| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Wednesday. It was 30 years ago this morning that Hurricane Andrew slammed into Florida, ultimately destroying more than 49,000 homes and killing dozens of people. Get to work — Democrats and Republicans are wasting little time basking in the afterglow of the primary. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Marco Rubio will be out on the campaign trail today to rail against Democrats, President Joe Biden and the two Democratic nominees for U.S. Senate and governor — Val Demings and Charlie Crist. Democrats are expected to host their own unity rally on Thursday as they hold off Republicans and the goal of GOP leaders to prove to the nation that Florida is no longer a battleground state. Crist will do his own campaign event early this morning to talk his "Florida for All" proposal and "his plan to defeat Ron DeSantis." But first, a few takeaways from the sprawling results of Tuesday's primary: Twitter still isn't real — No matter how many viral moments the campaign of Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried tried to dial up, many of those social media followers didn't translate into voters. Fried — who four years ago became the first Democrat to win a statewide race since 2012 — was outflanked in the primary for governor by a poised, experienced politician whose campaign methodically checked all the boxes in route to a crushing nearly 25-point win over Fried. There was no surge, there was no momentum. It was all promises in the wind. Fried isn't done but she won't be LG — Fried told Meet the Press' Chuck Todd she would accept an offer to run as Crist's nominee for lieutenant governor. She won't get asked and she isn't on the short list either. Fried spent weeks ripping into Crist and questioning whether he was a real Democrat. Fried, however, said that "win or lose," she will be working on a citizen initiative to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution. She was already working with attorneys to draw up a measure to put on the 2024 ballot. The DeSantis touch — The governor didn't wade into a single congressional race on the ballot. Instead, he threw his energy and weight into local school board races as well as a handful of legislative contests. And it largely worked. The governor and his team won more than two-thirds of the school board contests — which are technically non-partisan — that were up for grabs on Tuesday. Next up is Crist, who DeSantis is already linking to Biden. Demings-Rubio gets real — We already knew this race was going to be one to watch. Rep. Val Demings easily won the Democratic nomination, but now the going gets rough. Demings has been outspending Rubio on television ads for most of the summer. But that's about to change. Florida First Project, a super PAC backing Rubio, is already up this morning with ads as part of a nearly $1 million buy going after Demings. Rubio's campaign has also kicked off with his own ads that echo the exact same points of attack that the super PAC ad does as well. Both tie Demings, a former police chief, to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and question her support for law enforcement. Redistricting makes a difference — State Sen. Aaron Bean, former Secretary of State Laurel Lee, defense contractor Cory Mills and Trump-backed Anna Paulina Luna are seen as favorites to make it to Congress later this year. They were all assisted by a map pushed into law by DeSantis after the governor vetoed the first set of congressional lines approved by the GOP-controlled Legislature. Is that map legal? That's yet to be determined. But it's paving the way for Republicans to increase their margin in Florida. — WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to participate in the "Keep Florida Free" tour with Sen. Marco Rubio that is scheduled to make stops in Jacksonville, Tampa and Seminole County. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch: gfineout@politico.com
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| THE FIELD IS SET — DeSantis has his November opponent: Ex-Gov. Crist, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon and Gary Fineout: Turns out, Florida Democrats were not looking for #SomethingNew. Rep. Charlie Crist, as expected, topped state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in Tuesday's Democratic gubernatorial primary. He will now take on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is an overwhelming general election favorite. Reaction — "Tonight, the people of Florida clearly sent a message," Crist said Tuesday night at his victory party. "They want a governor who cares about them, to solve real problems, who preserves our freedom. Not a bully who divides us and takes our freedom away. We are going to defeat Ron DeSantis in November," he said to loud applause. He also thanked Fried, saying they shared the same goal in wanting to beat the Republican governor. | 
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep Charlie Crist, D-Fla., gestures as he speaks to supporters after declaring victory Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in St. Petersburg, Fla. | Octavio Jones/Getty Images | FOR THE WIN — Most DeSantis-endorsed school board candidates win their primaries, by POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: The majority of local school board candidates backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis — at least 21 out of 30 — won their elections Tuesday, results that underscore how the Republican governor's stance on education has gained support throughout Florida. In particular, conservative candidates who DeSantis endorsed won at least four of the seven head-to-head elections against opponents supported by Democrats, decisions that could spur new school board dynamics in several counties. On top of the victories by DeSantis, four other races featuring candidates with his support are slated to square off in runoff elections. — Democrats gain momentum: 5 takeaways from the last big primary night of 2022, by POLITICO's David Siders, Gary Fineout and Matt Dixon MAGIC 8-BALL SAYS — " Florida Democrats choose Crist to challenge and beat DeSantis. Can he?" by Miami Herald's Bianca Padro Ocasio: "The early win, however decisive, now places him as the underdog in a nationally watched race where DeSantis not only holds a massive fundraising advantage — with $130 million and counting — but has led the Florida GOP as it has surpassed Democrats in statewide voter registration. And in Miami-Dade County, crucial to former President Donald Trump's Florida victory in 2020, Democrats have lost ground among Hispanic voters. Wasting no time to make his case, DeSantis teased Tuesday evening in Hialeah that he would campaign to get the 'biggest Republican turnout this state has ever seen.'" | 
Republican gubernatorial incumbent Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaks to supporters Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, in Hialeah, Fla. DeSantis will face U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist in November. (AP Photo/Gaston De Cardenas) | AP | — "Crist cruises to primary victory in Florida, but Democrats are 'fatalistic' about defeating DeSantis," by NBC News' Marc Caputo — "What awaits Crist in battle against DeSantis for Florida governor," by Tampa Bay Times' Emily L. Mahoney — "' We are fighting back': DeSantis, Rubio and Nuñez celebrate GOP election victories," by Miami Herald's Omar Rodriguez Ortiz: MOVING CLOSER TO D.C. — Gen-Z activist and 2020 skeptic among Florida primary winners , by POLITICO's Gary Fineout: Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a 25-year-old Generation Z activist and occasional Uber driver supported by progressives, is just one of more than a dozen candidates who are poised to head to Congress after Tuesday's primaries. The list in Florida also includes Cory Mills, a defense contractor and skeptic of the 2020 election results who won a bitter GOP primary. Put it in the books — Frost will make history as the first member of his generation in Florida to make it to Congress if he wins Florida's 10th congressional district, as expected in November. "It's hard to wrap my head around," Frost said in a phone interview. "We have been campaigning for a year. We still have a lot of work to do and I'm not going to take the general election for granted." — " Laurel Lee beats Kelli Stargel, 3 others to become Republican nominee for Florida's new CD 15," by The Ledger's Sara-Megan Walsh — "Cherfilus-McCormick wins primary in U.S. House race for Florida's 20th congressional district ," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Susannah Bryan — "Annette Taddeo wins Democratic primary, will challenge Salazar for congressional seat," by Miami Herald's Joey Flechas — "Anna Paulina Luna defeats Kevin Hayslett for CD 13 GOP nomination," by Florida Politics' Kelly Hayes — " Vern Buchanan defeats Martin Hyde in District 16 congressional primary race," by Sarasota Herald-Tribune's Jesse Mendoza — "Aaron Bean easily cruises over Erick Aguilar, Jon Chuba for CD 4 nod ," by Florida Politics' Wes Wolfe — "Jared Moskowitz wins Democratic nomination for Florida's 23rd congressional district," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Amber Randall — "Cory Mills wins contentious CD 7 Republican primary," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers BACK TO WORK — Book crushes Sharief in rare primary challenge, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: The unexpected primary forced Book to spend $1.8 million to fend off Sharief, who seeded her campaign with a $500,000 personal loan. In the end, though, the race was not close and Book faces no general election opponent and will return to Tallahassee. Job ahead — Book will now immediately turn to helping her party's five key Senate races, which include protecting incumbent state Sen. Lorrane Ausley of Tallahassee, Janet Cruz of Tampa, and boosting candidates Joy Goff-Marcil (D-Maitland) in her race to unseat state Sen. Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford); Raquel Pacheco's attempt to knock off Republican Sen. Ileana Garcia of Miami; and Janelle Perez in her race against Republican Alexis Maria Calatayud for an open Miami seat. — " Ron DeSantis-backed Kiyan Michael emerges from three-way GOP brawl in HD 16," by Florida Politics A.G. Gancarski — "Tracie Davis wins Democratic nomination for Florida Senate in Jacksonville District 5 election ," by Florida Times-Union's Steve Patterson — "Geraldine Thompson returns to Senate in SD 15," by Florida Politics' Scott Powers — "Kim Daniels win HD 14 Democratic primary, poised to return to Florida House," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski — " Michele Salzman once again beats Mike Hill in Florida House District 1 race," by Pensacola News Journal's Brittany Misencik DEMS PICK THEIR ATTORNEY — Ayala beats 'Grim Reaper' lawyer in race to unseat GOP Attorney General Ashley Moody , by POLITICO's Arek Sarkissian: Florida Democrats on Tuesday chose Aramis Ayala, a staunch opponent of the state's death penalty law, to run against Republican incumbent Ashley Moody for attorney general in November. Ayala, a former Orlando-Osceola state attorney, won Tuesday's closed primary election with more than 44 percent of the vote, according to results from the state elections website. Ayala was followed by lawyer Daniel Uhlfelder with just over 28 percent of the vote, and Fort Lauderdale lawyer James Lewis with just over 27 percent. CABINET RACE SET — Simpson, Blemur advance in primaries for state agriculture commissioner, by POLITICO's Bruce Ritchie: In a statement Tuesday night, [Wilton] Simpson said he never quit working during the coronavirus outbreak and cast his opponent as a "voice for Joe Biden and the liberal Zoom-class that rode out the pandemic working from home in their pajamas." Asked how she would take on Simpson and his huge financial lead heading into the general election, [Naomi Esther] Blemur said in an interview Tuesday night she is not focused on Nov. 8. "I'm focused on this night celebrating my win with my friends and family," she said. "Tomorrow will be another day." — " Florida Democrats pick Charlie Crist to face Gov. Ron DeSantis," by The New York Times' Patricia Mazzei — " Florida U.S. Senate results: Val Demings-Marco Rubio matchup is on," by Tampa Bay Times' Kirby Wilson and Divya Kumar — "Gantt upsets incumbent James Bush III in state House District 109 ," by Miami Herald's Mary Ellen Klas
| | | | INTRODUCING POWER SWITCH: The energy landscape is profoundly transforming. Power Switch is a daily newsletter that unlocks the most important stories driving the energy sector and the political forces shaping critical decisions about your energy future, from production to storage, distribution to consumption. Don't miss out on Power Switch, your guide to the politics of energy transformation in America and around the world. SUBSCRIBE TODAY. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | TOP GOV TAKES FLIGHT NATIONALLY — Put this on your radar screen. The one-minute ad that Gov. Ron DeSantis' reelection campaign put out on Monday evening took to the airwaves across the country on Tuesday. The ad, which covers "dogfighting" with the media, aired nationally on Fox News, according to tracking firm AdImpact including in markets such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City. DeSantis' reelection campaign spent at least $300,000 on the ad buy. FOR YOUR RADAR — " Joel Greenberg named as witness in 'ghost' candidate case," by Orlando Sentinel's Annie Martin: "Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg has been named as a witness in the state's case against an independent "ghost" candidate who ran for a competitive state Senate seat in 2020 and the Seminole County GOP Chairman who aided her candidacy. Greenberg, who is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to sex trafficking and other federal crimes over a year ago, has been listed as a witness against GOP Chair Ben Paris and former candidate Jestine Iannotti, who face criminal charges in connection with the scheme, which has roiled Florida politics during the past two years." — "Orange Mayor Jerry Demings wins again; sales tax campaign awaits," by Orlando Sentinel's Stephen Hudak — " Anna V. Eskamani seeks new voters in pro-Roe ads," by Florida Politics' Renzo Downey — "Rick Scott's ill-timed Italian vacation ," by Axios' Jonathan Swan, Josh Kraushaar and Alayna Treene
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | MORE DETAILS — Documents recovered at Mar-a-Lago were among government's most classified, letter shows , by POLITICO's Kyle Cheney, Andrew Desiderio and Lara Seligman: The National Archives found more than 700 pages of classified material — including "special access program materials," some of the most highly classified secrets in the government — in 15 boxes recovered from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in January, according to correspondence between the National Archivist and his legal team. — " Jan. 6 panel questions Trump Cabinet members on 25th Amendment talks," by The New York Times' Luke Broadwater and Maggie Haberman — " Increased anti-Semitic rhetoric targeted toward Palm Beach magistrate in Trump case," by Palm Beach Post's Stephany Matat — "Gov. DeSantis won't say if he and Donald Trump have talked since Mar-a-Lago search ," by Florida Politics' A.G. Gancarski
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | 'BIDEN HAS NOT SENT ANYONE' — DeSantis: Florida not busing immigrants because Biden stopped sending them, by POLITICO's Matt Dixon: Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration has not yet started busing undocumented immigrants from Florida to other parts of the country, in part, he says, because the Biden administration has stopped sending them. During the 2022 legislative session, DeSantis championed a proposal to take migrants sent from the southern border to Florida as part of a long running program through the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. The $12 million proposal was tucked in a larger immigration bill that was among the most contentious of the legislative session.
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | DOES IT NEED TO BE ANSWERED? — "What would happen if Category 5 Hurricane Andrew hit Florida today?" by Washington Post's Bob Henson: "Forecasters and the public alike had no time to waste 30 years ago this month as they confronted one of the fiercest U.S. hurricane landfalls on record. Hurricane Andrew slammed into southern Miami-Dade County around 5 a.m. Eastern time on Monday, Aug. 24, 1992. Intensifying and accelerating en route, Andrew made landfall less than 36 hours after a hurricane watch was issued for the southeast Florida coast, and less than 24 hours after a hurricane warning went into effect." — " Hurricane season on the verge of rarely-seen August without a named storm," by South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Chris Perkins
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — "Florida man convicted of storming US Capitol during riot," by The Associated Press: "A Florida man was convicted Tuesday of storming the U.S. Capitol during the January 2021 insurrection. A District of Columbia federal judge returned the verdict after a trial where William Rogan Reid, 37, of Davie, Florida, and the government agreed upon a stipulated set of facts regarding his conduct, according to court records. The charges include felony counts of obstruction of an official proceeding and corruptly altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing a record, document or other objects, as well as five related misdemeanor offenses. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 7." BIRTHDAYS: Former state Sen. Rob Bradley … Linda Kleindienst, former editor at Rowland Publishing and former state capital bureau chief for Sun-Sentinel … Former journalist turned pilot Troy Kinsey | | | | 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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