| | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard and Gary Fineout | | 
When it comes to who will get the nod from DeSantis, there’s plenty of intrigue and speculation in Republican circles. | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images | Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. Now that JAMES UTHMEIER is Florida’s attorney general, Gov. RON DESANTIS still has a couple more roles to fill, choices that could have ripple effects for the 2026 elections. And when it comes to who will get the nod from DeSantis, there’s plenty of intrigue and speculation in Republican circles. Let’s start with the lieutenant governor vacancy. JEANETTE NUÑEZ, who was picked to become interim president of Florida International University, officially resigned Sunday. With DeSantis term-limited in 2026, this choice could create an opportunity to elevate a possible successor. This is not a new concept. Those who worked for JEB BUSH remember how he tried to convince TONI JENNINGS to run for governor as she was appointed lieutenant governor. But what if … what if … the governor lets the post stay vacant and doesn’t rush to fill it right away? That’s what Gov. RICK SCOTT did for more than 300 days back in late 2013 and 2014. Scott did eventually fill the job, but only after he got sued and — just as importantly — was planning to run for reelection. State law mandated that Scott would have to name a running mate eventually. Three people in Republican circles have speculated to Playbook about the possibility that DeSantis keeps the LG spot open for now. (If you are wondering … Florida statute 14.055 dictates that if there is a vacancy in both the governor’s office and lieutenant governor’s office, the attorney general is next in line.) Keep in mind the timing. There have been real conversations about first lady CASEY DESANTIS running for governor herself next year, according to two Republican insiders who requested anonymity to speak on the discussions. Gov. DeSantis downplayed the suggestion just last week, but it could send mixed messages about a potential successor if he suddenly picks someone else as LG. Of course, if President DONALD TRUMP enthusiastically endorsed a candidate for governor, that could reshape everything. Trump on Monday touted a poll on social media showing Rep. BYRON DONALDS (R-Fla.) as a top candidate for governor. But that poll didn’t include Casey DeSantis. A fresh-from-embargo poll from the University of North Florida’s Public Opinion Research Lab found that the first lady’s favorable marks were twice that of Donalds. The other remaining appointment DeSantis has to make: chief financial officer, now that JIMMY PATRONIS is running for Congress. The choice for CFO many are talking about is state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA (R-Spring Hill), a steadfast ally to the governor. Trump, meanwhile, has already endorsed state Sen. JOE GRUTERS (R-Sarasota) for the post. If DeSantis does pick Ingoglia for the job, it would not go over well in Trump world. A lingering question in Tallahassee for weeks now is whether DeSantis would pick someone else as a placeholder and let Ingoglia and Gruters run against each other in the 2026 primary. One thing to keep in mind: Ingoglia, along with state Sens. JONATHAN MARTIN (R-Fort Myers) and JAY COLLINS (R-Tampa), are considered to be some of the strongest DeSantis supporters in the Senate. All three voted against the first immigration bill crafted by legislative leaders and helped keep the vote down below a veto-proof majority. Would the governor want to keep his ally in the Senate to help in potential future fights? — 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.
| | | | With a new administration in place, how will governors work with the federal government and continue to lead the way on issues like AI, health care, economic development, education, energy and climate? Hear from Gov. Jared Polis, Gov. Brian Kemp and more at POLITICO's Governors Summit on February 20. RSVP today. | | | | | |  | ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... | | THIS WEEK — Florida state Senate and House committees are meeting in Tallahassee. MR. ATTORNEY GENERAL — “DeSantis on Monday officially elevated Uthmeier from his spot as the Republican governor’s chief of staff to the state’s next attorney general,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “Uthmeier was sworn into office during a brief ceremony inside the Old Capitol held in front of a crowd of well-known Republican officials, legislators and members of the DeSantis administration. Uthmeier, who served several months as campaign manager for DeSantis’ ill-fated bid for president, is one of the governor’s closest and most trusted aides. “‘This was not a very difficult decision for me to put James as the next attorney general,” said DeSantis, who praised his chief-of-staff as a ‘bulldog’ for his administration ‘who was always digging in and fighting.’” OTHER JOB CHANGES HAPPENING — Some personnel shifts are happening alongside the AG turnover, Peter Schorsch writes in Florida Politics’ Sunburn newsletter. Sunburn reports that DAVID DEWHIRST is going to be acting chief of staff and co-chair of the transition; the governor’s press secretary, JEREMY REDFERN will become communications director for the state attorney general’s office; and JOHN GUARD, who has been serving as acting attorney general since ASHLEY MOODY left, will remain chief deputy attorney general through the transition.
| 
Gruters took issue with DeSantis using state money to message against the “political campaigns” of the pot and abortion amendments during the last election. | Phil Sears/AP | THE GRUTERS INTERVIEW — Gruters had several blunt assessments about DeSantis in an interview with Dara Kam on the latest News Service of Florida “Deeper Dive” podcast. Gruters, who acknowledged he'd had a strained relationship with the governor, said he thought the migrant relocation program — when Florida flew migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard — had been a “waste of money” and a “stunt,” even as he said it helped highlight the Biden administration’s immigration policies. Gruters also took issue with DeSantis using state money to message against the “political campaigns” of the pot and abortion amendments during the last election, calling such work “propaganda.” He'd wanted the pot amendment to pass but not the abortion one. (One interesting tidbit: Gruters himself said he didn’t try marijuana until his early 40s, when he was in Las Vegas for his birthday with his wife and ingested some gummies.) Gruters also appeared to criticize DeSantis’ approach toward relationships, saying, “You have to have friends in this process” and “work together.” WATER MANAGEMENT SCRUTINY — “State Sen. Jason Brodeur said Friday that the Legislature wants more assurances that Florida's five water management districts are spending state money as the Legislature intended,” reports POLITICO’s Bruce Ritchie. “Senate leaders on Friday filed a proposed bill, SB 7002 (25R), which would require more detailed information on projects and allow a legislative panel to block spending that doesn't comply with district budgets. Brodeur (R-Sanford) said that, in his four years as chair of the environmental appropriations committee, the South Florida C-43 reservoir project has been fully funded. But agencies request more for it each year.” NEW APPOINTMENTS:
- “Larry Keefe, who as public safety ‘czar’ in DeSantis’ administration helped orchestrate controversial flights of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in 2022, was named Monday to oversee immigration enforcement in Florida,” reports Jim Turner of News Service of Florida. “And Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd will also be part of a new a new State Immigration Enforcement Council.”
- “Edward Fleming, Andrew Hobbs, Dr. Joel Rudman and Zachary Smith were appointed to the Pensacola State College District Board of Trustees,” reports Mary Lett of the Pensacola News Journal.
- “DeSantis has appointed three new members to Disney World’s governing board. Alexis Yarbrough, the current Chair of the Broward College District Board of Trustees, will be the new Chair,” reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. “Joining Yarbrough on the Board will be John Gilbert, Executive Managing Director at Stream Realty Partners, and Scott Workman, who owns Workman Transportation and Workman Travel.”
PUTTING HOMES HIGHER — A new state program called Elevate Florida opened a portal application this month that’s intended to help homeowners pay for raising properties' structures, reports Anne Geggis of the Palm Beach Post. The federal government may contribute up to $400 million in grants, which are administered by the state. — “Florida’s new immigration law met with fears of profiling, distrust,” reports Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times. — “Florida universities shouldn’t admit immigrants living in the state illegally, DeSantis says,” reports Jackie Llanos of the Florida Phoenix. — “DeSantis urged to declare emergency over toxic red tide algae off Florida coast,” reports the Guardian’s Richard Luscombe.
| | | | We’ve re-imagined and expanded our Inside Congress newsletter to give you unmatched reporting on Capitol Hill politics and policy -- and we'll get it to your inbox even earlier. Subscribe today. | | | | | | | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | USF SWITCHOVER — “University of South Florida President Rhea Law announced Monday she will step down from her post, as major changes continue in the leadership of Florida public universities,” reports Jim Turner of News Service of Florida. “Law, an attorney who had longstanding ties to USF, became interim president in 2021 before being named president in March 2022. Monday’s announcement said she will leave the presidency after USF conducts a search for a successor.” GETTING OOT — “As Trump threatens sweeping tariffs and belittles Canada as the ‘51st state,’ [Tim] Bishop is part of a social media movement urging Canadians to spend their money at home or in more supportive countries,” reports Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel. “That could be bad for business in Florida. Canada is the Sunshine State’s top source of international visitors with the Maple Leaf flag flying proudly in snowbird enclaves and license plates from Ontario and Quebec signaling winter’s arrival.” — “Tallahassee utility customers stunned by high electric bills after rare Florida snowfall,” reports Elena Barrera of the Tallahassee Democrat. — “Fearful immigrants ask Florida activist to sign guardianship papers for their children,” reports Gisela Salomon of The Associated Press. — “How Coral Gables became a key end point for smuggled Chinese migrants,” by the Miami Herald’s Milena Malaver, David Goodhue and Jacqueline Charles.
| | CAMPAIGN MODE | | MESSAGING FLOUNDERING — “Florida Democrats have struggled with how to respond to the issue [of immigration], even as Republicans engage in public fights among themselves and reverse their own positions and legislation in some cases,” report Gray Rohrer and Ana Goñi-Lessan of USA Today Network — Florida. “All the while, Florida Republicans were zooming past them in voter registration numbers.” SPECIAL ELECTION AHEAD — “DeSantis is waiting to set a Special Election date to fill Sen. Geraldine Thompson’s seat, but says it will happen as soon as possible,” reports Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics. The governor said: “We usually wait until the elected official is put to rest and everything before we really charge into that. But we will set it. We’ll try to do that as convenient as possible for the local officials.”
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | | 
Trump on Sunday attended the Daytona 500 and stopped to pose for some pics with Florida elected officials. | AP | LAST WEEKEND — Trump on Sunday attended the Daytona 500 and stopped to pose for some pics with Florida elected officials, including some who orchestrated the state’s new legislation on illegal immigration that DeSantis signed last week. They included Sen. RICK SCOTT (R-Fla.), state Senate President BEN ALBRITTON, Gruters, state Sen. RANDY FINE (R-Melbourne Beach), state Sen. NICK DICEGLIE (R-St. Petersburg) and state Sen. JIM BOYD (R-Bradenton). FED JUDGE NOMINATION — Trump announced over the weekend he’d be picking Judge JASON REDING QUIÑONES as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | IN MEMORIAM — “Former Florida legislator and longtime circuit court judge Thomas Gallen died peacefully at his Bradenton home on Feb. 5 at the age of 92,” reports Jesse Mendoza of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. “Gallen worked as a law partner at the Miller, Gallen, Kaklis and Venable law firm in Bradenton from 1960 to 1985 and served for 12 years in the state Legislature, spending six years each in the Florida House and Senate in the 1960s and '70s.” BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka … Lynn Hatter, news director at WFSU Public Broadcasting ... WPLG’s Glenna Milberg. | | | | 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 | | | |
