Musical chairs in full swing

Nov 15, 2024

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) salutes during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024.

Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) salutes during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 17, 2024. | Paul Sancya/AP

Good morning and happy Friday.

President-elect DONALD TRUMP’s selections of Reps. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) and MIKE WALTZ (R-Fla.) will lead to new faces in the congressional delegation.

And already the vacancies — in solid-red District 1 and District 6, respectively — have opened up significant speculation and interest among Florida Republicans.

But first, the timeline is key to what happens next. While Gov. RON DESANTIS directed the secretary of state to formulate and announce a special elections schedule "immediately," they can’t happen for a few months because of requirements around qualifying, overseas ballot deadlines, and the need to hold both a primary and a general election.

Both seats are safe for Republicans. But the GOP is concerned about having vacancies when the House faces deadlines, like must-pass spending bills or even legislative items that Trump wants to get moving on right away. The makeup gives them little room for maneuvering on votes in Washington.

Now, the names. Some pols that surfaced to Playbook in conversations with a dozen strategists and politicians regarding the 1st District include Chief Financial Officer JIMMY PATRONIS, former state Rep. FRANK WHITE and former Pensacola Mayor ASHTON HAYWARD.

State Rep. MICHELLE SALZMAN told Playbook she would only consider running for the seat as long as Trump’s team didn’t have anyone else in mind. If it did, she said she would help campaign on behalf of that person. She also noted she’d gotten a lot of support, including from donors. “My No. 1 objective is getting us on the right path,” she said. “We don’t need some messy run.”

State Rep. JOEL RUDMAN told Playbook he was “so flattered” about constituents urging him to run and said there would be “big shoes to fill.” When Playbook pointed out that Rudman had not said he wasn’t running, he replied, “You are correct.”

Definitely not interested in the job is former Florida Senate President DON GAETZ, who just got elected back into that chamber. “No, no, hell no,” he told POLITICO’s Gary Fineout when asked about running.

Names that have been floated for the 6th District include outgoing Florida House Speaker PAUL RENNER, former state Rep. BOBBY PAYNE and state Rep. WEBSTER BARNABY , as well as Jacksonville City Council member RORY DIAMOND. Lake County Commissioner and former state Rep. ANTHONY SABATINI has also repeatedly teased a run on social media.

State Sen.-elect RANDY FINE told Playbook he was considering running, calling himself a “proven winner” and “a strong and outspoken supporter of President Trump and his agenda.”

“I plan to take some time to reflect on family and personal considerations before making a decision,” he said.

Finally, the dynamics. At the back of everyone’s mind is what Trump and DeSantis want to see happen to the seats — and the open Senate seat probably factors into all of it.

The push to have DeSantis install Trump daughter-in-law LARA TRUMP into Sen. MARCO RUBIO’s seat has become more pronounced, including from Sen. RICK SCOTT , who doesn’t have a close relationship with the governor. Lara Trump had talked about the possibility of running for Senate, before — in 2021 in North Carolina — but now she’s officially a Florida resident who’s registered to vote in Jupiter.

The House seat vacancies do provide an opportunity for some DeSantis loyalists to serve in Congress who otherwise would have been considered to fill Rubio’s seat, including chief of staff JAMES UTHMEIER for Gaetz’s vacancy. Or DeSantis could appoint Uthmeier to CFO if Patronis were to go to Congress.

The selection of Lara Trump — if that’s what she and the president-elect both want — could be seen as an olive branch for DeSantis to show he’s fully onboard with Trump’s incoming presidency after the two faced off in a bitter primary. Whatever he decides to do will not only shape the futures of numerous aspiring politicians, but provide insight into how he views his own future as well.

— 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.

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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

Matt Gaetz

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Nov. 4, 2023, in Kissimmee, Florida. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP

UNDERESTIMATING GAETZ? — Many in Washington assume that Rep. MATT GAETZ won’t get confirmed to attorney general, but POLITICO’s Calder McHugh and Mia McCarthy write that it’s not actually a far-fetched scenario that he'll prove them wrong, given his track record.

“Gaetz’s latest moment in the spotlight is in many ways emblematic of his entire career. He is often dismissed as a clown or a self-promoter or a bomb thrower who couldn’t possibly continue his ascent. Then he keeps winning. That’s why [Kevin] McCarthy is the former, not current, House speaker. And that’s why it’s far too soon to say Gaetz won’t ultimately become the top law enforcement officer of the United States.”

WHY GAETZ TO AG — “Of all the lawyers Trump interviewed to be his next attorney general, the Florida congressman checked the most boxes,” writes The Bulwark’s Marc Caputo . “Gaetz is a loyal, longtime adviser, an acid-tongued debate champ, and — perhaps most important to the oft-investigated former and future president — an aggrieved target of the feds. Gaetz was the subject of a federal sex-crime probe that he survived and labeled a Deep State fix.”

A Trump adviser familiar with the transition process told Caputo: “None of the attorneys had what Trump wants, and they didn’t talk like Gaetz. Everyone else looked at AG as if they were applying for a judicial appointment. They talked about their vaunted legal theories and constitutional bullshit. Gaetz was the only one who said, ‘Yeah, I’ll go over there and start cuttin’ [expletive] heads.’”

— The take from Axios’ Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen: “Gaetz will proudly do the dirty work on controversial legal topics that others won't.”

BUT ETHICS QUESTIONS SWIRL — The attorney representing the alleged victim at the center of the House Ethics Committee investigation into Gaetz called for the report detailing the investigation to be released “immediately,” reports POLITICO’s Irie Setner. But House Ethics Chair MICHAEL GUEST said he isn’t planning to (It could still get leaked.), per POLITICO’s Daniella Diaz, and now the closed-door meeting that was set for today has been canceled.

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

‘NO PROCEDURAL ERROR’ — “Florida Supreme Court backs PSC on storm plans, blocking expert testimony,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday backed the Public Service Commission's decision in 2022 to block an expert from testifying on behalf of customers who were challenging the cost of utility storm hardening plans. The Florida Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion , said the PSC properly approved $20 billion in new utility plans proposed under a 2019 state law. And the court said the panel properly excluded testimony from Lane Kollen, a utility industry consultant and accountant hired as an expert witness by the Office of Public Counsel, which intervenes on behalf of ratepayers in disputes.”

BUILT IN A DAY — Gov. RON DESANTIS on Thursday oversaw an agreement in Italy among Florida International University, Florida-based Insightec and the Neurological Institute of Besta to share research on Alzheimer’s treatments.

NEW WEBSITE AND EMAIL — “Incoming House leader announces new communications policy and website,” reports Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix . Among the changes: “The House intends to allow members to file statements of up to 200 words explaining ‘what drove you to file the bill and why the bill is important to you.’ The statement will appear on the bill information page on the House site.”

— “State retirees say they got insurance notice after open enrollment was already closed,” reports James Call of USA Today Network-Florida.

PENINSULA AND BEYOND

SCHOLARSHIP FIGHT — Orange County Mayor JERRY DEMINGS says the county is considering whether to sue election supervisor GLENN GILZEAN over a $2.1 million scholarship he set up to help pay for technical college. Gilzean had originally named the scholarship after himself but then took his name off of it.

“I am concerned about recent decisions made by the Orange County Supervisor of Elections to expend taxpayers’ dollars on non-budgetary expenditures,” Demings told Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel. “As a result, I will have discussions with the Board of County Commissioners to include the merits of litigation to recover funds used inappropriately.”

CAMPAIGN MODE

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 22, 2024.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 22, 2024. | J. Scott Applewhite/AP

FL LEADERSHIP — “[Rep.] Maxwell Frost runs to be first Gen Z congressional leader,” as co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, reports Andrew Sollender of Axios. “The 27-year-old is … pitching programs for House Democrats to book digital influencers and artists and to revamp their online branding.”

POST-ELECTION — Florida Democratic Party Chair NIKKI FRIED tells WPTV she’ll be running for another four-year spot despite major losses on Election Night. According to WPTF, “She vowed to do better on voter registration, find ways to encourage donors to invest in Florida and recapture independent voters with improved messaging.”

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...HURRICANE HOLE...

EYE ON STORM SARAH — “In a recent worst-case scenario for the U.S., a major hurricane could strike Florida's Gulf coast by the middle of next week, but forecasters say it would first have to clear several hurdles” that would weaken it, including a path across Honduras and the Yucatan Peninsula followed by a cold front reports USA Today’s Dinah Voyles Pulver and Doyle Rice.

FEMA UNDER FIRE — Florida Attorney General ASHLEY MOODY has filed a legal complaint against FEMA Administrator DEANNE CRISWELL, after the conservative news site The Daily Wire reported that a FEMA relief team in Lake Placid skipped over homes carrying pro-Trump signs and flags.

The person who led the team, MARN’I WASHINGTON , was fired and said in an interview that the practice was more widespread, given the backlash some workers faced when they went door to door after the storms (some of which may have been the result of false information circulating on social media about the agency). An estimated 20 homes in Lake Placid got skipped, and Moody is seeking nominal and punitive damages on their behalf. Washington is also a defendant in the case

— “Hurricane-stricken Tampa Bay Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees’ spring training field in Tampa,” reports The Associated Press’ Curt Anderson.

TRANSITION TIME

— ALBERTO MARTINEZ, a former top aide to Sen. Marco Rubio and a veteran of Florida politics, is headed to Continental Strategy, the growing consulting and lobbying firm founded by Carlos Trujillo, the former Florida legislator who also was an ambassador during the first Trump administration.

Martinez, who spent more than 10 years working for Rubio including a stint as his chief of staff, is shifting over from the public affairs firm Targeted Victory to the role of managing partner for the Washington offices of Continental Strategy. Rubio praised Martinez in a statement, saying he “possesses a rare blend of strategic insight, integrity, and unmatched experience.” He added that Martinez has a “deep understanding” of Trump’s policy agenda.

Martinez’ move to Continental comes right after Rubio was tapped by Trump to become secretary of state. Last week, the firm announced it was promoting Katie Wiles, the daughter of Susie Wiles, who will be Trump’s White House chief-of-staff in the new administration, to become director of the firm’s Washington and Jacksonville offices.

— Gary Fineout

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Michael Gottlieb … state Rep. Will Robinson … Evan Power, chair of the Republican Party of Florida ... Trimmel Gomes of Gomes Media Strategies … Gayle Andrews, corporate and political media consultant … (Saturday) Darrick McGhee, chief operating officer of Johnson & Blanton … (Sunday) Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi … Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado.