News: The push to have Nikki Fried lead Florida Democrats

Thursday, February 9, 2023

The push to have Nikki Fried lead Florida Democrats

Feb 09, 2023

Hello and welcome to Thursday.

The ask — Nikki Fried isn’t officially a candidate to lead the Florida Democratic Party. But a bloc of Democrats are trying to change that.

Written down — Nearly 30 members of the state Democratic Executive Committee — representing a mix of big, medium-sized and small counties — are sending out a letter later today calling on the former agriculture commissioner to jump into the race for party chair.

‘Best choice’ — “As voting members chosen to elect the next Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, we believe that Nicole 'Nikki' Fried is the obvious best choice for Party Chair and we will pledge our votes to the only Democratic statewide Cabinet member the state has elected in decades,” the members state in the short letter. “We are calling on Nikki Fried to join the race for Chair of the Florida Democratic Party and work with us to secure victory for Florida Democrats up and down the ballot.”

Roster — The list of those who signed onto the letter include the current treasurer and secretary of the party as well as Democratic National Committee member Alan Clendenin and state committee members from counties such as Broward, Hillsborough, Lake Manatee, Pasco and Sarasota. Those who signed the letter represent a little less than half of the votes needed to win the chair position. Democrats are scheduled to meet later this month in central Florida to make a decision.

Already in the race — There are already four candidates vying for chair, including former state Sen. Annette Taddeo. Taddeo has gotten backing from several Democratic members of Congress as well as nearly a dozen state legislators and national DNC Finance Chair Chris Korge. But the letter clearly shows that a number of Democrats aren’t sold on Taddeo and the others.

Praise for Fried — “I got a lot of respect for people putting their name out, it probably is a thankless position,” Joe Adams, a state committeeman from Citrus County told Playbook. “I just felt we needed some stronger candidates. I truly feel that Nikki can actually rebuild this organization. … She was the bulldog with the bullhorn we need.”

Evolution — Right after the disastrous midterm elections for Democrats, Fried initially said she was not interested in the position of chair. Lately, she had suggested that Democrats consider slowing down their process to pick a new chair and maybe put in place an interim leader. That suggestion was not viewed too favorably by Taddeo supporters.

Seeking help — Fried, who left office after losing in the Democratic primary for governor in August, did not respond to a question Wednesday evening about the new effort to draft her into the race for chair. But earlier in the day when interviewed about President Joe Biden’s planned visit to Florida today, she said, “the Democratic Party has to understand we are at a crossroads. It’s going to take all hands on deck here but support from across the country to rebuild.”

— WHERE'S RON? — Nothing official for Gov. DeSantis.

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DRIVING THE DAY

‘THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN UP’ — Biden’s potential lifeline for Democrats, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: President Joe Biden is swinging into Florida on Thursday and he’s bringing more than just talking points. Fresh off his State of the Union address, Biden will be giving beleaguered Florida Democrats a glimmer of hope that the rest of the party hasn’t written off the nation’s third most populous state after a crushing midterm.

“Going to fight’ — “It’s very clear to me he can win the state of Florida and it’s very clear to the White House,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a South Florida Democrat and former chair of the Democratic National Committee. “They are coming down to underscore what they accomplished and how they can build on it.” Rep. Kathy Castor, a Tampa Democrat who will accompany Biden during his brief visit, said she “cheered” when she heard that the president was coming. “That means they are going to continue to invest in Florida,” Castor said. “They have not given up. To the contrary, they are going to fight.”

— “Joe Biden will come to Tampa to tout agenda in increasingly red Florida,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Emily L. Mahoney

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. (Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

NAMING NAMES — Biden on Republicans: ‘Their dream is to cut Social Security and Medicare,’ by POLITICO’s Jonathan Lemire and Myah Ward: After running through his usual economic talking points, Biden capitalized on his handling of a tense exchange the previous night with Republicans for wanting “Medicare and Social Security to sunset.” While Biden didn’t name Sen. Rick Scott during his State of the Union speech, he did so on Wednesday, pulling out the Florida Republican’s “Rescue America” pamphlet that calls for all federal legislation to include such a provision.

What Rick Scott is reading — “Flashback: Biden introduced bill to sunset all federal programs — including Social Security,” by Fox News’ Houston Keene

— “Go Joe: Poll shows Democrats lining up for Biden 2024,” by Florida Politics’ Peter Schorsch

DESANTISLAND

GETTING TESTY — “DeSantis hits back at Trump. ‘I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Anthony Man: "Gov. Ron DeSantis hit back Wednesday at former President Donald Trump, after his onetime champion-turned-foe used social media to amplify an accusation that the governor had once been “grooming” high school girls. ‘I spend my time delivering results for the people of Florida and fighting against Joe Biden. That’s how I spend my time. I don’t spend my time trying to smear other Republicans,’ he said when asked about Trump’s social media posts at an Ocala news conference."

— “Trump’s escalating criticisms force early political dilemma for DeSantis,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Alex Roarty

GROWING IT — Senate passes expansion of DeSantis-championed migrant flights, by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon: Florida is on the verge of passing a bill that would expand its controversial migrant flight program, which has been the subject of the same intense partisan rhetoric that has surrounded the national immigration debate. ‘It is only going to get worse because the federal government has not shown us any ability or wherewithal to fix the problem,’ said Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, a Spring Hill Republican and sponsor of the Senate's expansion bill. ‘The de facto open border policy with the federal government is causing this.’”

Response — Ingoglia annoyed Democrats a number of times when he declined to answer questions about the existing program because it’s part of ongoing litigation. "I do not know how you can vote on something without information," said state Sen. Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton). "I can’t comment. I can’t comment. It is legislative malpractice to vote for this bill." She noted that Ingoglia would not answer a series of questions about how money was spent through the existing program. "Fiscal conservative, small government this is not," she said.

STILL STALLED — DeSantis urges FDA to approve Florida Canadian drugs imports after court ruling, by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday called on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the state’s plan to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada after a federal judge ruled against a lawsuit by the pharmaceutical industry. DeSantis said during a news conference in Ocala that approving Florida’s application to import Canadian prescription drugs would help President Joe Biden rein in prescription drug costs.

— “10 times Ron DeSantis changed Florida education,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Kirby Wilson

— “Gov. DeSantis touts tax cut plan as tonic for inflation,” by Florida Politics’ Gray Rohrer

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

DILEMMA — ‘A Five-Alarm Fire’: The GOP begins its effort to derail Trump in 2024,” by David Freedlander for POLITICO Magazine: “He,” is a Republican donor and bundler, a Wall Street financier who regularly hobnobs with senior Republican officials but who also was, uniquely for his tribe, an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trump. His request for anonymity speaks to the bizarreness of this political moment, where even one time staunch supporters of the former president are reluctant to say out-loud what they and their cohort all say privately: That should the former president win the primary again, he would be very likely to lose again to Joe Biden, even as some polls show him besting his 2020 rival.

Former President Donald Trump stands on stage.

The big fear among GOP donors and other party players is that, like in 2016, a number of challengers to Trump will jump into the primary and linger too long, splitting the field and allowing Trump to win. | Mario Tama/Getty Images

— Michael Cohen says Manhattan DA case against Trump is ‘ready to take off,’ by POLITICO’s Zachary Schermele

— “Charlie Kirk’s right-wing empire loses a key asset: Students for Trump,” by Washington Post’s Isaac Stanley-Becker

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

ZAPPED — Florida Supreme Court justices hammer PSC, FPL over 2021 rate settlement, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: State Supreme Court justices on Wednesday grilled lawyers for the Public Service Commission and Florida Power & Light Co. over the 2021 approval of a settlement agreement being challenged by critics. Justices repeatedly questioned during a nearly hourlong hearing why a PSC order approving the $1.5 billion rate increase lacked findings of fact on disputed issues, such as the expansion of an FPL solar subscription program.

IN THE RED ZONE — Florida on the verge of changing NIL law for college athletes, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Florida lawmakers on Wednesday forged ahead with reshaping the state’s name, image and likeness law for college student-athletes, setting the policy change up for final votes in the next two days. Arguing Florida’s rules put schools at a competitive disadvantage, education committees in the House and Senate unanimously advanced legislation that would allow schools to get more involved in the deal-making process by repealing key provisions that were passed two years ago. The proposals also include a liability shield for coaches and staffers, a provision that was previously removed from the House’s proposal but is now slated to pass during a special called Legislative session this week.

— “Florida housing bill moves forward despite questions about local rent control ban,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Turner

— “‘There’s a new sheriff in town.’ House panel Oks remake of Disney’s Reedy Creek,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers and Skyler Swisher

DATELINE D.C.

AWKWARD — “Abortion rights activist who was body-shamed by Matt Gaetz confronted him at SOTU address and thanked him for helping her raise $2 million,” by Insider’s Joshua Zitser: “While in the US Capitol building, [Olivia] Julianna said she confronted [Rep. Matt] Gaetz, the Republican lawmaker she credits with helping her raise millions for abortion funds, after he targeted her online. ‘Just want everyone to know I just shook @mattgaetz hand and thanked him for helping me raise 2 million dollars,’ Julianna wrote on Twitter. ‘His response was to say 'heard you had trouble spending it.' And to quickly walk away in the opposite direction. What a loser lol,’ she added.”

CAMPAIGN MODE

— “Mayoral ad wars head to court as Daniel Davis sues 3 TV stations over ‘defamatory’ attack,” by Florida Times-Union’s Hanna Holthaus

— “Long-time elections supervisor Bill Cowles to retire at end of term,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak

— “Brevard consultant failed to report political contributions, gambled with PAC funds,” by Florida Today’s Eric Rogers

CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

SANCTIONS — “Florida health department fines TV news station over Covid vaccine mandate,” by POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian: The Florida Department of Health has issued a $10,000 fine to an Orlando TV station that it accuses of violating the state’s vaccine mandate ban during a congressional debate. In a letter dated Tuesday, an official from the state Department of Health Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support told WESH-2 News that the station twice violated the state’s Covid-19 vaccine mandate ban. The alleged violations center on a Republican congressional candidate, Scotty Moore, and one of his campaign staffers who the state alleges were denied entry into the studio before a debate with incumbent opponent Rep. Darren Soto.

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

SAD MOUSE — “Disney’s Iger reveals 7,000 layoffs in restricting move,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Katie Rice: “Disney World CEO Bob Iger revealed plans Wednesday to lay off 7,000 workers, about 3% of its global workforce of 220,000 as of October. In his first public financial report since returning to the company in late November, Iger said the layoffs are part of Disney’s efforts to slice a total of $5.5 billion in costs. He did not say where the cuts would occur. But significant layoffs within Florida’s theme parks division appear unlikely.”

LET’S MAKE A DEAL — “Havenick family out, Poarch Band of Creek Indians in as Magic City Casino sale advances,” by Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas: “After a two-month delay and a revamped pitch for what is being called the largest casino deal in state history, the Florida Gaming Control Commission on Wednesday gave conditional approval to the sale of the gambling permit from Magic City Casino in Miami to an Alabama-based Native American tribe. The decision will allow Miami’s Havenick family and its West Flagler Associates company to complete a multimillion-dollar sale of its casino to PCI Gaming Authority, owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, to operate slot machines, poker and electronic casino games in Miami.”

— “A TikTok ban for Miami-Dade? Proposal targets popular app from China as security risk,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks

— “Hotel can’t be sued for sex-trafficked Broward teenager’s death, judge rules,” by Orlando Sentinel’s David Fleshler and Brittany Wallman

— “Feds should protect Big Cypress National Preserve from future oil exploration, advocates urge,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Max Chesnes

— “Will Smith crashed a Miami law school’s naming ceremony. Here’s why the megastar pulled up,” by Miami Herald’s Devoun Cetoute

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

BIRTHDAYS: Former state Rep. Patrick Rooney… former state Rep. Fred Costello

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