| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | |  A supporter of former President Donald Trump waits for him to arrive at the Trump National Doral Miami resort on June 12, 2023 in Doral, Florida. | Scott Olson/Getty Images | Good morning and happy Friday. It’ll be a hot day in Miami-Dade tomorrow, and not just weather wise. A couple of political events are happening in the Magic City. Miami Young Republicans are doing their kickoff event in Doral to promote former President Donald Trump and candidates down the ballot. Across town, Ruth’s List Florida, which supports women state and local candidates who back abortion rights, is having its gala and conference. Trump lost Miami-Dade in 2016 and 2020, and it’s a county where Democrats still out-register Republicans. But Gov. Ron DeSantis was the first statewide Republican in 20 years to carry the county during his 2022 gubernatorial reelection victory, and Tony Figueroa, president of Miami Young Republicans, said they’re hoping to capitalize on that momentum this election season. They’re considering Saturday a general election kickoff for the area, even though Trump won’t formally be nominated until the convention in Milwaukee in July and the Florida primaries for state and local candidates aren’t until August. “We're only six months away from the election, and so we want to get ahead of things as soon as possible,” Figueroa said. “People want to do something about it. So we're really giving them an avenue to channel that enthusiasm — channel that activation — into one formal event.” Among the attendees will be former UFC champ Colby Covington, Rep. Carlos Giménez, state Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, state Rep. David Borrero and state Sen. Ileana Garcia. Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes predicted Florida and Miami-Dade would deliver a “massive victory” for Trump, pointing to polling, voter enthusiasm and donors. “Even with independents and Democrats, especially Hispanic voters, our campaign is seeing additions to the already strong Trump base here in the Sunshine state,” he said. But the Ruth’s List event across town serves as a reminder of one of the policy issues that’ll be a vulnerability to Trump — who appointed the three Supreme Court justices that cemented the majority that overturned Roe v. Wade — as well as other Republicans. Ever since the Florida Supreme Court upheld a six-week abortion ban in the state and said voters could decide to overturn the ban through a ballot measure in November, Democrats have been leaning in heavily on the issue. Florida’s abortion laws even drew appearances in the state from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Ruth’s List is doing the “She’s the Change” event not only as a fundraiser for the candidates they endorsed, but also as a training ahead of the election. Throughout Saturday they’ll teach volunteers and candidates how to talk to voters about reproductive rights when they knock on doors, as well as how to get donors on their side. Roughly 50 of the endorsed candidates are expected to attend and the keynote speaker is Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Ruth's List CEO Christina Diamond said most Florida voters didn’t support the six-week ban and that “there has never been a more important time for women and families.” “Ruth's List Florida is fighting back by electing more pro-choice women,” Diamond said. “Abortion is on the ballot and the voters will have their chance to vote Yes on 4 in November to put abortion protections and women's right to choose in the constitution." Top Democrats joining the event include Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, Florida House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, Senate Leader Designate-Elect Tracie Davis, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
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Hurricane Florence churns over the Atlantic Ocean in September 2018, as seen from the International Space Station. | ESA/NASA via AP | REINSURANCE — “Florida's hurricane fund in a ‘strong’ position heading into storm season,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “ Florida’s state-created fund that backs up private insurers is in a ‘strong’ position heading into this year’s hurricane season, which could rekindle debate over whether state officials should use the fund to help lower insurance rates. The fund — known as the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund — should have $10.16 billion available for the Atlantic hurricane season that starts June 1, according to estimates presented to an advisory council on Thursday. It has that much money available even though the fund has had to pay out billions in recent years due to devastating hurricanes such as Hurricane Ian.” VOTING LAWS — “‘The restrictions are unbelievable’: States target voter registration drives,” by the Center for Public Integrity’s Aaron Mendelson and Ashley Lopez. “Since the 2020 election, at least six states have passed legislation cracking down on voter registration drives. Many groups view the laws … as an existential threat to their work, and several have shut down operations rather than risk financial penalties or prison time.” FOOD AND HEALTH PROGRAMS — “DeSantis' conservative policies may cause a season of shortage for Florida kids,” reports John Kennedy of USA Today Network — Florida. “With schools soon letting out for summer, Florida’s poorest children face a season of shortage – with food programs and health coverage lacking because of actions taken by Gov. Ron DeSantis, advocates say.” FLORIDIANS BELIEVE — “FAU survey finds political, generational differences on human impact of climate change,” by the Palm Beach Post’s Antonio Fins. “While 74 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of independents agreed that ‘climate change is happening and largely caused by humans,’ just 40 percent of Republicans said the same. There is also a generational fissure. Some 66 percent of those under 50 years of age were ‘more likely to believe that human activity is the cause of climate change’ and 77 percent of those backed more aggressive state government action. But just 50 percent of those over 50 said they saw a significant human impact and only 59 percent wanted more action from the state government led by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida's Legislature.” HALLELUJAH — “Florida and Texas show signs of home prices falling,” by the Wall Street Journal’s Nicole Friedman. “The market is cooling and prices have started falling in some cities in Florida and Texas, where robust home-building activity in recent years has helped boost the number of homes for sale … In 10 Texas and Florida metro areas, the inventory of homes for sale in April exceeded typical prepandemic levels for this time of year, according to Realtor.com. In eight of those markets, pending sales in April fell from a year earlier.” INVESTIGATION — “State probes whether Rep. Carolina Amesty broke notary laws,” by Annie Martin and Leslie Postal of the Orlando Sentinel. “State authorities are investigating whether Rep. Carolina Amesty violated Florida’s notary laws after an Orlando Sentinel reader filed a complaint claiming the lawmaker notarized an employment form for a man who said he never signed the document. In a May 8 letter, the notary division of the governor’s office told Dennis Warren, a retired law enforcement officer who lives in Seminole County, that based on his complaint it had opened an investigation into Amesty’s conduct as a notary.”
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | — “17-year-old girl was killed in Tallahassee tornado outbreak, marking storm's 2nd fatality,” by the Tallahassee Democrat’s Jeff Burlew. TURNABOUT — “Call for end to Gaza hostilities was ‘naive,’ embattled Doral mayor says,” by Axios’ Sommer Brugal and Martin Vassolo. “One week after the city of Doral became the first South Florida municipality to call for ‘an immediate and permanent end to all hostilities’ in Israel and Gaza, its mayor reversed course, calling the action ‘well-intended’ but ‘naive’ and ‘fundamentally flawed.’ In the leadup to Thursday's about-face, Mayor Christi Fraga said she had met with local leaders and decided she needed "to take immediate corrective action and remedy" the resolution.” IN COURT — “Sarasota judge to decide about releasing Christian Ziegler's records,” by Gabriela Szymanowska of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “Attorneys argued the injunction went ‘overboard’ and are asking [Sarasota Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll] to allow the release of records contained in the investigative file, including Christian Ziegler’s text messages, and his Google Drive and Instagram accounts.” — “Sex, barflies, and videotape: Report details how GOP power couple prowled pubs for threesome partners,” reports Bob Norman of the Florida Trident.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | ALL GETTING ONBOARD — Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott both endorsed Rep. Laurel Lee for reelection this week. Both senators had endorsed Donald Trump during the 2024 primary over Gov. Ron DeSantis — unlike Lee, who’d been the lone member of the Florida GOP congressional delegation to back DeSantis. Trump had called for a Republican primary challenger to Lee, a former Florida secretary of state, though none emerged. FUNDRAISING FROM EX-RIVAL SUPPORT — “Trump taps Silicon Valley, DeSantis donors in campaign cash hunt,” reports Bloomberg’s Sarah McBride, Stephanie Lai and Michael Smith. “Venture capitalist David Sacks — who backed DeSantis in the Republican primary — and tech investor Chamath Palihapitiya are in talks with Trump’s team about holding a fundraiser next month for Trump at Broadcliff, Sacks’s San Francisco home, a person familiar with the matter said. The pair has invited Trump to participate in a taping of their podcast All In that would take place during the fundraiser.” WHAT FLORIDA DEMOCRATS ARE READING — “Taylor Swift, Beyoncé or Kim Kardashian's endorsement wouldn't necessarily influence voters, new poll shows,” by USA Today’s David Paleologos.
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GOP Rep. Greg Steube of Florida. | Alex Brandon/AP |
DISCHARGE PETITION — “Greg Steube has achieved a rare feat: Successfully forcing a bill to the House floor,” reports POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna. “On this occasion, a bill he crafted that would provide tax relief for losses due to federally declared disasters. He invoked a rarely successful procedural tool, the so-called discharge petition, to compel a floor vote on his legislation aimed at helping victims of hurricanes, wildfires and the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment. The Florida Republican hit 218 signatories — a majority of the House — of supporters on Wednesday, according to the chamber clerk.”
— “White House snubs DeSantis climate move as ‘shameful,’” by Robin Bravender of E&E News. TRUMP’S COURT ENTOURAGE — “Gaetz posts picture from courthouse with allusion to Proud Boys,” reports POLITICO’s Kyle Cheney. “Rep. Matt Gaetz is raising eyebrows for a morning post on X in which he declared that he is ‘standing back and standing by, Mr. President.’ The post includes a photo of him standing behind Trump inside the Manhattan criminal courthouse. The Florida Republican’s comment was an overt allusion to Trump’s own admonition to members of the far-right street brawling group the Proud Boys in 2020, when he was asked whether he condemned their tactics.” — “Gaetz, Boebert and other far-right members of Congress defend Trump outside court,” by POLITICO’s Emily Ngo. BILL FORCING WEAPONS TRANSFER TO ISRAEL — Three Florida Democrats helped the House pass a bipartisan bill rebuking the Biden administration’s decision to withhold certain weapons from Israel. Reps. Jared Moskowitz, Lois Frankel and Darren Soto all voted in favor of the bill, despite Democratic leadership advising members to vote against it. The bill condemns the White House’s decision to withhold certain weapons in the war in Gaza as President Joe Biden faces backlash from the left. Democratic Rep. Federica Wilson did not vote for the bill. Meanwhile Republican Reps. Carlos Gimenez, Matt Gaetz and Anna Paulina Luna also did not vote. The morning before the vote Gaetz and Luna were in New York visiting former President Donald Trump's trial. The rest of the Florida delegation voted down party lines. That includes Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former Democratic National Committee chair and strong Israel supporter, who had previously had concerns over the Biden administration’s decision to withhold weapons but then urged Biden to clarify his decision after speaking to White House officials. “This is not pro-Israel legislation,” Wasserman Schultz said about the bill. “It is dangerous, cynical, and counterproductive. It takes aim at Israel’s strong bipartisan support instead of uniting against Hamas.” — Mia McCarthy
| | TRANSITION TIME | | — House Speaker Paul Renner’s communications director, Andres Malavé, is joining the government relations team for Jones Walker, per Florida Politics.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “25 life hacks for surviving Florida summers,” per the Tampa Bay Times. BIRTHDAYS: Shannon Gravitte, VP for public affairs at AdventHealth … (Saturday) Miami Herald’s Ana Ceballos ... former state Rep. Mike Miller ... Florida Department of Law Enforcement public information officer Jeremy Burns … (Sunday) Senate President Kathleen Passidomo … Rep. Greg Steube … Cynthia Barnett, journalist and author … Dana Kelly, public information officer for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. | | | | 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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