| | | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Presented by No Casinos, Inc. | Hello and welcome to Tuesday. A jolt — This changes everything. For Ron DeSantis. For Marco Rubio. And, of course, for Val Demings. Pivot — POLITICO's Marc Caputo reports this morning that Demings, the 64-year-old former Orlando police chief who was on Joe Biden's shortlist for vice president, is going to challenge Rubio in 2022 — NOT DeSantis. D.C. focus — An adviser told Caputo that one of the reasons she opted to challenge Rubio, who is seeking a third term, is that she had grown frustrated with Senate Republicans under Mitch McConnell and their "obstruction." "If I had to point to one thing, I think it's the Covid bill and the way Republicans voted against it for no good reason," the adviser said. "That really helped push her over the edge. She also had this huge fight with [Ohio Republican Rep.] Jim Jordan and it brought that into focus. This fight is in Washington and it's the right fight for her to continue." Primary change — Demings decision to take on Rubio has ripple effects in two separate races. It means the winner of a likely Democratic primary between Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried will be the challenger to DeSantis, who has seen his national profile continue to rise as a potential 2024 presidential contender. (He was in Austin, Texas, on Monday for a fundraiser.) Different path — This also puts Demings on a possible collision course with other central Florida Democrats, such as fellow Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who had been looking and sounding like she was planning to mount a challenge against Rubio. But Demings decision to run against Rubio also means that the Senate race could easily transform into one of the more closely watched elections in the 2022 cycle. — WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com | | | | A message from No Casinos, Inc. The proposed compact is predicated on accepting something that is fictional, as fact. Because according to the Compact, someone placing a bet on their mobile device, anywhere in Florida, is actually gambling "on Tribal lands" if the computer server happens to be located at a tribal facility. Learn more. | | |
|  | CAMPAIGN MODE | | 'THIS FIGHT IS IN WASHINGTON' — "Val Demings to run for Senate against Rubio," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo: For months, Rep. Val Demings mulled which statewide office to pursue, but decided she could do the most good by taking on the two-term senator, according to several Democrats familiar with her thinking. "I would've supported her running for governor, but this is the right fit for her and for us," said Alex Sink, a former Florida chief financial officer who narrowly lost her 2010 bid for governor against Rick Scott, who is now a senator. "She's going to draw a contrast between who she is and how she represents Florida vs. Marco Rubio, who a lot of people where I live never see him." | 
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 29: Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) speaks during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law hearing on Online Platforms and Market Power in the Rayburn House office Building, July 29, 2020 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee was scheduled to hear testimony from the CEOs of Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Google. (Photo by Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images) | Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images | — "Orlando's Stephanie Murphy courts local Democrats in possible challenge to Marco Rubio," by Tallahassee Democrat's James Call — " Florida's Alan Grayson says 'signs are good' for a U.S. Senate run," by Bay News 9's Mitch Perry | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WEST WING PLAYBOOK: Add West Wing Playbook to keep up with the power players, latest policy developments and intriguing whispers percolating inside the West Wing and across the highest levels of the Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | ADD IT UP — "Republicans scramble to pick up enough votes for gambling deal with Seminole Tribe," by POLITICO's Gary Fineout and Matt Dixon: Gov. Ron DeSantis and supporters of a sweeping gambling package have been forced to scramble for votes to salvage a multibillion-dollar deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as a rare coalition of skeptical Republicans and Democrats has thrown some doubt into its passage. On the first day of the special session dedicated to passing the proposed 30-year deal, the Republican governor and tribal leaders agreed to jettison a contentious provision on online gambling to win over key Republicans such as House Speaker Chris Sprowls. Too early? — That 11th-hour change followed one-on-one lobbying from DeSantis directly, who on Saturday phoned hesitant Republican legislators, according to sources. Jim Allen, the CEO of Seminole Gaming who appeared before legislative committees, called it "premature" to say if there were enough votes to ultimately pass the deal, also known as a compact. With close vote, Dems have sway — Another challenge is also emerging: House Democrats have been heavily lobbying to have the estimated $500 million generated annually from the potential deal with the Tribe — which would allow sports betting in the nation's third-largest state — be spent on areas important to Democratic legislators. A memo sent Friday by state Rep. Nicholas Duran (D-Miami) to the House Democratic caucus outlined a series of policy areas — such as housing, education and Medicaid expansion — where they would like specifically dedicated funding from the new gaming deal. WASN'T THIS IMPORTANT THREE WEEKS AGO? — "Legislature races toward mobile sports betting but without safeguards for mobile data privacy," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas: "As the Florida Legislature convened Monday for a special session to legalize mobile sports betting in Florida, one issue essential to the growth of the industry has been left out of drafts of the 18 bills filed in the House and Senate: How the gambling industry harvests and handles consumers' data. It's not a new issue. Legislators spent much of the regular session on a proposal that would have imposed new disclosure requirements on companies that collect information from anyone who downloads an app or uses a website. The bill was vigorously opposed by some of the state's largest industries, and it died on the last day of session." JOB CREATION FOR LEGISLATORS? — The special session is moving rapidly and is now expected to wrap up by Wednesday. Something to pay attention to on Day 2 in the House Select Committee on Gaming: An interesting change to the bill to create a new Florida Gaming Control Commission. Bill sponsor Rep. Bill Rommel has filed an amendment that would change who can be appointed to the commission. The bill initially stated that a legislator would have to be out of office for at least two years before they could be appointed to the commission, which will pay commissioners $136,000 a year. Rommel's amendment would wipe out that prohibition. — "DeSantis' gambling deal means billions for Florida, but is it enough?" by Sun Sentinel's Skyler Swisher and Orlando Sentinel's Gray Rohrer — "Lawmakers' angst over expansion of mobile betting brings changes to gaming compact," by Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos and Mary Ellen Klas — "Senate passes fantasy sports regulations over DraftKings' and FanDuel's fears," by Florida Politics Renzo Downey — "Miami Beach, Doral leaders fear gambling in cities will follow casino deal," by NBC 6's Tony Pipitone 'UNFAIR' — "BOG member raises alarm over accreditation board's role in FSU search," by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: At least one member of the state university system Board of Governors said an accreditation board overstepped its boundaries by interfering with Florida State University's search for a new president. In an email to BOG leadership on Sunday, Alan Levine wrote that the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges "short-circuited" Florida's governance by implying FSU could lose its accreditation while considering Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran for its top job. — " Christina Pushaw, outspoken Rebekah Jones critic, tapped as DeSantis' press secretary," by The Capitolist's Jordan Kirkland and Brian Burgess | | | | A message from No Casinos, Inc.   | | |
| | Gaetz-gate | | GUILTY — "Gaetz associate pleads guilty to 6 federal crimes, including sex trafficking a teen," by POLITICO's Marc Caputo: A former friend and ally of Rep. Matt Gaetz formally pleaded guilty Monday to multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking a minor, ID theft, stalking and fraud, bringing his broad crime spree to an end and officially marking a new chapter in the investigation of the embattled congressman. Joel Greenberg, who had served as a locally elected tax collector in Central Florida's Seminole County, had to resign his post last year after he was hit with the first of three indictments that eventually totaled 33 federal charges, but prosecutors agreed to pare those back in order to secure his cooperation. Response — Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing ever since word leaked in March that federal investigators were looking into whether the Florida congressman had sex with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has not been charged with any crime. "Joel Greenberg has now confessed to falsely accusing an innocent man of having sex with a minor," said Harlan Hill, a Gaetz spokesperson. | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | CLOSED FOR SUMMER — "Trump jets off to New Jersey, but GOP Florida still in ex-president's thrall," by Palm Beach Post's Antonio Fins: "Former President Donald Trump is at his New Jersey property for the summer and his Mar-a-Lago club is closed until the fall, but Palm Beach County and South Florida remain very much in the Trumpian political limelight. Just last week, the Trumpettes fan club, including numerous Mar-a-Lago club members, announced it will host another gala for Trump at Mar-a-Lago in mid-February of next year. The group held three major parties at Mar-a-Lago dating to 2018, selling out each year and welcoming then-President Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis at the 2020 gala. 'This will be the biggest event we've ever held,' said Trumpettes co-founder Toni Holt Kramer, adding that next year's event will be used to start 2022 midterm election efforts." | | | | JOIN WEDNESDAY - "THE RECAST" LIVE CONVERSATION: Earlier this year, we launched "The Recast" newsletter breaking down the changing power dynamics in America and how race and identity shape politics, policy and power. We are recasting how we report on this crucial intersection by bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Join Brakkton Booker, "The Recast" newsletter author and national political correspondent at POLITICO, for a live conversation with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.); Malika Redmond, co-founder, president and CEO of Women Engaged; Sonal Shah, founding president, The Asian American Foundation; and Lauren Williams, co-founder, CEO and editor in chief of Capital B, about redefining power in America. REGISTER HERE. | | | | |
| | CORONAVIRUS UPDATES | | The daily rundown — Between Sunday and Monday, the number of Florida coronavirus cases increased by 1,976, to 2,293,980; active hospitalizations increased by 33 (nearly 1.4 percent), to 2,443; death of Florida residents rose by 58 (nearly 0.2 percent), to 36,133; 9,608,397 Floridians have received at least one dose of a vaccine. 'A BREATH OF FRESH AIR' — "Disney World fan reaction is complicated after the theme park changes its mask rule overnight," by Orlando Sentinel's Gabrielle Russon: "In Chicago, Hilary Klein was packing her suitcase Friday night before her 6 a.m. flight to Orlando when the news broke. Maggie Locker-Polding waited for the Disney gondola to leave Epcot for the night when she saw the update on her phone. Soon a buzz generated among strangers in the line. For Sarah Kincaid, a mom from the Florida Panhandle, the plans to go to Disney for her son's birthday were suddenly a new cause of worry. These are among the Disney visitors caught off guard by Disney World's Friday night announcement that masks would no longer be required outdoors for the first time since the attractions reopened in July during the pandemic." RETURNING — "Florida tourism improves in early 2021, but still struggles to recover from pandemic," by News Service of Florida's Jim Turner: "Florida's tourism industry saw improvement during the first three months of 2021, but the number of visitors was still down 14% from a year earlier as the state continued to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel-industry officials can envision bluer economic skies ahead as businesses scale back mask requirements and other social-distancing rules imposed to combat the virus that has killed more than 36,000 Floridians." — " UF announces plans for full capacity in the Swamp during 2021 season," by Orlando Sentinel's Edgar Thompson | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | FIRED BEFORE THE INVESTIGATION IS OVER? — "Florida education commissioner says he made sure Amy Donofrio was fired; now her legal team's responding," by Florida Times-Union's Emily Bloch: "A Duval County teacher who hung a Black Lives Matter flag in her classroom says she heard she was fired through a YouTube video. On Monday, Amy Donofrio's legal team released a statement criticizing a recent guest speaking engagement from Florida Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran at Hillsdale College, a private conservative school in Michigan. Corcoran used Donofrio as an example while speaking about critical race theory and curriculum oversight and announced that he had her fired. In March, the school district announced Donofrio would be removed from her classroom while Duval Schools conducted an investigation for 'several allegations.' The district declined to say what those allegations are, citing the active investigation. By April, the Southern Poverty Law Center announced it was suing Duval Schools on Donofrio's behalf." WHAT'S GOING ON? — "Lawsuit alleges 'massive' cover-up, lies in Hialeah police chase and killing of motorist," by Miami Herald's David Ovalle: "Four years ago, Lester Machado led Hialeah police on a car chase that ended when he crashed into a concrete Metrorail column. Six police officers fired a staggering 122 bullets, killing Machado inside his car. The reason for the traffic stop in the first place? The Hialeah cop who tried pulling over Machado said his Honda Accord had a broken tag light. But lawyers for his family now claim that the officer, Teannie Hernandez, lied about the reason for the stop in October 2017. The evidence: When lawyers had the Honda, still in police custody, recently hooked up to a battery, the tag light worked perfectly, according to a newly updated lawsuit filed in federal court." — "Clevelander sues Miami Beach over 2 a.m. alcohol-sales rollback, Ocean Drive closure," by Miami Herald's Martin Vassolo | | ...HURRICANE HOLE... | | STORM WARNING — "As hurricane season approaches, three insurers are canceling thousands of Florida customers," by Sun Sentinel's Ron Hurtibise: "As another hurricane season bears down on the state, more than 50,000 Florida home insurance customers will soon receive notices that their policies have been canceled or won't be renewed. State insurance regulators recently authorized 'extraordinary' terminations of thousands of policies of Florida-based insurers Universal Insurance of North America, Gulfstream Property & Casualty, and Southern Fidelity." | | | | A message from No Casinos, Inc. Florida voters overwhelmingly approved the Voter Control of Gambling Amendment in 2018. Now, gambling lobbyists are trying to convince your legislators to break the law, pass the largest gambling expansion in the state, and ignore your right to vote. In 2018, 72% of Florida Voters Approved Amendment 3, which says "…Florida voters shall have the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling in the State of Florida." That means new gambling in Florida can only be authorized by a statewide vote of the people. But gambling interests want our elected officials to approve this proposed compact without voter approval. That's not just wrong, it's unconstitutional. Learn more. | | |
| | ODDS, ENDS, AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Derek Jeter sells Tampa mansion Tom Brady had been renting," by The Associated Press: "Former New York Yankee superstar Derek Jeter has sold his waterfront mansion in Tampa for $22.5 million — meaning Tom Brady might be headed to new rental digs. The seven-bedroom, eight-bath estate was sold on Friday, said Smith & Associates, the real estate firm that handled the transaction. The firm did not disclose the buyer and the sale had not yet been recorded Monday by Hillsborough County, a process that can take several days." BIRTHDAYS: Miami Herald's Ana Ceballos ... former state Rep. Mike Miller ... Florida Department of Law Enforcement public information officer Jeremy Burns
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