News: Florida voters were locked in during 2022 election

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Florida voters were locked in during 2022 election

Mar 02, 2023

Hello and welcome to Thursday.

Coda — Here’s one last interesting snapshot about the 2022 governor’s race that Ron DeSantis won by an overwhelming margin.

Taking a closer look — A required post-election report released in February by the Department of State suggests that Florida voters who headed to the polls in November had their minds clearly made up about who they wanted to back in that contest.

Counting it down — The number of "invalid" votes in the governor’s race that were tossed out for various reasons dropped to its lowest level in the past decade — 0.31 percent, or about 24,000 votes. DeSantis defeated Democrat Charlie Crist by more than 1.5 million votes. The report looks at the number of ballots that were left blank (an undervote), invalid write-in votes and ballots cast with more than one person selected (an overvote).

Context — Contrast that to the 2016 race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, where the rate of invalid votes in Florida spiked to 1.68 percent fueled in large part to 82,000 invalid write-in votes where people put down names such as Beyoncé and Tim Tebow. In the 2018 contest between DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum, the rate was 1 percent.

Background — Florida election officials after each general election gather data from all 67 counties. The report has been required since the chaotic 2000 presidential election that included a contentious recount in Florida and entered the words “hanging chads” into the political vocabulary.

Findings — And one of the main conclusions reached by Secretary of State Cord Byrd’s department? “The compiled gubernatorial contest data do not show anything to suggest or conclude that ballot design and/or ballot instruction issues caused voter confusion during the election, or that the voting equipment manifested any anomalies,” states the report.

— WHERE'S RON? — Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to hold an event in Jacksonville Beach promoting his newly released book.

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DESANTISLAND

FALLOUT — DeSantis may remove another Florida prosecutor from office, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis appears poised to suspend another prosecutor from office, this time zeroing in on how a central Florida state attorney dealt with the 19-year-old man accused of killing three people in Orlando, including a television reporter. DeSantis has already publicly criticized State Attorney Monique Worrell’s handling of previous prosecutions of the suspect, Keith Moses, who had a record of arrests as a juvenile and was on probation at the time he allegedly went on a shooting spree.

Next step — On Tuesday, DeSantis’ general counsel demanded that Worrell turn over emails, reports and documents related to Moses, including his juvenile record. The request is significant because the general counsel’s office handled the contentious suspension of Tampa prosecutor Andrew Warren.

Response — Worrell, who was first elected in November 2020 as the Orange-Osceola county state attorney, said in a statement that her office would compile all information requested by the governor’s office and turn it over in a “timely manner.” She added that there had been a “number of misconceptions, some of which are included in the letter we received yesterday, floated by other elected officials in the aftermath of this tragedy that we are continually working to correct.

COMPLICATED — “DeSantis blames Orlando prosecutor after shootings. But it’s not simple,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower: “In [Keith] Moses’ only prior arrest as an adult — a 2021 drug case — Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies failed to pursue DNA testing on a gun found at the scene, a sheriff’s office spokesperson confirmed Tuesday. If Moses’ DNA was found on the gun, he could have been charged with a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.”

EXPENSIVE — “DeSantis’ targeting of ESG could cost taxpayers, pension fund millions of dollars,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers: “Blacklisting investment managers and banks that make business decisions based on what Gov. Ron DeSantis calls “socialist” woke policies could come with disastrous consequences, including hidden costs and a chilling effect on free speech, economic analysts say. Legislation introduced for the upcoming session that begins Tuesday would embrace the governor’s goal to prohibit state agencies and local governments from investing tax dollars into funds that follow environmental, social and governance principles known as ESG.”

— “‘Boldness is your friend’: DeSantis boasts successes in campaign-style book tour stop,” by Miami Herald’s Grethel Aguila

— “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis loses lead in 2024 GOP race, now trails Donald Trump, poll finds,” by USA Today’s Sarah Elbeshishi

— “2024 polls show DeSantis can’t easily knock out Trump,” by New York Magazine’s Ed Kilgore

CAMPAIGN MODE

FRIED BRINGS IN HELP — Newly installed Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried has brought in Rachel Berger to serve as transition director. Berger is a former party employee who served as deputy director of party affairs from 2017 to 2019 and director of party affairs from 2019 to 2021. In 2021, she joined Fried’s finance team when the agriculture commissioner mounted her unsuccessful campaign for governor. “Rachel has been a trusted advisor to myself and to the Florida Democratic Party for the better part of a decade,” Fried said in a statement. “Her experience, her talent, and her relationships with party leaders, volunteers, and elected officials will be invaluable in the coming weeks.”

Nikki Fried speaks with members of the media.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried speaks with members of the media on Aug. 18, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. | Gerardo Mora/Getty Images

ROUND 2 — “Levine Cava launches reelection. Can she keep Miami-Dade blue in ’24 after DeSantis win?” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks: “Daniella Levine Cava launched her 2024 reelection campaign Wednesday for a second term as Miami-Dade County’s mayor, formally starting an already well-funded bid to keep Florida’s most populous county under Democratic leadership after Gov. Ron DeSantis flipped it red in last year’s gubernatorial race. Levine Cava, 67, signed candidacy papers Tuesday and her team filed them Wednesday morning at the Elections Department she supervises as the county’s top administrator, a post she won in 2020 during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic and which brought her global attention as the face of Miami-Dade’s response to the Surfside condominium collapse.”

— “Frank White re-enters politics with bid for Florida Senate; has Broxson’s endorsement,” by Pensacola News Journal’s Jim Little

— “LeAnna Cumber ad blames Daniel Davis for Jacksonville being ‘murder capital,’” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

‘KEEPING THEIR POWDER DRY’ — Trump’s loosening grip on GOP defines early 2024 campaign, by POLITICO’s Ally Mutnick and Sarah Ferris: Rep. Thomas Massie was so eager for Donald Trump’s endorsement in a contested primary three years ago that he ran TV ads targeted at the then-president in Florida to win his support. Today, Massie is all but shunning Trump and his comeback campaign. In fact, the Kentucky Republican attended a retreat last weekend for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Ron DeSantis is the best governor there ever was,” he said when asked if he planned to endorse in the 2024 presidential primary. The Kentucky Republican is far from the only one-time Trump ally who’s staying away from the former president, despite his lead in every major poll so far.

CENTER STAGE — Trump is poised for a CPAC fest or face plant. There is no in between, by POLITICO’s Natalie Allison and Meridith McGraw: The Republican establishment is down on CPAC. But for Donald Trump and his campaign operation the conservative conference is not just the main event, it’s a crucial early test of his political strength. The summit in National Harbor is expected to be a love fest for Trump this year — a moment to, once again, flout his dominance over the conservative activist movement as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination. If this weekend’s event mimics the conferences of recent years, Trump is preparing to bask in the glow.

Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 28: Former U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in the Hyatt Regency on February 28, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. Begun in 1974, CPAC brings together conservative organizations, activists, and world leaders to discuss issues important to them. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) | Joe Raedle/Getty Images

‘I WANT THEM TO BE FEARFUL’ — “‘Make it a spectacle’: Proud Boys leader Tarrio key to Jan. 6, U.S says,” by Washington Post’s Spencer S. Hsu and Rachel Weiner: “As the seditious conspiracy trial of Proud Boys leaders accused of leading the Jan. 6 riot to keep [former President Donald] Trump in office enters its eighth week, the government has cast [Henry ‘Enrique’] Tarrio as a singular figure who holds the key both to what the group planned that day and whether it coordinated with others. More than 200 encrypted Telegram chats, texts and other messages show Tarrio appeared at several points to align his plans with those of Trump’s 'stop the steal' campaign organizers, while knowing by Jan. 6 that the Proud Boys and the president’s enraged supporters might explode into violence.”

AS THE PAGES TURN — “Showdown before the raid: FBI agents and prosecutors argued over Trump,” by Washington Post’s Carol D. Leoning, Devlin Barrett, Perry Stein and Aaron C. Davis: “Prosecutors argued that new evidence suggested Trump was knowingly concealing secret documents at his Palm Beach, Fla., home and urged the FBI to conduct a surprise raid at the property. But two senior FBI officials who would be in charge of leading the search resisted the plan as too combative and proposed instead to seek Trump’s permission to search his property, according to the four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a sensitive investigation.”

— “Trump planning first Iowa trip since announcing 2024 bid,” by The Associated Press’ Thomas Beaumont

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DATELINE D.C.

‘A GOOD ENOUGH ANSWER’ — “The story behind Gaetz citing Chinese propaganda at a hearing,” by Washington Post’s Aaron Blake: “At a hearing Tuesday, [Rep. Matt] Gaetz cited, and entered into the record, an article from a newspaper which the Trump administration designated as a propaganda outlet — apparently without knowing that’s what he was doing. The moment added some color to an otherwise relatively uncontentious hearing on oversight of U.S. funding for Ukraine. And even aside from the article’s provenance, it was a remarkable document to point to at a congressional hearing.”

— “Vice President Harris to attend Miami Beach climate discussion, Democratic fundraiser,” by McClatchy D.C.’s Michael Wilner

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

THE ROAD AHEAD? — “Florida legislation would allow phosphogypsum use in roads – if feds approve, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: Two Republican committee chairs filed bills this week that would allow a mildly-radioactive fertilizer byproduct to be used in making roads — if approved by federal officials. Critics say such proposals to reuse phosphogypsum would create "radioactive roads." But Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Dover), the bill sponsor, said Wednesday that his bill, HB 1191, only calls for a study and would allow use only under U.S. Environmental Protection guidelines.

— “Florida bill seeks death penalty for child rapists, challenging SCOTUS,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Romy Ellenbogen

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

MYSTERY — Intel community bats down main theory behind ‘Havana Syndrome’ incidents, by POLITICO’s Lara Seligman and Erin Banco: The intelligence community has determined that unexplained health incidents referred to as “Havana Syndrome” that have afflicted hundreds of government officials in recent years were not caused by a foreign adversary, knocking down a main theory among victims and experts. The assessment, compiled by the CIA and six intelligence agencies, also said the U.S. found no evidence that the symptoms experienced by American intelligence officers, diplomats and other government employees were the result of an intentional weaponized attack, according to two U.S. intelligence officials.

CUT SHORT — “Amid controversy, Biden administration shortens visit by Cuban Border Guard officials,” by El Nuevo Herald’s Nora Gámez Torres: "A planned visit this week by Cuban Border Guard officials to U.S. Coast Guard headquarters in Washington has been canceled after complaints from Republican members of Congress. However, the Cuban delegation, which arrived Wednesday, will still be allowed to tour port facilities in North Carolina due to concerns that suspending the entire visit could trigger retaliation from Cuban authorities, congressional sources told the Miami Herald."

STILL HERE — “As he preps for CPAC speech, Brazil’s Bolsonaro keeps Orlando as home base,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro plans to make the Orlando area his home base for at least several more weeks while the U.S. government processes his visa request and tensions remain high in his home country, his immigration lawyer said Wednesday. But he’s moved on from his place near Kissimmee to an undisclosed location, said Felipe Alexandre, an attorney with the AG Immigration law firm.”

— “Man paralyzed by officer who mistook gun for Taser sues,” by The Associated Press’ Terry Spencer

— “FPL: Lower gas prices could soften rate hikes blow to consumers,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders

— “Which books are allowed? Varied interpretations of Florida law lead to confusion at schools,” by Tallahassee Democrat’s Ana Goñi-Lessan

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— “Should T-shirts be allowed on The Villages’ golf courses?” by Tampa Bay Times’ Hannah Critchfield: “The promise of 'free golf for life' has long been part of the appeal of The Villages. But exactly what golfers must wear in the world’s largest retirement community is up for — somewhat heated — debate. A resident is fighting to remove the ban on wearing T-shirts at some golf courses in The Villages, bringing an age-old controversy over dress codes in the sport home to roost in the senior haven. ‘It goes back to elitism,’ said Brian Lafferty, a 69-year-old resident and lifelong golfer. ‘We’re fancier, we’re better, we’re more important. And we say you can’t wear a T-shirt.’”

BIRTHDAYS: Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz

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