News: POLITICO Florida Playbook: Crist and his 18 possible running mates

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

POLITICO Florida Playbook: Crist and his 18 possible running mates

Jun 22, 2022

Hello and welcome to Wednesday.

Too soon? — Rep. Charlie Crist has a Democratic primary to win first, but his campaign is already starting to get ready for the November election — and that includes picking a running mate.

First round — The Crist campaign has come up with a long list of 18 Democrats to consider as possible lieutenant governor nominees that includes a few potential surprising candidates, including Manny Diaz, the current chair of the Florida Democratic Party.

Next step — The plan, as told to Playbook by a person close to the campaign, is to use the long list as a springboard for the Crist team to do research and interviews before coming up with a list of finalists. The winner of the Aug. 23 Democratic primary must select a running mate within nine days.

Familiar names — Some of those featured on the list have already been mentioned by Crist previously in public, including former state Rep. Sean Shaw and Wayne Messam, the mayor of Miramar.

The mix — Another key goal for the Crist team is to show off the diversity of the Democratic Party. Of those on the list, 10 are women, six are Hispanic and speak Spanish and seven are Black. If Crist does win the primary over Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, his running mate would be squaring off against current Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, a former state legislator from Miami-Dade.

Would they do this? — One item of note is that the list of 18 candidates includes a dozen current elected officials, some of whom would have to give up relatively safe reelection campaigns to accept the invitation to run with Crist against a well-funded DeSantis operation. This includes Democratic rising star Fentrice Driskell, a state rep who was just recently picked as the incoming House minority leader.

Exit ramp? — The selection of Diaz would also have ramifications since it would likely require someone else to step in and run the party right ahead of a midterm election cycle where Florida Democrats may fare badly.

Under consideration — Other elected officials on the list include: state Rep. Anna Eskamani, Palm Beach County Property Appraiser Anne Gannon, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, Brevard School Board member Jennifer Jenkins, Rep. Al Lawson, Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado, state Sen. Tina Polsky, state Sen. Bobby Powell and state Rep. Marie Woodson.

Under consideration, Part 2 — The list also includes a handful of people who don't hold an office: Diaz, Shaw, Maria Celeste Arrarás, the well-known television personality, author and former anchor with Telemundo, Karla Hernandez Mats, president of the United Teachers of Dade, former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell, and Miami attorney Mary Ann Ruiz.

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to participate in a meeting of the State Board of Administration trustees.

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DRIVING THE DAY

ON THE MOVE — "Bipartisan gun bill clears initial vote in Senate," by The New York Times' Emily Cochrane and Annie Karni: "The Senate on Tuesday cleared the first hurdle to passing a bipartisan measure aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous people, agreeing to take up a compromise bill whose enactment would break a yearslong stalemate over federal legislation to address gun violence. While the bill falls short of the sweeping gun control measures Democrats have long demanded, its approval would amount to the most significant action in decades to overhaul the nation's gun laws. The 64-to-34 vote came just hours after Republicans and Democrats released the text of the legislation, and after days of feverish negotiations to hammer out its details."

Sen. Marco Rubio speaks at the Heritage Foundation.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) speaks at the Heritage Foundation March 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images

RUBIO, SCOTT VOTE NO — Florida's two Republican senators — Marco Rubio and Rick Scott — voted against moving the legislation forward. Scott, who is heading the Republican campaign efforts to retake the U.S. Senate, was a no vote even though as governor he signed into law a gun measure that raised the age to buy a rifle to 21 that was opposed by the National Rifle Association.

Not ready — Rubio's no vote came even though had previously said he was open to considering the legislation because it contained provisions — offering grants to states that pass 'red flag' laws — that had been in a bill he had previously championed. Rubio did not offer a detailed explanation about his opposition although on Twitter he said he did not have time to look at the legislation. "We are being asked to vote tonight to begin debate on a gun proposal whose legislative text was only made available less than an hour ago," Rubio stated.

CAMPAIGN MODE

EXCUSE ME — "DeSantis campaign warns that donations to 'Ready to Ron' don't benefit Florida governor's reelection," by Fox News' Paul Steinhauser: "Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign is warning the Florida Republican's donors that contributions sent to 'Ready for Ron,' a recently formed federal political action committee, 'do not benefit Governor DeSantis or his re-election.' The letter, obtained by Fox News and confirmed by DeSantis' political team, highlighted that the new PAC 'is apparently engaging in an aggressive media campaign to promote itself, running political ads, and actively soliciting contributions from supporters of Governor DeSantis.' But Benjamin Gibson, the DeSantis 2022 reelection campaign legal counsel, argued in the letter that 'in reality, the PAC is actively taking financial resources away from Governor DeSantis and his re-election efforts.'"

ON HOLD — 2024 intrigue: DeSantis declines to ask Trump for reelection endorsement, by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has plenty of advantages ahead of his November reelection. More than $100 million in the bank. A growing statewide Republican voter advantage. Massive popularity with the conservative base. What DeSantis doesn't need and isn't requesting: former President Donald Trump's endorsement. According to four people connected to the governor and former president, DeSantis has not asked Trump for a formal endorsement and isn't planning to. It's a clear sign that DeSantis, who more than four years ago was a little-known congressman from northeast Florida, has risen high in the GOP stratosphere.

If you want it — A person with knowledge of Trump's endorsement process who was granted anonymity to speak freely said that if DeSantis asked for his support, "he would endorse him." Trump has already handed out endorsements to numerous Florida Republicans on this year's ballot, including Sen. Marco Rubio as well as Attorney General Ashley Moody and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, two statewide officials who have no primary opponents.

THE DAVID CHRONICLES — "Is David Rivera making a political comeback? He says yes, but he's not on the ballot," by Miami Herald's Bianca Padró Ocasio : "Suggesting he could still be on the ballot after filing a last-minute bid for state House last week, former Congressman David Rivera said Tuesday he's going to wait for a written decision from the state on whether he qualified for the Aug. 23 primary election. 'I'm going to let the lawyers in Tallahassee handle that,' Rivera told Radio Mambí's Ninoska Pérez Castellón on Tuesday afternoon. 'The state still hasn't confirmed to me, but the paperwork has been handed over.'

FOR YOUR RADAR — Emerson College Polling on Tuesday released the third installment of its research initiative "Unlocking the Hispanic Vote," which focused on Florida. Researchers — who relied on combination of focus groups and surveys — found that the economy was far and away was the most pressing problem cited by those polled. Thirty-eight percent flagged the economy, compared to 10 percent who said housing was the most pressing problem. The poll, which was done in late May, has a margin of error of plus/minus 3.4 percent.

Partisan breakdown — The poll also found that Florida Hispanics were split on their view of the Democratic and Republican parties: 38 percent have a positive view of the Democratic Party and 38 percent have a positive view of the Republican Party. Hispanics in South Florida, where researchers held focus groups, were more favorable of the Republican Party: 46 percent had a positive view of the GOP versus 37 percent with a positive view of Democrats.

CAMPAIGN ROUNDUP — Florida Republicans say they reached a significant milestone in the 2020 cycle. The Florida Victory team recorded that it has now contacted 1 million voters. Republicans say they have knocked on more than 410,000 doors and made over 600,000 phone calls. Republican National Committee spokeswoman Julia Friedland said in a statement that "while Democrats continue to give up on Floridians, Republicans are not taking a single voter for granted in the Sunshine State." … Florida Professional Firefighters on Tuesday endorsed Senate President Wilton Simpson for agriculture commissioner.

— " Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis reveals Mamas for DeSantis: 'Largest movement of parents in Florida history,'" by Fox News Cortney O'Brien

— " Charlie Crist, Nikki Fried look for voter turnout help heading into Democratic primary," by USA Today Network-Florida's John Kennedy

— "DeSantis makes Florida Senate power play with endorsement in Tampa race, others ," by Tampa Bay Times Emily L. Mahoney

— "Half dozen GOP lawmakers may have also reported donations during session," by Florida Politics' Jacob Ogles

JOIN TUESDAY FOR WOMEN RULE TALK ON THE ECONOMY: The U.S. economy is showing signs of slowing down after a period of robust growth last year. How would an economic slowdown affect women's economic security across socioeconomic, racial, and geographic lines? Join POLITICO's Women Rule for a conversation on what's ahead for the U.S. economy and how it will impact women's livelihoods and economic well-being. REGISTER HERE.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

WHO COULD IT BE? — Biden criticizes politicians 'who make it more difficult for parents' amid dust up with Florida over childhood vaccines, by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: President Joe Biden on Tuesday took a thinly-veiled jab at Gov. Ron DeSantis over Florida's response to Covid-19 childhood vaccinations, saying that elected officials shouldn't make it harder for parents to vaccinate their children. Biden did not mention Florida or DeSantis by name during brief remarks on vaccinating young kids. But they follow a fight between the White House and the DeSantis administration over Florida's move not to pre-order Covid-19 vaccines for children under 5 years old prior to the federal government authorizing use in children.

WELCOMED — "'Waiting for so long': COVID vaccines reach youngest Floridians," by Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson and Christopher O'Donnell: "When Delquanda Turner Smith saw the alert on her phone last week that the COVID-19 vaccine had been approved for children ages 4 and under, she breathed a sigh of relief. Her two youngest sons — Carlton is 3 and Erik is 4 — both suffer from an immune disorder which prevents their bodies from fighting off even minor illnesses. '(They) can't fight off a common cold, how (are they) going to fight off COVID?' she said. 'We've been waiting for so long — too long — to get our babies vaccinated.'"

— " COVID-19 positivity rate in Leon County jumps to 20%, eclipsing statewide percentage," by Tallahassee Democrat's Christopher Cann

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

SCHOOL DAZE — Federal judge to rule on attempt to block Florida law targeting 'woke' lessons , by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: A federal judge in the coming days will decide whether to block Florida from enforcing a high-profile new law backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that limits how race can be brought up in the classroom and workplace. Lawyers representing a group of parents and educators challenging the so-called "Stop WOKE Act" faced off in court Tuesday against the state in an attempt to put the policies on hold as the case plays out in the legal system. The timing is critical since education agencies are crafting rules to soon enact the measure. While the group argued that the legislation is suppressing free speech, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker expressed "grave concerns" about the lawsuit, whose sole student defendant is an incoming kindergartner.

IN COURT — "Florida fights a proposed temporary injunction on the 15-week abortion limit," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "Attorneys for the state are fighting an attempt to block a 15-week abortion limit that is slated to take effect July 1. Lawyers in Attorney General Ashley Moody's office filed a 29-page document Monday urging Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper to reject a request by abortion clinics and a doctor for a temporary injunction against the limit, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in April. Cooper will hear arguments June 27 on the proposed temporary injunction in a case that could ultimately test whether a privacy clause in the Florida Constitution will protect abortion rights in the future."

— "Gov. DeSantis signs bill easing payment plans for court fines," by Florida Politics' Gray Rohrer

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

CALLING OUT BILL NELSON — 'Get your boy Elon in line': NASA tell-all recounts turmoil over private space race , by POLITICO's Bryan Bender: Lori Garver is blasting her Washington tell-all into an orbit all its own. The NASA veteran who rose to be the agency's No. 2 in the Obama administration doesn't hold back in a new memoir out on Tuesday recounting her battles with unscrupulous contractors, near-sighted bureaucrats and self-dealing politicians.

No. 1 — Garver accuses lawmakers in both parties of continuing to put their own political interests above NASA's. She says one of the biggest impediments to reform was Bill Nelson, the former U.S. senator from Florida who represented Kennedy Space Center and now runs NASA. It was Nelson, she writes, who "led the opposition" to the Commercial Crew Program — the novel public-private partnership she championed that culminated in 2020 with SpaceX's Crew Dragon returning American astronauts to the International Space Station from U.S. soil for the first time in a decade.

Bill Nelson

HMM — "Criminal justice panel says there's probable cause to revoke Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony's police certification," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Lisa J. Huriash: "Broward's sheriff could lose his police certification, officials said Tuesday. A panel, part of the state Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, conducted a Probable Cause Determination hearing on Tuesday for 80 cases, including that of Sheriff Gregory Tony. … If he loses his certification, he loses the ability to act as a law enforcement officer in Florida. It has no bearing on Tony retaining the role of Broward Sheriff, however, since a civilian can hold the elected position."

— " Florida concerned about Petro's election in Colombia. It's 'disastrous,' says DeSantis," by El Nuevo Herald's Antonio Maria Delgado

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— "Surgeons challenge 'Brazilian Butt Lift' restrictions," by News Service of Florida's Jim Saunders: "Seven plastic surgeons are asking an appeals court to block a new state emergency rule that placed additional restrictions on procedures known as 'Brazilian butt lifts.' The surgeons, who practice in Miami-Dade County, and the group Surgeons for Safety, Inc., filed the challenge Monday in the 3rd District Court of Appeal after the Florida Board of Medicine approved the emergency rule June 3. The rule limits surgeons to performing three of the procedures a day and requires that they use ultrasound. The procedures, more technically called gluteal fat grafting, involve injecting fat to enlarge or reshape patients' buttocks."

BIRTHDAYS: Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady … state Rep. Daniel Perez

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