger in Quincy. He joined the AP in Miami in the late 1990s before transferring to the Tallahassee bureau in 2001. During his tenure, he became a fixture at the Florida State Capitol, known for reporting on the state legislature, gubernatorial administrations, and major hurricanes.
Farrington's reporting included notable political moments and investigative work. In 2011, he reported that then-state Senator Mike Haridopolos received $152,000 in taxpayer funds to write a book for Brevard Community College that was largely unavailable to the public. During the 2014 gubernatorial election, Farrington was the reporter whose phone candidate Charlie Crist used to call Rick Scott and concede the race. In 2021, Farrington faced online harassment after reporting on a donor to Gov. Ron DeSantis who had invested in a company producing COVID-19 treatments. Farrington left the AP in January 2025 after accepting a voluntary buyout.
The death of a longtime statehouse reporter affects Florida residents, political figures, and the journalism community by removing a source of information regarding state government operations. Farrington’s work included government transparency, such as his 2011 report on a $152,000 taxpayer-funded book deal for a state senator. For Florida taxpayers, this type of accountability journalism identifies how public funds are utilized and provides a record of legislative actions that influence state laws and budgets.
State officials, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, and colleagues noted that Farrington was a link between the capital and the public for over two decades. His reporting on hurricanes provided information to residents during natural disasters, focusing on the impact on individuals. The loss of a veteran reporter with 25 years of institutional knowledge can lead to a decrease in specialized oversight at the state level, particularly regarding the interactions between aides, politicians, and back-office workers that Farrington was known to track.
Farrington’s career also involved press access in Florida, specifically during his 2021 reporting when the AP president intervened after a governor's spokesperson suggested a "blast" against Farrington on social media. This event highlighted the tensions between state executive offices and the press corps. Farrington is survived by his wife, Amy, their son, Cullen, his mother, and four siblings. Funeral or memorial service details were not reported.
WHO: Brendan Farrington, former Associated Press reporter WHAT: The death of veteran journalist Brendan Farrington. WHEN: Friday, September 18, 2026 WHERE: Tallahassee, Florida WHY: Farrington was a prominent reporter of Florida politics, government accountability, and natural disasters for over 25 years.