| | | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard, Gary Fineout and Mia McCarthy | |  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis prepares to shake hands with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as he prepares to speak. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | | Good morning and welcome to Monday. Ever since Gov. Ron DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race, one of the most buzzed-about topics among lobbyists and donors in Florida is what he’ll do next, particularly given that he’s young and will be term-limited out in 2026. When it emerged that Donald Trump might consider Sen. Marco Rubio to be his running mate among more than a dozen others, many saw a potential opening for DeSantis, who would be charged with tapping Rubio’s replacement if he were to resign from his seat. While Trump hasn’t indicated who he’ll pick as a running mate and DeSantis considers the Senate question “premature” and hasn’t narrowed down his options, people close to the governor say he would consider a small circle of trusted officials who’ve been most loyal to him — but he wouldn't put himself or his wife in the seat. Among the possibilities would be Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, former Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva and chief of staff James Uthmeier. “These four people have worked well with the governor in the past,” a person familiar with DeSantis’ thinking said. “Of course he likes them all, but he also admires their work ethic and their conservative principles. They are also bold leaders in their own way. He knows they would do what he considers to be the right thing on behalf of the residents of Florida.” The information gives insight into how DeSantis envisions the more than two years he has left in office — chief among them being that he wouldn't be interested in filling Rubio’s seat with himself or Florida first lady Casey DeSantis. Some of the choices could also upend the state’s political landscape and potentially reshuffle the trajectory of upcoming marquee races, including the 2026 governor’s race. A senior DeSantis official called it “premature and incorrect” for anyone to conclude that the governor might have settled on a list of Senate possibilities. “These discussions have not even begun to take place," said the person, who was granted anonymity to freely discuss the matter. Many in Florida political circles say a Trump-Rubio ticket would create too many potential legal hurdles and wouldn’t give Trump the Electoral College advantage he needs, given that he is already ahead in Florida by about 9 points and could instead pick a running mate from a battleground state. Rubio, in a brief interview, said he hadn’t been approached by anyone on the Trump campaign and stressed Trump had his own process for settling on a candidate. “It’s flattering to be thought of that way, but I really don't spend a lot of time thinking about things that aren't before me,” he said. It’s not clear how much the domino effect of picking Rubio would be a factor in Trump’s decision. “Speculation about what could happen in Florida is just that, speculation, because if a person tells you they know who or when President Trump is choosing his VP they’re lying unless the person is named Donald J. Trump,” said Brian Hughes, senior adviser for the Trump campaign. One final point worth addressing: Numerous political insiders and donors frequently discuss whether former first daughter and White House adviser Ivanka Trump would want to join the Senate. But her team quickly shot down the idea, pointing to a recent statement saying, “As they’ve both repeatedly stated, Ivanka and Jared continue to focus on their family and lives in the private sector and do not intend to go back to politics.” — Kimberly Leonard, Gary Fineout, Mia McCarthy Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for Playbook? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com. | | | | THE GOLD STANDARD OF POLICY REPORTING & INTELLIGENCE: POLITICO has more than 500 journalists delivering unrivaled reporting and illuminating the policy and regulatory landscape for those who need to know what’s next. Throughout the election and the legislative and regulatory pushes that will follow, POLITICO Pro is indispensable to those who need to make informed decisions fast. The Pro platform dives deeper into critical and quickly evolving sectors and industries—finance, defense, technology, healthcare, energy—equipping policymakers and those who shape legislation and regulation with essential news and intelligence from the world’s best politics and policy journalists.
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MORE STORMS EXPECTED TODAY — “Tornado updates: After unprecedented punch, region braces for new severe weather threat,” by the Tallahassee Democrat. “Recovery efforts in Tallahassee continued Sunday, two days after at least two tornadoes and 100-mph straight line winds ripped through the city, heavily damaging and destroying homes and businesses, blocking roads and driveways with debris and plunging much of the city into darkness … The National Weather Service confirmed Saturday that two EF-2 tornadoes touched down in eastern Gadsden and western Leon counties before moving into Tallahassee. NWS survey crews are going out again today determine whether a third tornado hit southern Leon County. The storms claimed the life of 47-year-old woman, who was killed when a tree hit her home off Aenon Church Road.”
— Gov. Ron DeSantis posted photos of himself at work helping to distribute supplies on Saturday, after Sen. Rick Scott also publicly surveyed the damage that morning. WEEKS FROM HURRICANE SEASON — “It’s not a matter of if a hurricane will hit Florida, but when, forecasters say,” by the Associated Press’ Mike Schneider. “The National Hurricane Center is predicting that the upcoming Atlantic and Gulf season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, will exceed the yearly average of seven tropical storms and seven hurricanes, and that three of the storms will be major. Not all hurricanes make landfall.” … DESANTIS AUTHORIZES A SLEW OF NEW LAWS … — “DeSantis signs slate of K-12 policy bills,” reports POLITICO’s Andrew Atterbury. “DeSantis also signed FL HB1361 (24R), which includes Florida’s first significant financial commitment to explore using AI in education. State leaders anticipate AI cutting down on administrative work for teachers while bolstering tutoring available to students in several ways, including instantly drawing up lesson plans, providing coaching in multiple languages during writing exercises and giving step-by-step breakdowns of math equations.” — “Gov. DeSantis signs off on increased penalties for gas safety violations,” reports Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. “Individual daily fines will be $266,015 (increased from $25,000), with aggregate totals raised from $2,660,135 (up from $500,000) through the end of June 2025.” — “Gov. DeSantis signs off on new adoption regulations,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. “One major change: the legislation will align the Department of Children and Families’ background checks with federal requirements. After a satisfactory check of criminal records, all household members have seven days to submit fingerprints to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.” — “Sexual assault test kits will have to be retained for 50 years starting in October under new law,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski. — “Some doctors’ offices will have to carry liability insurance under new law,” by Florida Politics’ Christine Jordan Sexton. “Some Florida physicians for the first time will be required to carry professional liability insurance under a new law aimed at improving the safety of care during gluteal fat grafting procedures, commonly called Brazilian butt lifts, or BBLs.” — “Congenital cytomegalovirus screenings required soon for Florida newborns,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski.
| 
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks about a toll highway relief program during a press conference held at the Greater Miami Expressway Agency on April 1, 2024, in Miami, Florida. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images | — “Florida’s new education laws carry less impact than in past years,” reports Jeffrey S. Solochek of the Tampa Bay Times. — “In Miami Lakes, Bob Graham’s legacy of reaching ‘across the aisle’ is remembered,” reports the Miami Herald’s Omar Rodríguez Ortiz. | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | |
NEAR THE CAPITOL — “Multiple people shot, two killed at Apalachee Parkway shopping center,” reports the Tallahassee Democrat’s Jeff Burlew and William L. Hatfield. “The mass shooting happened as residents, officials and first responders are still grappling with the impacts of the twin tornadoes that lashed wide swaths of Tallahassee with winds as high as 100 mph … A TPD watch commander told the Democrat that none of the businesses were open at the time and that the shooting occurred outside. Businesses in the shopping center reported as late as Saturday night that they still didn't have power following Friday's tornadoes that left much of the city in the dark.”
POST-DEI SHUT DOWN — “After a university shut down its diversity center, students stepped up,” by Kate Payne of WLRN. “Public colleges and universities across Florida are closing down diversity, equity and inclusion programs, in response to changes in state law. At Florida Atlantic University, that led to the closure of the Center for IDEAs. But now students are bringing new life to the space.” STING OPERATION — “UCF, Rollins trustee snared in prostitution sting,” reports the Orlando Sentinel’s Cristóbal Reyes. “A member of the University of Central Florida’s board of trustees was among three people snared this week in a prostitution sting by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office. Also arrested was a sheriff’s employee who has since resigned. Harold Mills, 53, who also is a trustee at Rollins College, was invited to Sandlando Park in Altamonte Springs Thursday by undercover deputies using Sniffles, a map-based hookup app matching gay and bisexual men with others living in the area, according to an affidavit. The sheriff’s office had undertaken the operation to target lewd and lascivious behavior in county parks.” | | | | DON’T MISS POLITICO’S ENERGY SUMMIT: The future of energy faces a crossroads in 2024 as policymakers and industry leaders shape new rules, investments and technologies. Join POLITICO’s Energy Summit on June 5 as we convene top voices to examine the shifting global policy environment in a year of major elections in the U.S. and around the world. POLITICO will examine how governments are writing and rewriting new rules for the energy future and America’s own role as a major exporter. REGISTER HERE. | | | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | |
TODAY — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will speak at a Club 47 event in Palm Beach.
ALSO TODAY — Gov. Ron DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nuñez are attending a fundraiser tonight for Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) at a private residence in Miami, per a donor who shared the information with Playbook. Lee, a former Florida secretary of state, was the only member of the Florida delegation to support DeSantis for president. FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Sen. Rick Scott’s reelection campaign is launching its “Small Businesses for Rick Scott” coalition during an event in Largo today. The coalition will be comprised of 550 small businesses from each Florida county, and the National Federation of Independent Business and the Florida Chamber of Commerce also will announce their endorsements during the event. The senator will travel across Florida in the coming weeks to hear from small businesses. | | DATELINE D.C. | |
— “Rick Scott surveys tornado damage in Tallahassee,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski.
|  U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) speaks during a news briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. | Alex Wong/Getty Images |
DWS WANTS BIDEN TO CLARIFY ISRAEL POSITION — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said President Joe Biden should “clarify his stance publicly” on the recent delay in U.S. weapon shipments to Israel in a statement on Friday, after speaking with White House national security officials.
“I was assured that President Biden remains committed to defeating Hamas and defending Israel, as he did directly as our commander in chief by ordering U.S. forces to take down Iranian suicide drones targeting Israel,” the Florida congresswoman and former chair of the Democratic National Committee said in a statement. Wasserman Schultz and most members of the Florida delegation have been staunch supporters of Israel. While Wasserman Schultz said she was “relieved to hear that the administration has no plans to block weapons necessary to conduct Israel’s operation in Rafah,” she added that Biden should clarify his stance to the public, while Israel and the U.S. should “resolve the miscommunication privately.” Her statement came after she previously sent a letter with 25 other Democrats expressing concern to the Biden administration for withholding weapons from Israel. “I worry that this public discourse could embolden Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other Iran allied partners,” Wasserman Schultz’s statement continued. “It also may be detrimental to ongoing hostage negotiations.” — Mia McCarthy | | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | |
‘WINTER WHITE HOUSE’ — “It’s always sunny at Mar-a-Lago,” by the Washington Post’s Ben Terris and Josh Dawsey. “Whatever situations the former president might be facing, they’re not in evidence here. At the club, which doubles as his private residence and reportedly boasts 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms and 12 fireplaces, Donald Trump is seen the way he likes to be seen. In this alternate reality he has built for himself, guests view him as the rightful winner of the 2020 election, still refer to him as ‘Mr. President’ and greet him with standing ovations when he enters the gold-covered rooms.”
NEVERMIND — “Barron Trump will not be a Florida delegate at the GOP convention,” reports POLITICO’s Christine Zhu and Meredith McGraw. “A Friday statement from former first lady Melania Trump’s office said ‘While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments.’” | | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | |
FLORIDA-BASED AUTHOR — “Book bans are surging in Florida. So Lauren Groff opened a bookstore,” by The New York Times’ Alexandra Alter. “Groff and her husband, Clay Kallman, had toyed with the idea of opening a bookstore in Gainesville for more than a decade, but the timing never felt right. Groff’s writing career was taking off, and they had two young sons. But last year, as book bans surged across Florida, they decided that their town needed an independent bookstore where titles that had been purged from libraries and classrooms would be on prominent display.”
— “See rare phenomenon of northern lights around Florida, United States,” per Laura Lordi of the Palm Beach Post. BIRTHDAYS: Kim Hill with ReliaQuest … Phil Musser, VP and head of federal government affairs at NextEra. | | | | 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 | | | | |
