| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard | Hello and welcome to Friday. Just how rich is Gov. Ron DeSantis? We could find out as soon as today. Personal financial disclosures DeSantis is required to file publicly to run for president promise to paint the most complete and up-to-date picture of his family's assets, including those of his wife and closest confidante, Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. Here's what we could learn from the forthcoming documents:
- Whether DeSantis received a second advance for his book, or possibly a royalties estimate
- Whether he bought any property this year
- Whether he still has student loans
- Whether he’s drawing income, such as speaking fees, from any new areas, as well as major gifts or travel reimbursements
From his state-mandated disclosure, we know his salary is $141,400. As of last year he didn't trade stocks or own property and he received a $1.25 million advance for his book, “The Courage to be Free.” By the end of 2022, he still had about $18,630 in student loans. Before he wrote his book he wasn’t the millionaire he is today, reporting a net worth of $319,000. “His past net worth disclosures have shown him to be relatively not as rich as a lot of other officeholders in the legislature and other statewide offices,” said Ben Wilcox, research director of the government ethics group Integrity Florida. There's a chance that today DeSantis could ask for just one more extension of several weeks to submit his finances, which is fairly common. After all, what’s in them could either help or hurt his campaign at the pivotal "reset" juncture he finds himself in. While he could use the document to contrast his working-class roots with that of the billionaire ex-president, Florida Democrats already are casting DeSantis as a rich wannabe given his private jet use. And, according to Puck, former President Donald Trump’s team has floated questions about how Casey DeSantis, a former talk show host, pays for her wardrobe. (FLOTUSes face such speculation because the role has no salary or clothing allowance despite high expectations to appear put together and to take on a policy platform). We haven’t seen Casey DeSantis’ finances yet — everything from property holdings to stocks and speaking fees, if there are any — because spousal disclosures aren’t required under Florida law, in contrast with federal candidates and offices. It’s something organizations such as Integrity Florida have pushed to remedy, concerned about real or perceived conflicts of interest, or cases in which Florida officials transfer assets or stocks to spouses to shield them from public view. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis’ bus tour through Iowa with Never Back Down continues, and he’s expected to end the day with a speech at the GOP Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines. An interview DeSantis did with “The Megyn Kelly Show” will also air at noon on Sirius XM. Kelly conducted the interview on Thursday at the governor's mansion, per a Twitter teaser, and one of the clips she shared shows DeSantis suggesting he'd pardon Trump. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: kleonard@politico.com.
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HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE DONALD TRUMP? — DeSantis’ reboot still dodges the biggest issue, by POLITICO's Sally Goldenberg, Gary Fineout and Kimberly Leonard: Despite lagging poll numbers in national and state surveys and a string of missteps Team Trump has capitalized on, DeSantis continues to struggle with how to topple the former president and frontrunner, who appears to gain support with each indictment. And interviews with 15 people who work in and around his campaign revealed little appetite to dramatically change that strategy.
“His biggest problem is Donald Trump,” said Republican operative Alex Conant, who worked on Sen. Marco Rubio’s losing 2016 presidential bid and is unaffiliated this cycle. “Yeah, he hasn't run the best campaign and I think there's room for improvement on his message and his media strategy, but ultimately he’s lost traction because Donald Trump is ascendant — and that’s not DeSantis’ fault.” “His message has gotten very muddled, and he has not made the sharp contrast with Trump that I think he needs,” Conant added. |  Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis greets local residents during a meet and greet at the Hotel Charitone, Thursday, July 27, 2023, in Chariton, Iowa. | Charlie Neibergall/AP Photo |
CHALLENGE — DeSantis to GOP Rep. Donalds: Who’s side you are on? by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: In his first public comments about [Rep. Byron] Donalds, who slightly criticized the standards in a social media post Wednesday, DeSantis lumped the conservative Black Republican in with Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris last week blasted the standards adopted by the state’s education board primarily due to a portion that requires middle schoolers to be instructed that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” “So at the end of the day you’ve got to choose,” DeSantis said when asked about Donalds. “Are you going to side with Kamala Harris and liberal media outlets or are you going to side with the state of Florida?”
‘IT WAS JUST DEVASTATING’ — ‘No silver lining in slavery’: Scott slams DeSantis on Florida curriculum comments, by POLITICO’s Lucy Hodgman: Asked about the curriculum requirement at a campaign stop outside Des Moines, the South Carolina senator said he hoped that “every person in our country, and certainly running for president, would appreciate that” slavery had no benefits to enslaved people. BACK AT IT — “DeSantis 2.0: Budget venues, but a familiar stump speech,” by The New York Times’ Nicholas Nehamas: “Gov. Ron DeSantis’s reboot of his struggling presidential campaign began in the spartan basement of a hotel in a rural Iowa town. No spacious event hall, as at previous campaign stops. No legion of security guards ushering crowds of voters through metal detectors. No lineup of local luminaries giving elaborate introductions. Even the audio equipment was basic, generating noisy feedback at the beginning of Mr. DeSantis’s remarks to a crowd of about 65 people and cutting out occasionally throughout the opening speech of his bus tour on Thursday.” — “DeSantis debuts a leaner campaign. But donors have their doubts,” by The New York Times’ Jonathan Swan, Maggie Haberman and Shane Goldmacher — “DeSantis is defending new slavery teachings. Civil rights leaders see a pattern of policy violence,” by Associated Press’ Steve Peoples, Brendan Farrington and Kat Stafford — “DeSantis will headline a barbecue billed as South Carolina Republicans’ largest annual gathering,” by Associated Press’ Meg Kinnard — “Greenwich Republicans expect Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to hold presidential campaign fundraiser in town,” by Greenwich Time’s Andy Blye — “Ron DeSantis unveils sheriffs’ endorsements as he looks to jumpstart Iowa campaign,” by Des Moines Register’s Brianne Pfannenstiel | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
AS THE PAGES TURN — Trump charged with new crimes in classified documents case, by POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney and Josh Gerstein: Special counsel Jack Smith has brought three new felony charges against former President Donald Trump, including explosive claims that he asked an employee of his Mar-a-Lago club to delete security camera footage sought by investigators probing his handling of classified documents. In a 60-page superseding indictment unveiled Thursday, prosecutors also accused Trump of possessing a highly classified war plan that he shared with people lacking security clearances months after his presidency ended. And prosecutors added a third defendant: Carlos De Oliveira, a worker at Mar-a-Lago who is accused of joining Trump and aide Walt Nauta to seek the destruction of the security footage.
MEANWHILE — Trump indictment watch continues as his lawyers meet prosecutors,” by POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET? — “Trump needed $225 million. A little known bank came to the rescue,” by The Washington Post’s Michael Kranish: “One day after the warning by Trump’s accounting firm became public, Axos’s blunt-spoken president and CEO — a Republican donor named Gregory Garrabrants — signed off on a $100 million loan for Trump Tower, the 58-story Manhattan skyscraper that had long been Trump’s home and base of operations, according to the bank. Three months later, Garrabrants approved a second deal that provided $125 million for Trump’s Doral resort, a sprawling golf course complex in Miami-Dade County he had owned since 2012.”
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— “Trump, DeSantis and other 2024 candidates set to address Iowa Republicans at Lincoln Day Dinner,” by Associated Press Michelle L. Price and Hannah Fingerhut
— "DeSantis’s rocky week adds to image of campaign in crisis," by The Hill's Julia Manchester — "Donald Trump's donors are wildly different from Ron DeSantis'," by Newsweek's Khaleda Rahman — “The mysterious dark money group connecting Trump, Christie and DeSantis,” by The Daily Beast’s Roger Sollenberger — “Florida’s young voters: How big a share of electorate are they? How do they lean politically?” by Palm Beach Post’s Stephany Matat — “Top Ron DeSantis donor boasted about selling drinks to Fidel Castro,” by New York Post’s Lydia Moynihan | | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
THE RUFO QUESTION — The Florida Commission on Ethics is scheduled Friday to consider whether or not New College of Florida trustee Christopher Rufo — a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research and staunch DeSantis ally appointed to the board earlier this year — is allowed to write and accept payment for articles concerning matters related to the college. A draft opinion prepared for the commission concluded that there is no conflict, provided the articles are based on publicly available information. But that opinion also warns that it “it is critical” that Rufo not use college personnel to prepare the content that he publishes.
RELATED — DeSantis appointed three new members to the board on Thursday, one of whom was Ashley Lukis, an attorney with GrayRobinson and the wife of his former chief of staff, Adrian Lukis. HMM — “New state education office boosts conservative school board members in Florida, emails show,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Leslie Postal: “A new office in the Florida Department of Education aims to 'facilitate partnerships with district leaders,' but the director’s first months of work show interest in meeting mostly with conservative school board members, records show, including Moms for Liberty members and those endorsed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. ‘We would be happy to meet with the Conservative Coalition of School Board Members as a group to explore ways that our efforts may align,’ wrote Terry Stoops, the new director, to a Volusia County School Board member on April 23. ‘If you hold regular meetings and would like us to participate, please let me know.’” DEMS DISUNITY — “Jacksonville state lawmaker issues cease-and-desist over criticism surrounding slavery,” by Action News Jax’s Jake Stofan: “Two Jacksonville state lawmakers are in a heated fight over the state’s new African American history standards and Thursday, it culminated in one issuing a cease and desist letter to the other. The spat started with State Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) criticizing State Representative Kimberly Daniels’ (D-Jacksonville) position serving on the African American History Task Force, due to the comments Daniels made during a sermon 15 years ago.” | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
UPDATE — “Judge to decide trial date for ex-Sen. Frank Artiles in sham candidate case,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas: “More than two years after former state Sen. Frank Artiles was arrested on campaign finance violations in a covert scheme to unseat Miami-Dade Democratic Sen. José Javier Rodriguez, the Palmetto Bay political operative may finally get a trial date. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ariel Rodriguez will decide on Friday what comes next in the case that carries the potential for jail time for Artiles, 50.”
Worth noting — “Miami-Dade investigators told the Herald/Times this month that although they issued a target letter to [Ryan] Tyson, [Dan] Newman and another political consultant who worked with FPL and Matrix, Richard Alexander of Pullman, Alabama, their investigation did not lead to discovery of any criminal violations by them.” — “Amid teacher shortage, ‘culture wars’ and living costs, Miami-Dade teachers to get pay hike,” by Miami Herald’s Jimena Tavel — "Florida politics are too hot for some business visitors," by WLRN's Tom Hudson — “Florida court to hear whether UF must refund students’ COVID-era fees,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: Washington Post’s Beth Reinhard … Bill Cotterell, columnist and former state government reporter ... Juan Guaidó, Venezuelan opposition leader.
(Saturday) Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn (Sunday) Bob Nave, senior vice president of research for Florida TaxWatch … The Associated Press’ Frieda Frisaro … Nancy Dahlberg, business writer and editor | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook | Playbook PM | California Playbook | Florida Playbook | Illinois Playbook | Massachusetts Playbook | New Jersey Playbook | New York Playbook | Ottawa Playbook | Brussels Playbook | London Playbook View all our political and policy newsletters | | Follow us | | | | |
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