| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout | | Presented by |  | | | |  Gov. Ron DeSantis listens as Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody speaks during a press conference regarding an apparent assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sept. 17, 2024. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Time is running short for Gov. RON DESANTIS’ first big decision of 2025 — picking MARCO RUBIO’s replacement in the Senate. Asked on Tuesday if he’s made up his mind, the governor said he still has not decided who he will appoint to replace Rubio. But all signs point to him leaning toward Florida Attorney General ASHLEY MOODY, with Rubio bound for the State Department under President-elect DONALD TRUMP. And 10 people familiar with the selection process, all granted anonymity to discuss the decision freely, told Playbook that Moody was viewed as the leading contender for the seat. Moody has been a staunch DeSantis supporter — but also has been vocally supportive of Trump, particularly his positions on legal matters. She recently filed state charges against RYAN ROUTH, the man charged with attempting to assassinate Trump at his Jupiter golf course. The governor wouldn’t give away his thinking about the upcoming vacancy during a gaggle with reporters on Tuesday and sidestepped a question about Moody. But the Republican governor said that a “lot of research” had been done on potential candidates and he wanted someone who would help carry out Trump’s agenda and be strong on battling illegal immigration and reining in federal spending. “We want someone who is really able to deliver,” DeSantis said. Still, he appeared to be inviting the public (and Trump) to picture Moody in the role during a local swearing-in ceremony in Tampa on Tuesday, where she appeared alongside Trump loyalist and attorney general pick PAM BONDI. Trump has been uncharacteristically quiet about the selection process for the next senator from his home state. He boosted his daughter-in-law and former Republican National Committee co-chair, LARA TRUMP, for the seat. But she withdrew herself from consideration over the holidays — and even before that, the president-elect downplayed her being picked, saying “Ron is doing a good job. It is his choice, nothing to do with me.” And Trump wasn’t asked about the Senate opening during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday. But if the two men wanted to discuss it, they’ll have a chance soon. DeSantis is among several governors invited to a dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Trump on Thursday night, POLITICO’s newest colleague, Dasha Burns, and Gary Fineout report. The timeline for DeSantis’ announcement is in flux. Rubio’s confirmation hearings in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee just got scheduled for Jan. 15, and he hasn’t yet said when he would resign his seat. But Senate Majority Leader JOHN THUNE (R-S.D) told POLITICO’s Congress team that Rubio is a priority confirmation for “Day One.” DeSantis suggested Tuesday the appointment will be announced “pretty soon,” but likely around the time of Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Another unknown is DeSantis’ own political future. The confirmation hearings for PETE HEGSETH to be Trump’s defense secretary begin Jan. 14. He appears to be in a much stronger position than when his selection was on the ropes a month ago, but DeSantis is considered to be a backup pick for the job. Should that happen, then Lt. Gov. JEANETTE NUÑEZ would become governor. And the job of choosing the next senator from Florida could then fall to her. Finally, Moody’s selection as senator would trigger changes at the top of state government. POLITICO previously reported that chief of staff JAMES UTHMEIER would be a top contender to replace Moody as attorney general. And DeSantis also appears to be leaning toward state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill) for the chief financial officer job that current CFO JIMMY PATRONIS is resigning from to run for Congress. Altogether, these selections would be legacy-defining for DeSantis and demonstrate his muscle in shaping Florida’s future. — Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
| | A message from Alibaba: U.S. businesses are succeeding globally by expanding sales to over one billion consumers through Alibaba’s online marketplace. Alibaba helps American companies do business abroad, generating more jobs and wages back home. In just one year, sales from U.S. businesses contributed billions of dollars to the U.S. GDP and supported hundreds of thousands of jobs. Learn how Alibaba helps drive global success for U.S. businesses. | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | SPECIAL SESSION CHATTER — DeSantis has a checklist of items that he wants state legislators to handle ahead of the upcoming regular session that starts in March — but it’s not clear if lawmakers share the governor’s sense of urgency. Speaking to reporters in Tampa, DeSantis said he wants legislators to do more to tackle illegal immigration, bolster funding for home hardening against storms, make tweaks to Florida’s condo laws and come up with additional restrictions regarding voter initiatives. DeSantis said more was needed on immigration at the state level to aid Trump’s plan to carry out mass deportations once he takes office. The governor didn't get into specifics but said, “We need to be prepared to act.” Last fall, DeSantis called on legislators to address condo safety laws passed in the wake of the Surfside disaster where 98 people died. He initially wanted something done by the end of the year, but legislators said they'd wait until the regular session. On Tuesday, DeSantis did acknowledge that he didn't know whether legislative leaders had reached an agreement on what to do. Spokespeople for House and Senate leaders didn't respond to questions about the governor’s latest requests. — Gary Fineout VAX INVESTIGATION — A statewide grand jury report released Tuesday by the Florida Supreme Court concluded that while there were clues that laws were broken during the push for the use of two popular Covid-19 vaccines, the grand jury could not gather enough information to investigate any specific wrongdoing. DeSantis called for the grand jury more than two years ago, ahead of his run for president, to investigate the nationwide push by the Biden administration for the use of two Covid vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna, which both use mRNA technology. The grand jury completed its work in November, and the Supreme Court kept the record sealed until Tuesday. The report stopped short of bringing up criminal charges, citing problems such as missing data, interviews and other information that were sought through subpoenas issued by the grand jury. In response, the report recommends that state lawmakers should tack on criminal sanctions for ignoring a statewide grand jury subpoena. “We believe that providing criminal sanctions in Florida law for noncompliance with statewide grand jury subpoenas — in much the way federal law criminalizes contempt of Congress — would provide an additional tool to incentivize the immediate meaningful production of documents and witnesses by recalcitrant subpoena recipients,” the report said. The grand jury report also brings up many of the same points made by Florida Surgeon General JOSEPH LADAPO, a longtime critic of mRNA vaccines, including Ladapo's call for several months of safety tests for the Pfizer and Moderna shots. It also suggests the state consider monitoring wastewater for upticks in illnesses and recommends federal lawmakers reinstate a 1997 ban on pharmaceutical advertising. — Arek Sarkissian — “Florida files COVID-19 related suit after accidentally overpaying company $5 million,” reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network-Florida.
|  Gov. Ron DeSantis talks to Hillsborough County State Attorney Suzy Lopez on the midway at the Florida State Fair in Tampa on Feb. 8, 2024. | Chris O'Meara/AP | SWEARING INS — DeSantis on Tuesday took a victory lap at Hillsborough County state attorney SUZY LOPEZ’s swearing in saying “she got more votes in this county than anybody else.” Lopez’s victory in November was a major win for the governor, after she defeated Democrat ANDREW WARREN, who DeSantis had suspended from the role in 2022. “The job of a prosecutor and the oath of office is to uphold the rule of law,” DeSantis said. “And you’re supposed to enforce the law consistently, resolutely and unapologetically. There is no room for prosecutors who come in and pursue a political agenda and elevate that political agenda over the rule of law and holding criminals accountable.” The comments came as there’s speculation swirling over whether DeSantis will re-suspend another state attorney, Democrat MONIQUE WORRELL, who won her reelection in November. Over in Orlando, Worrell was giving a speech of her own. “This moment represents more than a return, it represents a renewal,” Worrell said, per Cristóbal Reyes of the Orlando Sentinel. “A renewal of trust, of commitment and the promise that justice is not simply about punishment but about prevention, rehabilitation and creating opportunities for positive change.” LEGISLATION ROUNDUP — State Rep. MARIE WOODSON (D-Hollywood) filed a bill to limit exposure to smoke during surgeries, per News Service of Florida … State Sen. DON GAETZ (R-Niceville) filed legislation that would increase penalties for animal cruelty committed during natural disasters — inspired by Trooper, the dog abandoned during Hurricane Milton, per A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics … State Rep. ADAM ANDERSON (R-Palm Harbor) filed a bill to let Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach operate horse racing and a casino independently, per Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics … another bill by Anderson would allow hearing aids to be delivered through the mail. — “Florida counted 60,755 abortions in 2024. Miami-Dade residents had the most with 12,998,” reports the News Service of Florida. — State law enforcement officials have arrested a man who threatened to kill DeSantis, reports Chris Gothner of Local 10.
| | | | A message from Alibaba:   | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | |  Edmundo González Urrutia sits for an interview at the Hay-Adams hotel in Washington on Jan. 6, 2025. | Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO | AHEAD OF VENEZUELA INAUGURATION — In an interview with POLITICO’s Nahal Toosi, Edmundo González Urrutia, who the United States recognizes as Venezuela’s president-elect over strongman NICOLÁS MADURO, was “upbeat about his prospects” becoming Venezuela’s next leader. “He stressed that he wants a peaceful transfer of power in Venezuela, and is not requesting outside military intervention, but he also pointed to some not-quite-analogous examples of transitions that at times felt impossible.” — “Orange County approves jail for sleeping outdoors, but emphasizes homeless help,” reports Joe Byrnes of Central Florida Public Media.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | BALLOON FLOATING — Former Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) is thinking about running for governor, he told Kirby Wilson of the Tampa Bay Times. “I have a compelling vision for the state,” Gaetz said. “I understand how to fix the insurance problem, and it’s not to hand the keys to the state over to the insurance industry. If I run, I would be the most pro-consumer candidate on the Republican side.” NEXT ELECTION — State Rep. JAMES BUCHANAN (R-Sarasota) has filed to run for the state Senate seat to succeed state Sen. JOE GRUTERS (R-Sarasota), who is running for chief financial officer in 2026, reports Florida Politics’ Jacob Ogles. — “After Democrats lost Miami-Dade, how will Mayor Levine Cava lead a red county?” by Douglas Hanks of the Miami Herald.
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | PARTY AT MAR-A-LAGO — Trump is planning to invite all Senate Republicans there after the inauguration, reports Axios’ Marc Caputo and Hans Nichols. FLORIDA’S WEST COAST — Trump announced during a press conference Tuesday that he wanted to give the Gulf of Mexico a new name. "We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring. That covers a lot of territory," Trump said, per POLITICO’s Ben Johansen. In response, Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) said she would introduce legislation soon to make the change. CANNONBALL — “U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has temporarily blocked the Justice Department from releasing special counsel Jack Smith’s final report on his two criminal investigations into Donald Trump,” reports POLITICO’s Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney. “The extraordinary move, coming just days before Smith’s office is expected to shut down, scrambles the final stage of the special counsel’s work. Smith is expected to wrap up and deliver to Attorney General Merrick Garland a final report laying out the results of his probes into Trump’s handling of classified documents after he left office in 2021 and his attempt to subvert the 2020 election.” — “Will Trump pardon the Jan. 6 rioters from Florida? More than 140 have been charged,” by C. A. Bridges and Dinah Voyles Pulver of USA Today Network-Florida.
| | A message from Alibaba: Alibaba’s e-commerce marketplace is having a positive impact on Florida businesses. In fact, Fernando Tamez, CEO of FL-based DS Laboratories says “sales on Alibaba exceeded expectations by 50% in the first year,” and added that Alibaba guided DS Laboratories through every step in the process as they prepared to enter the global market.
DS Laboratories is now hiring more employees at its headquarters in Miami, Florida, to keep up with the growing global demand for its hair and skin care products. In just one year, it is estimated that sales on Alibaba by Florida businesses contributed millions to the state’s GDP and supported thousands of local jobs.
Learn how Florida businesses are achieving global success with Alibaba. | | | | | TRANSITION TIME | | — Ballard Partners is opening a new office in Chicago that’ll be led by managing partner MICHAEL ALVAREZ, the founder of the public and government affairs firm Michael Alvarez & Associates. Services for the firm’s new location will include government relations, public affairs and strategic communications. Alvarez is also going to serve as a partner in Ballard’s Washington office. — Capital City Consulting is opening a new office in Palm Beach that’ll be led by former state attorney DAVE ARONBERG — who’ll focus on business consulting and also is opening his own law firm — as well as local government lobbyist TOM DERITA JR., the founder and CEO of Resource Group of North America.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — Two bodies were found on a JetBlue flight, per the Miami Herald. BIRTHDAY: Former state Rep. Rene Plasencia … Senior U.S. District Judge Alan S. Gold ... Florida International University’s Brian Van Hook. | | | | 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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