| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout | | Presented by |  | | | Good morning and welcome to Thursday. The post-primary spin cycle is going full throttle. And it’s prompted a lot of back-and-forth from those running the state’s two main political parties. At issue: Did the decision by Democrats to scrap their state presidential primary (which they decided to do way back in early November) cost them at the ballot box in local contests that were also held on Tuesday? These races are usually non-partisan but that doesn’t stop parties from promoting candidates. Republicans maintained the Dems' decision to not hold a primary helped the GOP earn a sweep in Clearwater, the third largest city in Pinellas County as well as victories in smaller places such as Lauderdale-by-the Sea. Republicans also flipped the mayor’s seat in Delray Beach which is located in Palm Beach County. Republicans said they flipped a total of seven seats that were held by either Democrats or those with no party affiliation. Another data point: A “Take Back Local” effort touted by Democrats last month resulted in wins in just four of the seven local seats that the state party announced would get both “grassroots and fundraising support.” GOPers contended that Florida Democrats, including chair Nikki Fried, had committed “malpractice.” “The Florida Democratic Party is like the best opposition party we could ever ask for,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday during a press conference in Miami Beach. “They canceled their presidential primary because they feared Biden may get embarrassed by not getting a high enough percentage — and what did that do? That totally tanked their turnout, and that gave Republicans an ability to win like the Delray Beach mayor, which is, like, not exactly been Republican territory.”
| 
Nikki Fried talks to the press. | Marta Lavandier/AP | When asked about this, Fried and some other Democrats brushed aside the criticism. Fried noted the large margin in Clearwater's mayoral race and suggested a Democratic presidential primary would not have changed the outcome. Orange County’s Democratic party chair noted that one of the races lost in his county was because a candidate switched parties just ahead of the election. Overall, Democrats said that 27 of their party candidates won in 45 races with a result, meaning that 60 percent of their candidates won. Four other races are headed to a runoff. Democratic candidates won in places such as Winter Park and in Pembroke Pines, the 11th largest city in the state. One longtime analyst — Matt Isbell — called the results a “mixed bag” and said the results may not lend themselves to any macro statewide trends. Isbell, who is a Democrat, said that he would hold off making any conclusions until detailed voter information for the elections are available. “I don’t think it’s a disaster,” Isbell said. But he added that he planned to do a deep dive and that he would be very vocal if his analysis backs up GOP criticisms. “If this turns out to be a big mistake, I wouldn’t want them to do it again,” he said. — Gary Fineout Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com | | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association: DON’T LET DURBIN-MARSHALL STEAL YOUR DATA: Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall introduced legislation allowing corporate mega-stores, like Walmart and Target, to process credit card transactions based solely on what is cheapest for them, disregarding YOUR data security. The Durbin-Marshall Credit Card Bill would shift billions in consumer spending to higher-risk payment networks, weakening America’s payment system and jeopardizing the security of hardworking Floridians. Learn more: https://handsoffmyrewards.com/security/ | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
'AIR DESANTIS' — “First DeSantis-chartered flight from Haiti carrying Americans lands in Florida,” reports POLITICO’s Kimberly Leonard. Amid ongoing unrest in Haiti, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered the state to transport Floridians stranded in the island nation back to the state, with the first flight landing in Orlando on Wednesday night.
DeSantis offered the flights to Floridians after gang-fueled violence forced airport closures in Haiti. DeSantis said some people who asked to be rescued had gone to Haiti to help. The governor, speaking at a press conference in Central Florida, predicted “many flights” would follow the Wednesday transport, which included children among the 14 passengers. MIGRANT ARRIVALS — “24 Cuban migrants arrive in Florida Keys,” reports 7News. “The migrants said they were at sea for two days prior to their arrival. Agents said they will all be processed for removal proceedings.” — “A behind-the-scenes look at how Florida National Guard searches for migrants at sea,” by Glenna Milberg and Andrea Torres of WPLG ABC
|  Florida State Reps. Douglas Bankson and Carolina Amesty are seen during a joint session of the Florida State Legislature at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., Jan. 9, 2024. | Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images | SPECIAL REPORT — “Rep. Carolina Amesty notarized document that teacher says he never signed,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Annie Martin and Leslie Postal. “Three years ago, state Rep. Carolina Amesty’s family wanted a Florida license for the small, unaccredited university they run from a busy commercial street west of Orlando. Central Christian University applied for that license by submitting documents showing it had professors with graduate degrees, including some from elite schools such as Georgetown and Harvard. But five people listed as faculty in the Central Christian’s application, including those with degrees from highly selective colleges, never worked for the university.” 'NATURAL PERSONS' — “Abortion opponents want Florida Supreme Court to weigh ‘unborn children’ issue,” reports Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. “[Attorney General Ashley] Moody’s office Monday raised the possibility of filing an additional brief about what is described as the ‘natural persons’ provision of the state Constitution. A day later, the group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America urged justices to order briefs on an ‘expedited basis.’ The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to ensure abortion rights, but the Supreme Court would need to sign off on its wording before the issue could go on the ballot. Justices look at issues such as whether the proposed wording would be clear to voters and would not address more than one subject.” IT'S OFFICIAL — “DeSantis signs bill banning homeless people from sleeping in parks, public spaces,” reports Lawrence Mower of the Tampa Bay Times. “The legislation, House Bill 1365, forbids cities and counties, beginning Oct. 1, from allowing people to sleep or camp in public spaces. Those communities could instead create camps — away from neighborhoods and businesses — approved by the Department of Children and Families. Most communities would have to offer security, sanitation and behavioral health services to people staying at the camps. To force communities to remove homeless people, HB 1365 allows people, businesses and the attorney general to sue local government starting Jan. 1, 2025.” — “Florida cities, counties prepare for homeless camp bill to become law,” reports Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network - Florida | | | | Easily connect with the right N.Y. State influencers and foster the right relationships to champion your policy priorities. POLITICO Pro. Inside New York. Learn more. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
PERSONAL ACCOUNT — “Orlando man escapes chaos of Haiti, hopes for family’s safety,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak. “[Abson] Louis said he wasn’t expecting the State Department ‘to come and get us.' U.S. officials who said last week they had no plans to evacuate Americans hastily arranged the flight from the Cap-Haïtien International Airport amid worsening violence. Louis said he followed website instructions and filled out an intake form.”
SANCTIONS THREAT — “State says Broward schools must pay millions to charter schools by December,” reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Scott Travis. “The Broward School District has 'knowingly and willfully' refused to comply with Florida law related to sharing 2018 referendum dollars with charter schools and must pay millions by Dec. 31 or face sanctions, according to a memo issued Tuesday by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz. Diaz wrote the district should document how it plans to comply prior to an April 17 meeting of the state Board of Education. He plans to make the formal recommendation to the state board on March 27.” INVESTIGATION — “After injunction, FDLE continues probe of Regina Hill’s ‘exploitation’ of 96-year-old constituent,” reports WMFE’s Joe Byrnes. “Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill's alleged mistreatment of a 96-year-old constituent is under scrutiny amid a year-long Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation. The probe has found that Hill spent more $100,000 of the woman's money on herself. Last week a circuit judge in Orange County imposed a temporary protective injunction.” REDIRECT — “JetBlue changes flights at Fort Lauderdale airport after canceled merger with Spirit,” reports Vinod Sreeharsha at the Miami Herald. “Starting June 13, flights between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Bogota, Quito and Lima will end. Also in June, JetBlue will end flights between FLL and Atlanta, Austin, Kansas City, Nashville, New Orleans and Salt Lake City.” | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | | 
President Joe Biden speaks about an agreement to provide Intel with up to $8.5 billion in direct funding and $11 billion in loans for computer chip plants on Wednesday March 20, 2024, in Chandler, Arizona. | Darryl Webb/AP | PITCH — “Biden tells Latino voters they’re the reason he defeated Trump in 2020 and says, I need you back,” by Seung Min Kim The Associated Press. “The Democrat highlighted Trump’s derogatory rhetoric toward Latinos ... Biden said Hispanic unemployment is the lowest it’s been in a long time because of his policies, highlighted administration initiatives to help small businesses and reduce gun violence, and criticized Trump for wanting more tax cuts for rich people.” DYNAMIC DUO — DeSantis isn’t likely to join Trump on the campaign trail in Florida given that he doesn’t see the state as being “competitive,” he said Wednesday. But he added that he does expect to get involved both in down-ballot and “how I help nationally, I want to be able to do that.” The Trump campaign appeared displeased with DeSantis’ answer, telling Libbie Dean of Newsnation: “Ron really shouldn’t flatter himself by assuming we’d want him on the campaign trail. We’re actually trying to win.” The governor didn’t respond to a question posed by Playbook about who he’d voted for in Tuesday’s primary but he also defended Trump’s showing — which dropped from 2020 — as not a “ding” — before pivoting and taking credit for the state’s red-shifting status. “Don't forget [Nikki] Haley was a candidate when the mail ballots went out,” DeSantis said. "It wasn't an uncontested primary.” WHERE’D ROE GO? — “Royals’ and Chiefs’ ‘vote yes’ tax campaign is headed by former DeSantis strategist,” reports Mike Hendricks of the Kansas City Star. “Behind the peppy, often publicly-positive campaign is a political consulting company better known for its negative, hardball tactics, which have shown up now and again throughout the push for the stadiums tax. Axiom Strategies, the all-purpose political campaign firm owned by consultant Jeff Roe, is managing the campaign for the Royals and Chiefs, The Star has learned. The Committee to Keep the Chiefs and Royals in Jackson County hasn’t gone out of its way to make that known, referring the news media seeking information to the teams’ spokesmen and a public relations firm. Roe, a conservative Republican, is a divisive figure in a Democratic-leaning town like Kansas City.”
| | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association:   | | | | | DATELINE D.C. | |
‘INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED’ — US-backed plan for Haiti provides guidance but few details, reports POLITICO’s Matt Berg. A long-awaited U.S.-backed proposal for rescuing Haiti from gang-led violence provides high-level guidance for a planned Kenyan security force — but few details about how it can actually succeed, according to a copy of the document obtained by POLITICO.
The 33-page document, which the State Department circulated to a number of lawmakers over the past week, gives details for how the so-called Multinational Security Mission to Haiti could operate, the makeup of forces, their mission and how they could work with local authorities to combat gangs. RUBIO RECOMMENDED — “A prominent Black lawyer in Coral Gables nominated as federal judge in South Florida,” reports the Miami Herald’s Jay Weaver. “A prominent Black lawyer was passed over for three federal judicial vacancies in South Florida, but on Wednesday Detra Shaw-Wilder finally got the nod from the president for a fourth opening on the bench. Shaw-Wilder, an attorney with the Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton law firm in Coral Gables since 1994, was formally nominated for a federal judgeship in Miami by President Joe Biden.” | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | |  Former U.S. President Donald Trump listens as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks during a rally at the Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition on November 6, 2022 in Miami, Florida. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | VEEPSTAKES — “Trump eyes Sen. Marco Rubio as a potential VP pick,” reports NBC News’ Dasha Burns, Matt Dixon and Jonathan Allen. “Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is moving up the list of former President Donald Trump's potential vice presidential picks, according to six people familiar with the presumptive Republican nominee's search for a 2024 running mate. Rubio is hardly alone in the field; the cast of hopefuls for the job is large enough to fill an entire season of ‘The Apprentice.’ Trump estimated the number at about 15 in a March 13 interview with Newsmax, and one of the sources said Rep. Elise Stefanik, D-N.Y., retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., are among those in the mix.” JOBS TO FILL — “The senators who could fill Trump’s national security cabinet,” by Semafor’s Jay Solomon. “Trump is eyeing three Republican senators — Bill Hagerty, Tom Cotton and Marco Rubio — for key national security posts if he wins the White House in November, people close to the Trump campaign told Semafor. The conservative lawmakers are all prominent hawks on China and Iran and supporters of increased U.S. spending on defense and border security. Trump sees the politicians as potentially partnering with cabinet members and advisors from his first term to create a more unified national security team from day one, these people said.” — “Trump plans office complex at his Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter,” reports the Palm Beach Post’s Alexandra Clough and Antonio Fins. | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: House Speaker Paul Renner … Julie Hauserman, author and former journalist ... John Mark Kolb, deputy chief of staff for Rep. María Salazar (R-Fla.) … (was yesterday) Barron Trump’s 18th birthday
| | | | A message from the Florida Bankers Association: CONGRESS: OPPOSE THE DURBIN-MARSHALL CREDIT CARD BILL:
Cyber-attacks are on the rise, with large retailers like Target falling victim to breaches that expose customer information to hackers and foreign countries. Now, mega-retailers like Walmart and Home Depot want to leave you even more vulnerable to credit card cyber-attacks so they can pocket billions of dollars in additional profits. After Senator Dick Durbin passed similar routing mandates for debit cards in 2010, the fraud rate for debit cards increased by NEARLY 60%. A similar outcome for credit cards would likely cost OVER $6 BILLION in additional fraud and likely require passing much of the bill onto consumers. Congress must protect consumers, preserve the integrity of the payment ecosystem, and reject this detrimental and unnecessary government intervention into the U.S. payment system. Learn more: https://handsoffmyrewards.com/security/ | | | | | | | 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 | | | | |
