| | | |  | | By Kimberly Leonard | | Presented by |  | | | | 
Asked about her plans ahead of the weekend, Casey DeSantis played coy by quoting baseball legend Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road,” she said, “take it.” | Meg Kinnard/AP | Good morning and welcome to Monday. Florida first Lady CASEY DESANTIS hasn’t done anything to tamp down speculation that she may run for governor in 2026. Asked about her plans ahead of the weekend, she played coy by quoting baseball legend YOGI BERRA: “When you come to a fork in the road,” she said, “take it.” That appearance in Miami, where she and the governor highlighted state cancer initiatives, had the trappings and feeling of a soft launch. It featured Gov. RON DESANTIS praising her work on spurring cancer research, on programs to build resiliency against mental health challenges, and on Hope Florida, which works to connect businesses and nonprofits with families in need. "I've had people coming up to me for years, begging to get her into the fray,” DeSantis said, calling his wife “passionate, articulate, smart,” and someone with “rock solid values.” Florida’s first lady has long been deeply involved in her husband’s appearances across the state and in his political rise. But this time, one of her comments seemed to lay out a theory of the case for her own run for governor: “When God gives you an opportunity to be able to do something, what do you do with it?” Casey DeSantis, who has been in remission for three years, was talking about how she survived breast cancer to help others facing the diagnosis. But it could just as easily have been an answer to the most important question every political candidate faces: Why are you running? Should she lean into this theme in a campaign, her reasoning would offer a memorable and decisive answer with echoes of Trumpism. After then-candidate DONALD TRUMP narrowly missed an assassin’s bullet to the head during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, he and his supporters often said God saved him so he could save the country. In Playbook’s conversations with Florida political insiders, many see a Casey DeSantis run as compelling, citing her favorability with voters, her ease in front of a crowd and her accomplishments — not to mention the fact Gov. DeSantis could keep the fundraising train rolling for his wife’s candidacy before launching another bid for president. But they’re also hesitant to all-out encourage a run because of what many see as a drawback outweighing all the positives: It would fly in the face of Trump’s endorsement of Rep. BYRON DONALDS for the job. “This would undoubtedly be the hardest fight the DeSantises have ever had. Can Gov. DeSantis risk it? Lord knows he cares about his legacy, probably more than most,” said a statewide political operative, granted anonymity to speak candidly. “If Casey loses, you could say goodbye to any ‘28 presidential run.” For now, there’s little downside in floating the possibility because it softens the lame-duck shroud around Gov. DeSantis; his wife would surely double down on his agenda in the governor’s mansion. And amplifying the chatter: On Saturday the DeSantises were spotted having breakfast with Trump at his golf club in West Palm Beach, reported The Wall Street Journal’s Meridith McGraw, a POLITICO alum. The speculation could go on for months. In 2018, DeSantis didn’t announce his gubernatorial run until January of that year. Before him, RICK SCOTT didn’t announce he was running until April of the 2010 election year. 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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Before next year’s governor’s race overtakes the spotlight completely, the Legislature’s regular session kicks off. | Francis Chung/POLITICO via AP Images | TOMORROW — Before next year’s governor’s race overtakes the spotlight completely, the Legislature’s regular session kicks off. From condo safety laws to property insurance costs and hemp regulations, POLITICO’s Isa Domínguez has a guide on the key policy issues facing state lawmakers. — “Florida lawmakers prepare for one of most unpredictable legislative sessions in years,” by Lawrence Mower and Ana Ceballos of the Miami Herald. — “Miami lawmakers are proposing new laws. Here’s how they could affect you in Florida,” by Howard Cohen of the Miami Herald. — Ana Goñi-Lessan and Gray Rohrer of USA Today Network — Florida have a list of bills to watch that could lead to more clashes between the governor and the Legislature. RESERVES WRECKAGE — “An influential group of real estate attorneys that advised Florida lawmakers after a residential tower partially collapsed in Surfside saw an opportunity to rein in condo associations, while realizing their advice would lead distressed unit owners in older buildings to sell to developers,” Alexandra Glorioso and Rebecca San Juan of the Miami Herald. “Rather than focusing on what may have caused the Champlain Towers South to fail, attorneys on a task force of a Florida Bar law section encouraged the Legislature to force condo associations to save money for future building maintenance. The recommendation became a crucial component in the state Legislature’s response to the tragedy — and a driver of the burgeoning financial crisis for condo owners in South Florida and across the state.” RATE HIKE REQUEST — “Florida Power & Light officially asked regulators Friday to sign off on a four-year rate increase that would generate billions in additional revenue for the state’s largest utility,” reports POLITICO’s Gary Fineout. “If approved by the Florida Public Service Commission, the rate hike would average out to 2.5 percent a year, according to FPL’s filing. But many average residential customers would see rates jump nearly 6 percent in 2026 and another four percent the following year, according to figures provided by the utility, which serves about 6 million customers.”
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| | | YOU MAY PROCEED — A group of major publishers, authors and parents can proceed with a lawsuit challenging Florida’s controversial law requiring local schools to remove books challenged over sexual content, a federal judge ruled Friday. Florida sought to throw out the case by, among other things, arguing the group lacked standing to challenge the state Board of Education since the book removals are being carried out by local officials. But District Judge CARLOS MENDOZA rejected the state’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing Penguin Random House, Macmillan Publishers and Simon & Schuster, and others to have their arguments heard. A hearing is scheduled for May in Orlando. “Who caused the injury?” wrote Mendoza, an Obama appointee. “While it may be local officials that physically remove the books, it is State Defendants’ interpretation of the statute — contained in the objection form — that Plaintiffs challenge in this action.” — Andrew Atterbury LEGISLATION ROUNDUP — “State Sen. Erin Grall has refiled a bill from last year that would allow parents to file a lawsuit over the death of a fetus,” reports POLITICO’s Arek Sarkissian. “The bill, SB 1284, is nearly identical to a measure Grall (R-Vero Beach) filed during last year’s legislative session. Grall withdrew that measure, SB 476, before any floor discussion amid backlash from a ruling made by the Alabama Supreme Court that determined frozen embryos were considered unborn children in civil lawsuits.” … WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS — Amid the flurry of bills filed ahead of the session is a major overhaul to how Florida governs its university and college systems. State Rep. MICHELLE SALZMAN (R-Pensacola) and state Sen. ALEXIS CALATAYUD (R-Miami). the chair of the Senate higher education committee, have filed identical bills that would put searches for university and college presidents back into the sunshine. Their bills (HB 1321 & SB 1726) would repeal the exemption passed in 2022 that allows university and college boards to shield the identities of those seeking to become school leaders until close to the end of the search process. The legislation also would remove the Board of Governors from having any say in who is chosen as university presidents. The measures would also place term limits on the Board of Governors and require all members to be state residents. The bills come just a few months after Florida House Speaker DANIEL PEREZ criticized a move by the Board of Governors to assert more control over university president searches. In addition, the push to uncloak presidential searches follows the contentious tenure of former Nebraska Sen. BEN SASSE as the leader of the University of Florida. Due to a loophole in the exemption, Sasse emerged as the only announced finalist for the UF job. Sasse resigned last summer. — Gary Fineout — “Federal judge skeptical of Florida's attempt to ban social media for young teenagers,” reports Lee Ann Anderson of Fresh Take Florida. — “The endangered Florida panther faces the dual threats of urban sprawl and increased traffic,” reports Curt Anderson of The Associated Press. — “‘Trailblazer’ Geraldine Thompson remembered in Orlando memorial service,” reports Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel.
| | PENINSULA AND BEYOND | | | 
Maria Corina Machado said Trump’s move to cancel licenses allowing energy companies to operate in the South American nation was “necessary to hold the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responsible for repression against his people.” | Ariana Cubillos/AP | REACTION TO CHEVRON DECISION — The leader of Venezuela’s opposition movement, MARÍA CORINA MACHADO, told POLITICO’s Eric Bazail-Eimil that Trump’s move last week to cancel licenses allowing energy companies to operate in the South American nation was “necessary to hold the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responsible for repression against his people” and that “the license cancellations were critical to ensure Maduro’s government doesn’t have the funds to sustain what she describes as a ‘criminal organization’ harming the Venezuelan people.” CHUGGING ALONG — “Three South Florida counties must pay millions of dollars to keep Tri-Rail, the 73-mile commuter rail system, up and running, the executive director of Tri-Rail told leaders Friday,” reports Lisa J. Huriash of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “The need to make up what is projected to eventually be a $90 million annual deficit comes as federal stimulus money dries up, and state funding ends, the director said.”
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Explore more features. | | | | | CAMPAIGN MODE | | RUNNING ADS — Cuban-America billionaire MIKE FERNANDEZ of Miami bought a full-page ad in Sunday’s New York Times, calling on Republican Sens. MITCH MCCONNELL of Kentucky, LISA MURKOWSKI of Alaska, SUSAN COLLINS of Maine, THOM TILLIS of North Carolina and JOHN CURTIS of Utah to stand up to Trump by saying no “to actions that undermine our Constitution” and to “assert oversight.” Fernandez previously donated millions to Republican candidates and causes, but in 2016 he endorsed HILLARY CLINTON over Trump and left the party to become an unaffiliated voter. “My hope is that by standing up to Trump as a lone American, I may inspire others who have the power and the means to come together and stop his ghastly assault on our democracy,” Fernandez said in a statement to Playbook. “There is still a broad patriotic middle in the United States Senate who have the power to change the course of history. I want to help jump-start that process.”
| | TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP | | — “Will NOAA layoffs affect National Hurricane Center forecasts in Florida? What you should know,” by Cheryl McCloud, C. A. Bridges and Dinah Voyles Pulver of USA Today Network — Florida. — “Trump takes seized boxes back to Florida on Air Force One,” reports CNN’s Kit Maher and Donald Judd.
| | TRANSITION TIME | | MORE INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION — Today, Ballard Partners announced a strategic partnership with Canadian communications and public affairs firm TACT, which is based in Québec. Its services will include cross-border advocacy, helping clients navigate politics and regulations in each country, and business development.
| | ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN | | — SPOTTED at Forward Global’s Miami office launch party at the Mr. C Hotel, hosted by John Procter, Noe Garcia, and head of office Jose Mallea: Miami Mayor FRANCIS SUAREZ; CHRISTINA CRESPI, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority; Florida state Rep. DAVID BORRERO; County Commission Vice Chair KEONE McGHEE; former Mayor XAVIER SUAREZ; ALEX RODRIGUEZ ROIG, CEO of Boys and Girls Club Miami; ADAM MEHL; and “Disrupt” podcast host TONY DELGADO. | | | | 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 | | | |
