| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | |  Supporters of Florida Voice For The Unborn demonstrate outside the fourth floor as legislators work on property insurance bills, May 24, 2022, at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. | Phil Sears/AP | Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. The Florida Supreme Court’s trio decisions are shifting Florida’s political landscape. The legalization of pot and abortion are officially in the hands of voters. The state Supreme Court upheld a 15-week abortion ban yesterday that will trigger a nearly all-out ban in 30 days, on May 1. But justices also gave voters a chance to undo their decision by putting an abortion rights referendum on November’s ballot. Plus, they ruled voters could decide whether cannabis could be legal for adult recreational use, POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian reported. Democrats are ready to plow into both issues, but especially abortion rights. Shortly after the high court issued its opinion, the Biden campaign went so far as to declare Florida “winnable” for the president and outlined an attack strategy in a memo. Today, the campaign is doing a press call about the decision with Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell. Also today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and other House Democrats will hear from people and groups affected by the forthcoming ban at 10 a.m. in Fort Lauderdale, where U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra will speak and take questions from the media. In another sign of a shift in messaging, the Gen-Z focused Florida Future Leaders PAC will start handing out Plan B, College Democrats-branded condoms and rolling papers on college campuses. They’re calling the pot initiative “Roll Up to the Polls” and the condoms will carry the message: “Don’t get F*CKED by the GOP. Protect Abortion in Florida.” “Prepare for an onslaught of youth voters to the polls this election,” Jayden D’Onofrio, chair of Florida Future Leaders, said on X. The strategy to sway voters toward Democrats in Florida may not work, even though polls suggest the referendums will get approved by voters. A POLITICO analysis found that while most voters in other states have supported abortion referendums, they don’t necessarily go on to support Democratic candidates. On top of that, Democrats have a voter registration deficit to overcome. Finally, the Biden campaign hasn’t specified how much money it plans to spend in Florida, which is an expensive state to campaign in, even though it has a large cash advantage over former President Donald Trump. Florida Republicans say the ballot measure on abortion is too extreme. House Speaker Paul Renner and Republican Party of Florida chair Evan Power said there would be an organized effort to challenge the amendment, per POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. Power vowed that the state party — which has a substantial financial advantage over state Democrats — “will fight to inform voters on the dangers of this amendment.” But while significant funding can probably be expected to go into the fight for abortion rights, it’s doubtful that a similar effort will sprout from an outside source on the other side. After all, some of DeSantis’ former Republican donors specifically criticized him on the six-week ban when he ran for president. Bottom line: Florida could face huge policy changes ahead by cutting out the Legislature. And the choice on abortion introduces a twist of irony for Trump, who will now be put on the spot over a strict abortion ban from former rival Ron DeSantis — a ban the ex-president once derided as “terrible thing.” WHERE’S RON? Gov. DeSantis is scheduled to participate by phone in the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections meeting of the Elections Canvassing Commission. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com | | | | Access New York bill updates and Congressional activity in areas that matter to you, and use our exclusive insights to see what’s on the Albany agenda. Learn more. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | |
FLIGHT FIGHT — DeSantis wins in court over migrant flights, but legal skirmish far from over, reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. A federal judge in Massachusetts has limited the scope of a lawsuit filed against Gov. Ron DeSantis and others after Florida arranged to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022, but in a sharply worded ruling left intact the legal challenge against the company that arranged for the high-profile flights.
U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs’ 77-page decision dismissed DeSantis and other state defendants from the suit. But it also does not shut down the possibility of additional legal action against DeSantis over the contentious flights that the governor pursued to criticize the immigration policies of President Joe Biden. DATA ANALYSIS — “Is Florida’s red flag law working? Gun deaths are up, but mass shootings down,” reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Rafael Olmeda. “When it comes to whether the law is having a lasting impact on crime in Florida, the answer is elusive, partly because it’s not the only factor to consider. According to the Centers for Disease Control, gun deaths in Florida rose from 12.9 per 100,000 in 2018 to 14.1 in 2023. Overall, incidents described as ‘mass shootings’ have declined in Florida, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a private nonprofit that analyzes news reports and law enforcement statistics.” COMMUTER SAVINGS — “DeSantis touts toll rebate program, speedy road projects,” reports Florida Politics Gray Rohrer. “The program is part of the budget (HB 5001), which DeSantis has yet to formally receive from the Legislature, but the toll rebate program starts Monday. The Legislature set aside $450 million to reimburse the Florida Turnpike Enterprise and other local toll agencies to offset the rebates.” |  Florida State Rep. Fabián Basabe is seen during a hearing at the Florida State Capitol Jan. 10, 2024. (Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images) | AP |
FLOATING A LAWSUIT — “Florida Republican told he can’t ride in Miami Beach Pride parade. He’s threatening to sue,” reports the Miami Herald’s Aaron Leibowitz. “When Florida Rep. Fabian Basabe rolled down Ocean Drive during the Miami Beach Pride parade last year, commotion followed. Protesters booed and chanted ‘shame’ at the Republican lawmaker for supporting anti-LGBTQ legislation. Basabe, flanked by police in helmets, blew kisses and yelled back as he sat atop a convertible. This year, parade organizers are trying to avoid a repeat performance during the event set for April 14 … Basabe, a former reality TV star and socialite who has had a tumultuous first term as a state representative, has responded by threatening to sue the organization and local governments.”
ART FUNDS — “State doubles arts funding, but bulk set aside for lawmaker projects,” reports the Palm Beach Post. “Allocations for fiscal year 2025 total $93.9 million, funding 669 different arts and culture projects or organizations across the state. Just $32 million of that is allocated for grants overseen by the Florida Department of State’s Division of Cultural Affairs, while the rest is earmarked for what are known as member projects.” CLIMATE SHIFTS — “Sea levels are rising but parts of Florida are also sinking, research shows,” reports the Miami Herald’s Alex Harris. “In South Florida, sea levels have already risen several inches since the start of the century and could be around 6 feet higher by 2100. But another factor could be making those sunny day floods in South Florida worse: We’re sinking. Well, only a little bit. And only in some places. That’s according to new and old research on the phenomena of sinking land — also known as subsidence — along the entire U.S. coast.” — “New academy aims to reach students in Florida juvenile detention system,” reports Danielle Prieur of WMFE | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
ILLEGAL FIREARMS — “U.S. guns flow into Haiti as gangs push to take control,” reports the Wall Street Journal’s Juan Forero and José de Córdoba. “Largely obtained in American gun stores, often by so-called straw buyers acting as stand-ins for the gangs, the weapons make their way to Haiti piecemeal or as disassembled parts hidden in shipments of food, clothing and secondhand cars to be used by the 300 or so gangs now expanding their hold on the capital, Port-au-Prince, investigators in the U.S. and Haiti say.”
— “DeSantis suspends Orlando’s Regina Hill following felony indictment,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Ryan Gillespie — “How did $138,000 in purchases from the Supervisor of Election Office go undocumented?” by Hanna Holthaus of the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
PERSONAL FINANCES REPORT — Stanley Campbell, brother of 2 Live Crew’s Luther Campbell who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to unseat GOP Sen. Rick Scott, filed his personal financial disclosure over the weekend. The documents are required 30 days after candidates announce they’re running for office, though they can file for an up to 90-day extension — as former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel Powell (D-Fla.) just did last week.
Campbell’s documentation reveals that he made $260,000 at EagleForce Associates, a consulting firm he founded that built hardware in airport scanners and created software used to detect Medicare fraud. His wife, Health and Human Health and Services Assistant Secretary Cheryl Campbell, holds up to $500,000 in Netflix stock and up to $250,000 in Home Depot stock, the documents show.
|  Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levina Cava speaks at a news conference, Thursday, March 7, 2024, in Miami. | Marta Lavandier/AP | FUNDRAISING HAUL — “Daniella Levine Cava campaign reports $4M raised in Miami-Dade Mayor re-election bid,” reports Florida Politics’ Jesse Scheckner. “That includes $850,000 collected in the first quarter through her campaign account and political committee, Our Democracy.” ANOTHER ONE — Former Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey, who is running for the Democratic primary to unseat María Elvira Salazar, announced that he raised $300,000 during first quarter. The campaign said it has more than $286,000 cash on hand. | | | | 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. | | | | |
| | TRANSITION TIME | |
— Reporter Stephany Matat, who was previously with the Palm Beach Post and is a POLITICO alum, is now a reporter with The Associated Press, focused on politics and South Florida issues.
— Haris Alic is now comms director for Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.). He previously was comms director for Rep. Mike Carey (R-Ohio), and is a Washington Times and Fox News alum. — “Debbie Mucarsel-Powell hires Miles Davis as political director,” reports Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics. “Davis has worked in Democratic politics in Florida for years. The Tampa Democrat most recently served as Florida Director of Voting Rights at America Votes. The national organization coordinates with more than 400 state and national partners in progressive politics.” — Genesis Robinson is interim executive director for Equal Ground Education Fund and Action Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the rights of Black Floridians. Robinson previously was the organization's political director, where he focused on state legislation. The move comes after Jasmine Burney-Clark, who founded Equal Ground, is moving to the Biden-Harris Campaign. | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
BIRTHDAYS: Gary Yordon, president of The Zachary Group and host of “The Usual Suspects”
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