Hello and welcome to Friday.
COUNTING THEM DOWN — There are just some days left to go earlier than Tuesday’s election, so right here’s an inventory of the top races to observe in Florida. This rundown is concentrated on statewide, congressional and legislative races, lots of which is able to play a big position in deciding the state’s political panorama over the following few years.
No. 1 — Florida governor. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is predicted to defeat Democratic rival Charlie Crist however the magnitude of his victory will cement the state’s standing as a pink state and set the stage for a probable DeSantis 2024 candidacy for president (regardless of what some others might imagine).
No. 2 — Senate. Rep. Val Demings has outraised and outspent Sen. Marco Rubio however nationwide Democrats determined to steer clear of this race. Rubio is favored to win a 3rd time period. If the GOP wins again the Senate Rubio will play a significant position in that chamber and will … simply might … place him for a second run for president in some unspecified time in the future.
No. 3— Florida’s twenty seventh Congressional District. This is likely one of the few aggressive congressional races within the state, courtesy of the redistricting map pushed via by DeSantis. Democrats inspired state Sen. Annette Taddeo to problem Rep. María Elvira Salazar for a seat that was narrowly gained by President Donald Trump in 2020. But a possible pink wave in Miami-Dade County might make it exhausting for Democrats to flip.
No. 4— Florida’s thirteenth Congressional District. The new map pushed by the governor tilted this seat that had been held by Crist into one which favored Republicans. But polls have proven a good contest between GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna and Democrat Eric Lynn. Lynn has been in a position to choose up backing from some Republicans and independents towards Luna, who was endorsed by Trump.
No. 5— State Senate districts 3, 10, 14, 38. There’s a been a bitter, unfavorable and costly combat between Republicans and Democrats for a handful of state Senate seats. The end result gained’t determine who controls the chamber, however an enormous evening for the GOP might depart them with a supermajority. In two races — SD 3 in north Florida and SD 10 — Republicans are attempting to knock out two Democratic incumbents, Loranne Ausley and Janet Cruz. An evaluation by AdImpact reveals that roughly $14 million has been spent on advertisements throughout the 4 contests.
No. 6 — Florida’s 2th Congressional District. Democratic Rep. Al Lawson determined to problem Republican Rep. Neal Dunn after Lawson’s district was dismantled below the governor’s redistricting plan and his house was positioned in Dunn’s district. Lawson has acquired little help from nationwide Democrats though his colleagues within the Congressional Black Caucus requested for assistance on his behalf.
No. 7 — Cabinet positions. Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Wilton Simpson, the GOP candidate for agriculture commissioner, are anticipated to cruise to straightforward victories towards underfunded and barely supported Democratic candidates. Moody is the second strongest individual within the government department of state authorities. It wouldn’t be stunning if somebody on this checklist winds up working for governor in 2026.
— WHERE’S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to kick off his four-day “Don’t Tread on Florida” reelection marketing campaign tour with stops in Clay, Brevard and Broward counties.
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WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?— ‘De facto frontrunner’: DeSantis’ $200 million haul positions him for 2024 run, by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: After personally receiving a $10 million examine from actual property mogul Robert Bigelow in Las Vegas in July, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was so astounded by the large donation that he held onto the examine throughout his lengthy return flight to Florida. Once he landed, DeSantis informed a member of his finance crew to drive the examine to the Tampa workplaces of Robert and Nancy Watkins, who function chair and treasurer for his political committee, Friends of Ron DeSantis, in keeping with three individuals conversant in the story.
Record setting— In giving DeSantis $10 million, Bigelow, who owns Budget Suites of America, wrote the most important single marketing campaign examine in Florida political historical past — however it’s only a fraction of the general record-shattering haul DeSantis has raised in the course of the 2022 cycle. Between his direct marketing campaign and the aligned political committee, donors massive and small have given DeSantis greater than $200 million for his reelection bid, a staggering sum that’s probably essentially the most raised by any gubernatorial candidate in American historical past.
‘SCOTT WANTS TO BE A LEGEND’ — “Inside the intense rivalry between Mitch McConnell and Rick Scott,” by CNN’s Michael Warren: “A simmering conflict between Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Sen. Rick Scott of Florida is heating up in the closing days of the fall campaigns, as the two Republicans battle behind the scenes over who will get the credit for a big win — and who will bear the blame if the party falls short. Allies of McConnell say the longtime leader of the GOP Senate conference has kept his operation focused on winning the majority in the most efficient and straightforward way possible. But Scott, the chairman of the GOP’s campaign arm, has attempted to bolster candidates his allies say have been unfairly counted out by establishmentarians like McConnell.”
ONE TO WATCH — “In tight Florida House race, it comes down to foreign policy and even a former Colombian president,” by NBC News Carmen Sesin: “With races for governor and the U.S. Senate getting most of the national attention in Florida before the midterm elections next week, the closest race in the state may be that of a Democratic state senator who is trying to unseat a Republican House incumbent. If state Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Colombian American, does beat Rep. María Elvira Salazar, who is Cuban American, it could give Democrats hope of doing well elsewhere on the ballot, especially with the state’s top spots expected to remain in Republican hands. The GOP, especially in South Florida, is trying to portray Democrats as ‘socialists’ and soft on foreign policy. Taddeo, a Democrat, is touting her hard-line stance against leftist governments.”
— “Trump-backed Mills uses MAGA playbook in race for Congress,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher
CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP— Former President Donald Trump may have over a dozen visitor audio system at his rally deliberate this Sunday in Miami, which is able to come on the identical day that Gov. Ron DeSantis holds three marketing campaign stops within the Tampa Bay space and southwest Florida. Trump initially introduced the rally as a method to present help for Sen. Marco Rubio. Besides Rubio, the rally will even embrace Sen. Rick Scott, Senate President Wilton Simpson, and several other members of Congress, together with Reps. Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz. Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters will even be there, together with two GOP candidates for Congress. …
Puerto Rican leaders — together with Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi — will announce on Friday that they’re endorsing Charlie Crist for governor. Others embrace former Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila, former Puerto Rico Secretary of State Kenneth McClintock, and former Puerto Rico Senate President and Chair of the Puerto Rico Democratic Party Charlie Rodriguez. “I’m proud to be supporting Charlie Crist and Karla Hernández because I know they care about the issues that are important to Puerto Ricans,” Pierluisi mentioned in a press release. “Equal therapy, help to our individuals after we most want it, and our voting rights, Boricuas deserve leaders who will combat for them.” …
Rep. Val Demings on Friday is kicking off her “Showing Up to Work” tour ahead of Election Day. Demings plans to hold get out the vote events in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Broward County. The tour starts with a “Hometown Rally” in Jacksonville. …
Crist is spending Friday campaigning in Jacksonville as part of his “Choose Freedom” tour. His events include a late afternoon fish fry as well as visit to a local barbershop and a community leaders lunch.
BY THE NUMBERS — More than 3.58 million people have voted ahead of the Nov. 8 election, according to the latest information on the state Division of Elections website. More than 2.2 million people have voted by mail so far. Of those, 945,014 have come from registered Democrats and 816,354 have come from registered Republicans. Overall, there are more than 2.12 million mail ballots that have been requested but not yet returned. Of those, more than 933,000 are held by Democrats and nearly 619,000 are with Republicans. Nearly 1.38 million people have voted early. That includes 739,905 Republicans and 394,943 Democrats. The totals show that more than 216,000 more Republicans have voted than Democrats.
— “U.S. Rep. says Miami-Dade mail facility with previous issues wants election eve overview,” by Miami Herald’s Bianca Padró Ocasio
— “In testy moment, Crist stump speech in Palm Beach County draws DeSantis supporters,” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat
— “9 things Florida’s election could say about its future,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen, Emily L. Mahoney, Kirby Wilson and Lawrence Mower
— “An energized Florida GOP looks to topple two Tallahassee titans, Al Lawson and Loranne Ausley,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call
— “NAACP threatens to sue Stafford Jones’ PAC over mailers. PAC says quotes are fair game,” by The Gainesville Sun’s Andrew Caplan
— “Could ‘Souls to the Polls’ provide Florida Democrats needed pre-election boost?” by WPTV’s Forrest Saunders
— “Judge directs Orange election supervisor to not certify results of rent-control vote,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak
WINNERS AND LOSERS— Trump closes the midterm with his own standing in the GOP on the line, by POLITICO’s Meredith McGraw: The Iowa cease is the most recent in a difficult-to-define marketing campaign shut for Trump. He is spending the ultimate week of the midterm season talking at rallies in battleground states like Ohio and Pennsylvania. But he’s additionally holding rallies in states like ruby pink Florida, and he not too long ago visited south Texas, a area of the state the GOP has focused and the place his look can assist drive out help.
HMM— “DOJ mulling potential special counsel if Trump runs in 2024,” by CNN’s Evan Perez, Katelyn Polantz and Jeremy Herb: “As Donald Trump inches closer to launching another presidential run after the midterm election, Justice Department officials have discussed whether a Trump candidacy would create the need for a special counsel to oversee two sprawling federal investigations related to the former president, sources familiar with the matter tell CNN. The Justice Department is also staffing up its investigations with experienced prosecutors so it’s ready for any decisions after the midterms, including the potential unprecedented move of indicting a former president.”
‘OBJECTIVELY FRIVOLOUS’— “Trump files a suit against NY’s attorney general and against advice,” by The New York Times’ Jonah E. Bromwich, Maggie Haberman, Ben Protess and William Okay. Rashbaum: “A tirade of a lawsuit that Donald J. Trump filed on Wednesday against one of his chief antagonists, the New York attorney general, was hotly opposed by several of his longstanding legal advisers, who attempted an intervention hours before it was submitted to a court. Those opposed to the suit told the Florida attorneys who drafted it that it was frivolous and would fail, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The loudest objection came from the general counsel of Mr. Trump’s real estate business, who warned that the Floridians might be committing malpractice.”
— “Pensacola native sentenced to federal prison for Jan. 6 Capitol breach actions,” by Pensacola News Journal Benjamin Johnson
— Trump’s company to get a court monitor, judge rules, by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein
TO COURT — “Florida health department challenged on pot licenses,” by News Service of Florida’s Dara Kam: “Heeding a legal blueprint laid out by an appellate judge, a Tampa-based orchid grower has filed a lawsuit accusing the Florida Department of Health of violating the state Constitution by delaying the issuance of nearly two-dozen medical marijuana licenses. The lawsuit, filed Monday in Leon County circuit court, is the latest attempt by Louis Del Favero Orchids, Inc. to enter the state’s medical-marijuana market. The company’s other administrative and legal challenges over the past four years have fizzled.”
— “Tenure review for professors could be tied to Florida’s law that restricts race-related instruction,” by News Service of Florida’s Ryan Dailey
WAITING FOR THE SUN — “As clocks fall back, permanent daylight saving bill remains stalled in Congress,” by Spectrum News’ Ryan Chatelain: “Asked this week about his bill being stalled in the House, [Sen. Marco] Rubio said in a statement to Spectrum News: ‘This isn’t a partisan or regional issue, it is a commonsense issue. States all around the country are passing laws to make DST permanent, but Washington, D.C. needs to act. I don’t know why the House refuses to pass this bill – it seems like they are rarely in session – but I will keep pushing to make this a reality.’”
STAY OUT— “Is it safe to get in? Three scientists explain why they’re avoiding certain waters after Ian,” by Fort Myers News-Press’ Chad Gillis: “Ready to take a dip in the still-warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico this weekend? You may want to rethink those plans as experts say waters along the coast are still filled with dangers, from potentially deadly bacteria to chemicals and even cars. Hurricane Ian ravaged the Southwest Florida coast on Sept. 28, bringing 140 mile per hour winds and more than 15 feet of storm surge. The powerful surge caused sewage pump stations and septic tanks to fail, and Lee County has since been ground-zero for a flesh-eating bacteria (Vibrio vulnificus) outbreak. Twenty-eight cases have been reported in Lee so far this year — according to the Florida Department of Health — resulting in at least six deaths.”
FOR YOUR RADAR— “In ‘ghost’ candidate case, Eric Fogelsong asks judge to subpoena Orlando Sentinel journalists,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Martin E. Comas: “Eric Foglesong, a political consultant charged with falsifying finance records to help a “ghost” candidate’s marketing campaign within the 2020 election, is asking a circuit court docket decide to subpoena information from one former and three present Orlando Sentinel journalists regarding Florida Power & Light, Matrix LLC and different nonprofit organizations. According to a movement filed Wednesday by Foglesong’s legal professional, Jacob Stuart Jr., articles by investigative reporter Annie Martin, opinion columnist Scott Maxwell, content material director for native news Jeff Weiner and former investigative reporter Jason Garcia, who left the newspaper in January, ‘paint a picture of a conspiracy’ between FPL, the opposite organizations and Foglesong.”
GATOR GROWL— “U of Florida student president who favored Sasse is targeted for impeachment,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Divya Kumar: “Days after the University of Florida’s board of trustees selected U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse as the school’s next president, student leaders are moving to impeach the student body president who voted in favor of the Nebraska politician. Their formal resolution, dated Wednesday, contends that Lauren Lemasters, who sits on the UF board of trustees as part of her student government role, neglected her duty to represent student voices. The document was presented to Lemasters and student senate president Olivia Green on Thursday.”
— “‘To honor Gabby’s legacy’: Gabby Petito’s family sues Utah police in wrongful death lawsuit,” by Sarasota Herald-Tribune’s Gabriela Szymanowska
— “‘Is love going to kill me?’ Slain boyfriend’s texts reveal other stabbings by OnlyFans model,” by Miami Herald’s David Ovalle
— “Disney, other tourism workers need $18 minimum wage to get by, report says,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Katie Rice
— “Publix profit falls 54% even with higher sales. Company lowers stock price,” by The Ledger’s Paul Nutcher
— “Miami Trump supporter convicted of shooting at men after argument over Biden flag on Jet Ski,” by Miami Herald’s David Ovalle: “A Miami jury on Thursday convicted a Donald Trump supporter who was accused of shooting at two men in a dust-up that started over one of them flying a “Ridin’ with Biden” flag on his Jet Ski on Election Day 2020. The six-person jury deliberated lower than two hours in convicting Eduardo Acosta, 39, on expenses of tried homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm and armed theft. He faces as much as life in jail, with a compulsory minimal of at the least 20 years, when he’s sentenced on Dec. 16.”
BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera … State Rep. Felicia Simone Robinson … State Rep. Blaise Ingoglia … Jean Roseme of Rep. Frederica Wilson’s workplace
(Saturday) Rep. Frederica Wilson … David Johnson, Republican political advisor …
(Sunday) NPR’s Eric Deggans … Rick McAllister, former CEO/President of Florida Retail Federation
