Spending political capital
Gov. Ron DeSantis already reshaped the Midterms, literally, by enacting a new congressional map. But this week, he exerted his political influence in another way.
The former three-term congressman hosted nine congressional hopefuls in Tallahassee and endorsed each of them. The group included four Republicans running to replace retiring members (Sydney Gruters, Austin Rogers, Jim Schwartzel and Joe Strada), one who just beat a Republican incumbent in a primary (Ryan Elijah) and four hoping to flip Democrat-held seats made vulnerable under the new lines (Casey Askar, Mike Beltran, Dan Green and Scott Singer).
“You have my support!” DeSantis posted with a photo of the entire crew.
That means DeSantis has now formally endorsed every candidate running in a District without a Republican incumbent on the ballot, except one. Te Mayonna Brown, the Republican nominee in deep-blue Florida’s 24th Congressional District, apparently did not get an invite.
Candidates eagerly welcomed the Governor’s support.
“Thank you, Gov. Ron DeSantis, for your support and for hosting us last night. We had meaningful conversations focused on the road to victory in November, and we are ready to fight for Florida,” posted Beltran, who is challenging Rep. Kathy Castor in Florida’s 14th Congressional District.
A former state lawmaker, Beltran was an ally of DeSantis during his time in the Legislature. But even those with less connection welcomed the time spent with the Governor.
“Grateful to have spent time with Gov. Ron DeSantis alongside Florida’s newest Republican nominees for Congress. I am honored by his support as we head into the General Election. Our community overwhelmingly supports the common sense, conservative policies that have made Florida the No. 1 state to live, work, and play,” posted Gruters, a candidate in the open race for Florida’s 16th Congressional District.
All made clear that, if elected to Washington, they intend to be political partners with the Governor. That could be especially relevant if DeSantis, as widely anticipated, runs for President again in 2028.
The move also raised the stakes for electoral outcomes this Fall. When DeSantis signed the new map, many predicted it would net Republicans four House seats based on how voters cast ballots for President in 2024. Forecasters now aren’t so bullish for the Florida GOP.
Cook Political Report as of this week listed both Castor’s District and Florida’s 25th Congressional District, represented by incumbent Democratic Rep. Jared Moskowitz, in the “Toss Up” column. Sabato’s Crystal Ball has said the same of both districts for months. Meanwhile, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has promised to defend all its incumbents, including the more endangered Rep. Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th Congressional District, and put Democrat Pia Dandiya, the Democrat facing Askar in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, in its Red to Blue program. Also in that program are Bale Dalton, who faces Elijah in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, and Leela Gray, who is challenging Republican incumbent Rep. Anna Paulina Luna in Florida’s 13th Congressional District.
Midterm results will inevitably be viewed as a measure of President Donald Trump’s popularity, though the second-term President will likely never stand for office again, whatever the outcome. But as DeSantis became more engaged in the Midterms, and as the term-limited Governor’s time in Tallahassee also winds to an end, the political consequences could be significant for the once-and-likely future White House hopeful as well.
Grand jury report
Meanwhile, a political scandal prompted newsworthy commentary this week from both members of Florida’s Senate delegation.
The leak of a grand jury report to CBS News Miami on the Hope Florida scandal had DeSantis once again dismissing questions about the potential misappropriation of $10 million from a Medicaid settlement. The money, which passed through the Hope Florida charity and eventually to nonprofits that donated it to political campaigns, raised questions about fiscal propriety for Sen. Rick Scott, himself a former Governor of Florida.
“Money designated to help poor kids was diverted to political ads,” the Naples Republican told POLITICO. “Florida families deserve accountability, not more finger-pointing in Tallahassee.”
Meanwhile, political opponents were pointing fingers at Sen. Ashley Moody, whose name appears four times in the grand jury report. She was Florida Attorney General at the time of the settlement, and her office ultimately approved directing money to the DeSantis administration. After the report’s release, Democrats, including General Election opponent Angie Nixon, went so far as to call for Moody’s resignation.
But Moody on social media decried any characterization of her or her office’s involvement. “There have been numerous reports that misrepresent the facts surrounding an AHCA settlement agreement that has been available to the public for two years. Understanding this is political season, and there may be a tendency to misrepresent the facts, it is important to clarify,” she posted on X.
She discussed what her office did but stressed as a final point that her office had no idea how the money would ultimately be used.
“The AG’s office had no knowledge of how funds would be spent or played any role in how Hope Florida, AHCA, or the Legislature would spend the settlement money,” Moody wrote. “Attempts to characterize this any other way are disingenuous.”
Nutrition and fitness
Moody this week hosted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at an event in Tampa, where both promoted healthier school lunch options.
“As a mom of a child in school, I know parents are constantly looking for ways to improve the health of our kids. Ensuring our children are served healthy school meals is key to advancing that priority,” Moody said. “I hosted a roundtable discussion with Sec. Kennedy and important stakeholders to encourage Florida schools to join new key government programs that are now in place to create practical ways to serve healthier food that children will actually enjoy eating.”
She noted that 30% to 60% of most children’s nutrition comes from school meals.
Kennedy, meanwhile, promoted his agency’s Healthy Meals Incentives for Schools, as well as an initiative aimed at helping schools with purchasing, production and meal economics to help deliver better food options to students.
Notably, the visit was the third in as many days with Kennedy and members of the Florida congressional delegation. He also attended a roundtable at a Clearwater farm with Luna, a Pinellas Republican, and went to Gaither High School with Rep. Laurel Lee, a Hillsborough Republican, to promote the recently restored Presidential Fitness Test.
“I was honored to welcome Secretary Kennedy to Florida’s 15th Congressional District and am grateful for his leadership in bringing this important tradition back to schools across the country,” Lee said. “Restoring the Presidential Fitness Test gives students an opportunity to set goals, challenge themselves, and understand the importance of making their health a priority. By encouraging healthy habits early in life, we can help build a stronger, healthier future for the next generation.”
Lake America Great Again
Rep. Jimmy Patronis coasted his way onto a different news cycle, immediately offering legislative support to Trump’s plan to rename Lake Ontario as Lake America.
Hours after the White House announced the change on social media, and a day before the Department of the Interior announced that the U.S. Geological Survey had officially updated maps in federal databases, Patronis released draft legislation to rename the Great Lake.
The Fort Walton Beach Republican last year was among the strongest cheerleaders for the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which abuts Florida’s 1st Congressional District. He showed just as much enthusiasm now.
“I will be filing a bill to rename Lake Ontario — ‘Lake America.’ The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America was met with an awesome response in Northwest FL — (the shirts are awesome!).” Patronis posted. “Let it rip, Mr. President!”
REPAIR drive
The broader use of manufacturer codes in automobiles has driven more car owners to dealerships. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) says the situation now threatens to put thousands of mom-and-pop mechanic shops out of business.
That prompted a Florida NFIB leader to speak out strongly in support of legislation crafted by Rep. Neal Dunn, a Republican from Panama City. The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act (HR 1566) would require manufacturers to provide digital codes to consumers and allow repairs at the garage of their choice.
Bill Herrle, Florida Executive Director, hopes to see Congress act on the issue this year, before Dunn retires from Congress. Until then, independent repair businesses must turn a growing number of customers away because they can’t hack into what’s under the hood.
“The independent repair shops themselves — boy, you’re going to miss them when they’re no longer around,” Herrle said.
“They do sort of remain invisible to the community, but they keep the community running. It’s just very heartbreaking to them when they’re ready and available to work for a customer that drives through their business, and they say, ‘Unfortunately, I sure know how to repair your car, but I can’t access the diagnostic codes.’”
Next stop
A planned rail station in Cocoa just saw a bundle of federal funding ride into town.
Rep. Mike Haridopolos secured a $56.48 million grant this month from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration. That will go toward the Brightline Multimodal rail station project planned for the town in Brevard County.
“Brightline already connects Orlando to South Florida, and now we are one major step closer to bringing that connection directly to the Space Coast,” said Haridopolos, an Indian Harbour Beach Republican.
“This $56.48 million investment will make the Cocoa station a reality, giving residents and visitors another way to travel across our state while supporting the continued growth of Brevard County. I am proud that I secured this funding to bring this critical transportation investment home to Florida’s 8th District.”
The funding comes in addition to the $2 million already secured by Haridopolos’ Office in this year’s federal budget.
Brightline rail already runs through Brevard County parallel to U.S. 1, but the station could give a reason for the trains to stop on the Space Coast, according to city officials.
“This is a transformational moment for the City of Cocoa and the entire Space Coast,” said Cocoa Mayor Michael C. Blake. “This station in Cocoa will serve as a catalyst for economic growth, increased tourism, and expanded transportation options for residents and visitors alike. The Space Coast will no longer be a pass-through for passenger rail. This is an investment in our community’s future and a milestone that will benefit generations to come.”
Restaurant wars
The acquisition of a major restaurant supply retailer by the world’s largest food distribution company brings a bitter taste for Rep. Maxwell Frost.
The Orlando Democrat co-led a letter with Rep. Jerry Nadler, a New York Democrat, to the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission, urging scrutiny of Sysco’s proposed $29.1 billion acquisition of Restaurant Depot and whether it will have anticompetitive effects.
“Restaurants are already struggling with rising costs, and eliminating competition in food distribution could make the problem worse. If this merger drives up the cost of food for small restaurants, those costs will ultimately be passed on to consumers. Families can’t afford another hit to their wallets, and that’s why the DOJ and FTC need to closely scrutinize this deal,” Frost said.
Restaurant Depot operates 166 locations across 35 states, including 17 in Florida, and directly serves more than 700,000 restaurants. But Sysco is a direct competitor in many product categories.
Democratic lawmakers say that by eliminating a major competitor through a purchase, Sysco could ultimately end up charging independent restaurants more for food and supplies. It could also hold greater leverage over food producers and farmers thanks to its market concentration following a deal.
“This acquisition is the latest in a history of aggressive acquisitions by Sysco, leading to further consolidation of food distribution in the United States,” the letter reads. “The proposed merger would likely increase food prices when Americans are already facing an affordability crisis, and this merger would threaten the viability of independent restaurants, the trillion dollars they contribute to the economy, and the 12 million jobs they sustain.”
Bipartisan banner
Florida has a new bipartisan leader, though he’s retiring at the end of this Congress.
A new scorecard from the nonpartisan Bridge Grades gave Rep. Vern Buchanan the highest marks of any member of Florida’s congressional delegation when it came to working across the aisle. The Longboat Key Republican earned a score of 96.9 out of 100 from the group, nearly double the House average of 44.9. In the entire House, Buchanan ranks 23rd in bipartisanship.
“Floridians didn’t send me to Washington to fight for the sake of fighting,” Buchanan said. “They sent me to get things done and deliver results for all Americans. For nearly 20 years, I have worked across the aisle for Southwest Florida, and this score reflects that approach. I believe in leading bills that bring people together, build coalitions and avoid the personal attacks that get in the way of real progress for our communities.”
The score is based largely on a record of introducing and cosponsoring cross-partisan legislation, with public rhetoric and restraint from insulting colleagues also earning marks. Buchanan in this Congress has tackled issues including Alzheimer’s research, animal welfare, and ending insider trading, all of which have nonpartisan or bipartisan appeal.
Buchanan, who is retiring at the end of this term, serves as the Republican co-chair of Florida’s congressional delegation.
This year, Buchanan beat out Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican who led the delegation in scores last Congress. Bilirakis this year scored a 94.2. The only other earners of an “A” score were Reps. Moskowitz, a Parkland Democrat with an 89.2, and María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican who earned an 86.6.
Campus abortions?
After allegations that a Virginia school counselor helped a teenager obtain an abortion without informing her parents, Rep. Greg Steube wants to crack down on how services get marketed in schools.
The Sarasota Republican just filed the School Health and Instructional Environment Limits and Disclosure (SHIELD) Act, which would require schools across the country to notify parents before distributing any information about abortion or related services to students.
“I believe every child, born and unborn, is made in the image of God and deserves to be protected, not managed behind their parents’ backs. No school employee should ever schedule an abortion for someone else’s daughter and tell her to keep it a secret from her own mother and father,” Steube said.
“I’m fighting for the unborn, and I’m fighting for parents, because those two fights are the same fight. The SHIELD Act keeps abortion providers out of our classrooms and puts parents back in charge of these conversations with their kids.”
The Education Department launched an investigation this year into Fairfax County Public Schools after learning a counselor had made an appointment and covered legal fees for a student. The incident upset parental rights and pro-life groups, some of which now support Steube’s bill.
“Planned Parenthood’s own annual report makes it clear that they start marketing early, infiltrating schools to build a customer base for life. Parents need to know what schools are teaching their children and need to be sure that when they send a child to school, their grandchildren are not being targeted by school officials who cut those who care most from a life-and-death decision,” said Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life, a group endorsing the SHIELD Act.
“We all saw the chaos in Fairfax County, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., where Students for Life rallied against secret school abortions. We will fight to ensure that schools do not become another place for Planned Parenthood to push for abortion deaths for profit and that parents are fully informed about what their children are learning.”
On this day
Aug. 28, 1963 — “Martin Luther King Jr. delivers ‘I Have a Dream’ speech” via History.com — On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the African American civil rights movement reached its high-water mark when King delivered his speech to about 250,000 people attending the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The demonstrators — Black and White, poor and rich — came together in the nation’s capital to demand voting rights and equal opportunity for African Americans and to appeal for an end to racial segregation and discrimination. The peaceful rally was the largest assembly for a redress of grievances that the capital had ever seen, and King was the last speaker.
Aug. 28, 1957 — “Strom Thurmond launches record filibuster” via Time — Holding their final caucus on the all-but-passed civil rights bill, Southern Senators decided a filibuster would be both futile and dangerous: When Thurmond arose on the Senate floor at 8:54 p.m., his fellow Southerners had every reason to expect he would make a brief, denunciatory speech and then sit down. They were wrong. A dull, droning speaker at best, Thurmond began by reading the texts of the election laws of all 48 states — from Alabama to Wyoming. By 11:30, Republican Everett Dirksen was passing the word: “Boys, it looks like an all-nighter.”
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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.
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