| | | | |  | | By Gary Fineout | Hello and welcome to Thursday. Mark the calendar — There’s a chance, as Republican Party of Florida Chair Christian Ziegler puts it, that Florida’s presidential primary on March 19 of next year could “potentially be THE decider” in determining the GOP nominee. One big reason is that Florida will be a winner-take-all primary that will award a candidate nearly 10 percent of the total needed to win the nomination. New rules in place — Ahead of this important primary Florida Republicans have altered the criteria that candidates need to make the ballot. (Under Florida law it’s up to the RPOF to submit the list of names to state election officials for the primary.) Promises, promises — First off, candidates will be asked to sign a loyalty oath similar to one that the Republican National Committee is using in connection to the first GOP presidential debate in August. (And that has generated a fair amount of pushback from some Republicans.) That pledge — which needs to be witnessed and notarized — requires the candidate to endorse the Republican nominee and to promise to not run as an independent or third-party candidate if they lose. Context — This is a significant change from 2015, when both former Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio ran for the job. Bring the checkbook — There’s also a couple of other important changes. Candidates who agree to show up at the party’s “Florida Freedom Summit” planned for November will have to pay a $25,000 qualifying fee to make the ballot. (Candidates who showed up at a similar event in 2015 did not have to pay anything.) If Republican candidates skip the summit the cost goes up to $100,000. The other way — Candidates could, if these choose, avoid paying the qualifying fee if they collect signatures from Florida Republican voters instead. But back in 2015 it took just 3,375 signatures to make the ballot. Under the new rules, which were adopted at a May executive board meeting, it will now take 56,000 signatures. Come one, come all — The objective behind these changes, explained Ziegler, was to sway Republican candidates into coming to the party’s big summit. But he added there was a consensus that the old rules on signatures made it too easy. Top Florida Republicans said that they reached out to presidential campaigns — including those of former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis — about the changes. “I don’t think this will come as a surprise,” said Evan Power, the RPOF vice chair. — 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
| | | | JOIN 7/11 FOR A TALK ON THE FAA’S FUTURE: Congress is making moves to pass the FAA Reauthorization Act, laying the groundwork for the FAA’s long-term agenda to modernize the aviation sector to meet the challenges of today and innovate for tomorrow. Join POLITICO on July 11 to discuss what will make it into the final reauthorization bill and examine how reauthorization will reshape FAA’s priorities and authorities. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | |  | DESANTISLAND | | RESPONSE — Gov. DeSantis appeared Wednesday night on conservative commentator Tomi Lahren’s program, where he defended his campaign’s recent video that went after Trump on LGBTQ issues. The video has come under fire from both Democrats and Republicans, with Florida Rep. Michael Waltz, a Trump supporter, calling it bizarre while on Fox News radio. DeSantis, however, said Trump’s record on those issues was “fair game” and that Trump was a “pioneer in injecting gender ideology into the mainstream” who is now taking a different view while running for president. USA Today Network-Florida’s Zac Anderson has more about the video controversy here. STATE OF THE RACE — “DeSantis campaign continues to struggle to find its footing,” by The New York Times’ Nicholas Nehamas: “‘DeSantis’s argument is electability,’ said Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist who holds regular focus groups with G.O.P. voters. ‘But he is undermining the electability argument by running to Trump’s right. He is alienating college-educated, suburban voters who want to move past Trump,” as well as the independents he would need to beat Mr. Biden in a general election. Ms. Longwell said Mr. DeSantis’s efforts to differentiate himself from Mr. Trump without directly criticizing him risked leaving the Florida governor without a natural constituency in the primaries. ‘You cannot go around Trump,’ she said. ‘You have to go through him.’” MEANWHILE — Puck’s Teddy Schleifer reports that Dick and Liz Uihlein, “two of the Republican Party’s biggest single donors,” are holding a fundraiser for DeSantis next Tuesday in Lake Geneva, Wis. — “Donald Trump claims Ron DeSantis campaign in ‘total disarray’ after New Hampshire ‘performance,’” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski — “DeSantis criticized for ‘desperate’ tactics as campaign struggles against Trump,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s Zac Anderson ‘THIS IS BLUSTER FOR DESANTIS’ — “DeSantis steps up pace of executions in Florida, chasing Trump,” by USA Today Network–Florida’s John Kennedy: “After overseeing only two executions during his first four years in office, Gov. Ron DeSantis is poised to carry out his fifth in six months, with Brevard County murderer James Barnes set to die Aug. 3. Some death penalty experts say DeSantis’ sudden drive is powered by politics, part of a grim chase of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. While president, Trump set a remarkable record of executing 13 federal inmates during his last six months in office.” — The push to combat DeSantis’ banned book movement, by POLITICO’s Brakkton Booker — “DeSantis reshaped Florida higher education over the last year. Here’s how,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Ian Hodgson and Divya Kumar — “Peaky Blinders’ slams Ron DeSantis campaign for use of Tommy Shelby video,” by Deadline’s Lynette Rice — “Millionaire developer Hosseini wields great influence with DeSantis,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Jeffrey Schweers
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | PRIMARY COLORS — Florida GOP will require DeSantis, Trump to sign loyalty pledge to make primary ballot, by POLITICO’s Gary Fineout: The new oath, which includes a promise to “endorse” the GOP nominee and requires a candidate to pledge not to run as an independent or third-party candidate, mirrors language adopted by the Republican National Committee for its first debate. “We were trying to be consistent with what the debate was requiring,” said Evan Power, vice chair of the Republican Party of Florida, who said that campaigns were notified about the changes. “I don’t think this will come as a surprise.” BETTER THAN THE REAL THING? — “AI version of Francis Suarez hits digital campaign trail but doesn’t have all the answers,” by Miami Herald’s Joey Flechas: “A super PAC backing Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination has released a artificial intelligence chatbot to answer questions about his candidacy. On Wednesday, SOS America PAC released 'AI Francis Suarez,' a chatbot featuring an avatar that looks and sounds like the mayor as it talks about his campaign for president. The bot appears to be based on a close-up picture of Suarez’s face as he sits in his City Hall office in Miami.”
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Miami Mayor Francis Suarez speaks during a news conference, June 12, 2023. | Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo | THIS COULD GET INTERESTING — Suzy Lopez, a former judge brought in by Gov. Ron DeSantis to replace suspended prosecutor Andrew Warren, announced she is going to run for the office in 2024, reports Sue Carlton of the Tampa Bay Times. Warren has been fighting in the courts to try to get his job back, but he told the Times that “depending on what happens” he may run for the job himself. Warren had already been elected twice before DeSantis removed him. — “Hillsborough supervisor of elections announces reelection bid,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Olivia George
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | SURGE — Trump pulled in more than $35 million in the second quarter, by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt: Donald Trump nearly doubled his fundraising during the second quarter of 2023 — an indication that his legal troubles are propelling his campaign financially. The former president’s joint fundraising committee raked in more than $35 million, according to a campaign official. That figure is about twice the $18.8 million the committee raised during the first quarter of the year. AS THE PAGES TURN — “In Trump case, Justice Dept. unseals previously blacked-out provisions from search warrant provisions,” by Associated Press’ Eric Tucker: “Many of the newly revealed paragraphs recounted how surveillance camera footage from inside the property showed dozens of boxes being relocated in the days before FBI and Justice Department investigators visited the home to collect records. During that June 3, 2022, visit, law enforcement officials were handed an envelope of 38 classified documents and told that all records sought by a subpoena were being turned over and that a 'diligent search' of the home had been done.”
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO 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. | | | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | | SNUFFED — Matt Gaetz proposes end to cannabis testing for military, by POLITICO’s Natalie Fertig: A proposed amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) would end cannabis testing for members of the military — both when they’re enlisting and accepting a commission. If the amendment is included in the NDAA, H.R. 2670 (118), it would address a growing issue in the U.S. military: the increasing number of recruits who test positive for marijuana use, particularly in states where it is legal. Nearly 33 percent more recruits tested positive in 2022 than in 2020, according to the New York Times.
| | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | PUSHING BACK — Florida officials say Chinese immigrants can’t challenge new law restricting land ownership, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie: Florida officials are arguing in federal court that Chinese immigrants who claim in a lawsuit they face discrimination under a new state law barring their land purchases actually are not subject to the law's restrictions. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and others who were sued by the American Civil Liberties Union said the law affects only those "domiciled" in China or six other nations. — “Agriculture Commissioner Simpson reports $20.6 million net worth,” by News Service of Florida
| | THE GUNSHINE STATE | | ‘I CAN’T SAY GOODBYE’ — “Victims’ family walk through Parkland school massacre site, untouched for 5 years as evidence,” by Associated Press’ Terry Spencer: “For more than five years, the bloodstained halls and classrooms where 17 people died in the Parkland school shooting has remained locked away and mostly untouched — not even the victims’ families were allowed inside. That changed Wednesday, as heart-wrenching private tours began for relatives of the 14 students and three staff members who died. The 17 wounded and their loved ones will also be able to visit the 1200 building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, now that it is no longer needed as evidence in the trials of the convicted killer and the deputy who was just acquitted of failing to stop him.”
|  Linda Beigel Schulman, mother of geography teacher and cross country coach Scott Beigel, is overcome with emotion as she talks to journalists about visiting the scene where her son and 16 others were killed, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, July 5. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | HMM — “China has had a spy base in Cuba for decades, former intelligence officer says,” by Miami Herald’s Nora Gámez Torres: “China’s espionage efforts in Cuba targeting the United States are not recent and date back at least three decades, a retired army counterintelligence agent has told the Miami Herald. It took U.S. intelligence agencies nine years to figure out who was behind the repair and enhancements spotted during the 1990s at a 'signals intelligence facility' — a reference to the interception of electronic communications — in the town of Bejucal, a 45-minute drive from Havana.” NO FINE — FAU picks three finalists as presidential search narrows, by POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury: Absent from the finalists is a high-profile state lawmaker — Republican Rep. Randy Fine (R-Palm Bay) — who was linked to the job with praise from the DeSantis administration, although it’s unclear whether he even applied. — “Citing ‘hostile actions,’ education group is the latest to pull its convention from FL,” by Florida Phoenix’s Mitch Perry — “Broward sheriff’s ethics case put on hold as state prepares for hearing where his police license is on the line,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Lisa J. Huriash — “Ben Crump hired by family of 26-year-old killed by Orlando police officer in traffic stop,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Christopher Cann — “Ex-Gators QB Jalen Kitna reaches plea deal on child pornography allegations,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Edgar Thompson — FPL asks court to dismiss Hurricane Irma class-action suit following law change signed by DeSantis, by POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — “Clothing-optional gay men’s resort shouldn’t be allowed to ban women, Florida judge rules,” by The Messenger’s Christopher Gavin: “A resort for gay men in the Florida Keys should not be allowed to stop women from staying there, a Florida judge has ruled. The New Orleans House in Key West lists a guest policy of ‘Adult males 18 years of age or over only’ and includes ‘clothing optional’ areas. In a June 30 order, Administrative Law Judge Brittany Finkbeiner recommended that the Florida Commission on Human Relations should find that the New Orleans House ‘engaged in unlawful discrimination’ when it allegedly prohibited Amina Chaudhry from making a reservation in July 2022.” BIRTHDAYS: State Sen. Joe Gruters … Former state Rep. MaryLynn Magar … The Associated Press’ Joe Reedy … Caleb Orr, former member of Sen. Marco Rubio’s staff ... POLITICO's Anita Kumar | | | | 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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