Florida Executes Fourteenth Inmate This Year | US News

Florida executed its fourteenth inmate this year, marking a grim milestone as the nation hits 24 executions in 2026 — the highest since 2009. Seventy-four-year-old Harold Gene Lucas, on death row for five decades, waived his appeals, saying he was ready to end his life. Governor Ron DeSantis continues signing death warrants at an alarming pace, aiming to surpass all previous governors — though he admits it’s a heavy burden. This surge mirrors a federal reversal: the current administration is restarting capital punishment efforts and helping states secure lethal injection drugs. Despite the uptick, juries still overwhelmingly choose life sentences, and experts say we’re not headed back to the execution highs of the 1990s or early 2000s. Another Florida execution looms for September 10th. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/8c38b590063f2d73