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Politico
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Early insights into the ‘26 governor's race
IN MEMORIAM — Today marks nine years since 49 people were killed and 53 more were injured at the Pulse Nightclub mass shooting in Orlando. Gov. RON DESANTIS ordered flags to be flown at half-staff and in a statement called the attack 'a horrific act of terrorism.' For the first time starting Wednesday, survivors and families of loved ones who were lost have been able to walk through the building before it gets demolished, Spectrum News reports. A remembrance ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Orlando. (Livestream.) Good morning and welcome to Thursday. A new poll provides a super-early glimpse into the 2026 governor's race, one week after former Rep. DAVID JOLLY filed to run as a Democrat. Other candidates could still get into the contest; the primary won't happen until August 2026. But for now, President DONALD TRUMP-endorsed Rep. BYRON DONALDS is the only major candidate on the Republican side to file to run. That's why the poll, from Victory Insights, compared both candidates to see where they stand. The result? Donalds leads Jolly by 5.4 percent among 600 likely Florida voters. Donalds' lead was unsurprising, given the state has now turned red as far as active voter registrations are concerned. But Jolly took the report as good news. 'This election is about change versus more of the same,' he told Playbook. 'We are building a coalition to attack the affordability crisis and bring generational change. I'm not surprised polls are now reflecting that. I feel very good about this race.' While this poll's margin appears to be narrow, considering Gov. RON DESANTIS won his reelection by 19 points in 2022 and President DONALD TRUMP won the state by 13 points, Victory Insights' senior pollster BEN GALBRAITH told Playbook he expects whoever the Republican nominee is to carry the race by double digits. That's thanks to how much undecided voters lean Republican in the state — 17 points. Should those votes break for Donalds, he said, then his margin of victory would be closer to 11 points. As of now, the poll found about one-third of voters haven't decided who they'll support because they don't know Donalds or Jolly. That means both candidates have an opportunity to reintroduce themselves to Florida — or to define each other in the many months until the 2026 general election, should each wind up being their party's nominee. The Donalds campaign's chief strategist, RYAN SMITH, predicted Donalds would be Florida's next governor 'because he is the proven conservative fighter endorsed by President Trump.' Galbraith also wrote in his analysis that because 43 percent of Florida Republicans define themselves as 'MAGA' through support for Trump, they'd be likely to go with his pick. The polling did not evaluate support for state Sen. JASON PIZZO, who recently dropped his Democratic registration and plans to run for governor as an independent. As far as the cash contest, Donalds is way ahead. He raised more than $12 million in the five weeks after announcing his run for governor, first quarter reports showed. More recent filings show his political committee got a $1 million check from GOP megadonor RICHARD UIHLEIN, the president of packing supply giant Uline. Earlier this month the Winklevoss twins (of Facebook fame, now in crypto) gave him $250,000 apiece. Jolly's fundraising shows he has raised a low-six-figures total toward his political committee, Florida 2026. Most donations were lower than $1,000. His largest contribution was $100,000 from BARBARA STIEFEL, a Coral Gables philanthropist and pharmaceutical heiress. He also received $25,000 from Charles R. Wall Trust in Colorado, $10,000 from Democratic donor LAURIE SCHECTER and art designer CARLOS ANDRADE. MITCHELL BERGER, a major Democratic party fundraiser and prominent Fort Lauderdale attorney who represented former Vice President Al Gore in the post-2000 election Florida lawsuits, contributed $5,000. FLORIDIAN GETS BOOTED AT DNC — The Democratic National Committee removed DAVID HOGG as vice chair Wednesday evening amid his threats to primary incumbents he called 'ineffective,' POLITICO's Elena Schneider reports. The party removed him through virtual vote because of a procedural complaint, and though Hogg, 25, had the opportunity to run for the seat again starting today, he said he wouldn't be doing so and would instead focus on his political action committee, Leaders We Deserve. Hogg became a nationally known figure after the mass shooting in Parkland, working at March for Our Lives to successfully push for new gun restrictions in Florida. His removal from the position gives Florida Democrats less clout within the national party at a time when they've been trying to claw their way back to relevance, urging national donors not to give up on investing here. The Florida Democratic Party had opposed efforts to remove Hogg in May, saying the party had been in 'desperate need of young, innovative leadership' and that the party should honor the vote tally in support of Hogg. Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@ ... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ... OH LÁ LÁ! Au revoir, Tallahassee budget meetings (which ended up not happening on Wednesday). DeSantis is traveling to France next week on an international trade and business mission right around the time legislators say they want to wrap up the budget. The governor will also be attending the Paris Air Show. DeSantis' office said in a statement that the mission would 'highlight Florida's status as a global hub for aerospace, aviation defense and emerging technologies' and promote new partnerships. Among those joining are state Commerce Secretary ALEX KELLY, Transportation Secretary JARED PERDUE, Secretary of State CORD BYRD and Space Florida President ROB LONG. DeSantis is following in former Gov. RICK SCOTT's tradition of attending the air show and doing trade meetings. Asked about the cost of the trip, EMILY HETHERINGTON of the state Commerce Department said private businesses and institutions like universities would pay their own way. 'SelectFlorida does extensive legwork before each trade mission to gather as many sponsorships as possible to offset costs and minimize the impact to taxpayers,' she said. 'In return, we expect the mission to produce enormous investments and jobs brought to Florida that far exceed costs. Additionally, the showcasing Florida companies generate significant returns that are brought back to the state of Florida.' The governor's last global trip was to Italy in November, and his office hasn't supplied POLITICO with requested records from that mission. They included a request for documents detailing expenses, the cost of a private concert featuring ANDREA BOCELLI and the cost of the charter jet the governor used. PARKS WHISTLEBLOWER IS BACK, SEEKING $50K IN DAMAGES — 'The fired state employee who leaked plans to develop nine Florida state parks with golf courses, hotels and other amenities claims in a new lawsuit that Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration retaliated against him,' reports Max Chenes of the Tampa Bay Times. 'Whistleblower James Gaddis alleges in a lawsuit that he received 'disparate treatment and retaliation' from DeSantis, the former head of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Shawn Hamilton, and the agency's human resources director, Jake Vick, after he released information on the secret plans.' IN THE WORKS — 'Florida could be poised to make it easier for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities to maintain their Medicaid services,' reports Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix. 'The latest round of budget negotiations between the House and Senate includes a proposal by the House to eliminate a requirement for people with IDD to annually be redetermined eligible for the health care safety net program for the poor, elderly, and disabled. If approved once, they would be presumptively eligible the rest of their lives unless they no longer qualify for Medicaid or their condition changes.' STATE FOSTER CARE WORKING WITH ICE — 'Florida child welfare authorities turned over a 17-year-old foster child to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, sparking intense criticism that the action could hinder efforts to protect children in the state's large immigrant communities,' report the Miami Herald's Carol Marbin Miller, Ana Ceballos and Syra Ortiz Blanes. 'The Honduran teen was removed from his Pensacola foster home Monday morning — in handcuffs and shackles — and transferred immediately into ICE custody. The boy and his mother had crossed the southwest border into the U.S. without permission, sources familiar with the case told the Miami Herald.' PENINSULA AND BEYOND PAYDAY REVEALED — 'The University of West Florida is offering Manny Diaz Jr. a $643,000 salary to serve as the school's interim president in a deal that would double what he earned as the state's education commissioner,' reports POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury. 'The former state lawmaker, under a contract the UWF Board of Trustees is considering Thursday, is slated to take over July 14 and serve for no more than a year — provided there is a successful presidential search.' The proposal is 'higher than the $323,989 pay afforded to the state's top K-12 education official. It also is about $107,000 higher than the base salary of previous President Martha Saunders, who resigned in May amid scrutiny by the DeSantis administration.' — 'Gang violence in Haiti has displaced nearly 1.3 million people. It's a new record,' reports Jacqueline Charles of the Miami Herald. — 'Separated from kids in Cuba and Haiti by Trump travel ban, parents plead for help,' by the Miami Herald's Nora Gámez Torres and Jacqueline Charles. — 'South Florida-based Silver Airways shuts down, stranding travelers,' reports David Lyons of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. ...HURRICANE HOLE... COMING TO AN END — 'Trump said on Tuesday he planned to start 'phasing out' the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the hurricane season and that states would receive less federal aid to respond to natural disasters,' Reuters' Nathan Layne reports. 'Trump also said he planned to distribute disaster relief funds directly from the president's office.' — 'Risky business: More insurers willing to back Florida property, but how healthy are they?' by Anne Geggis of the Palm Beach Post. CAMPAIGN MODE MIAMI MAYOR CANDIDATE — 'Emilio Gonzalez may seem to be an odd choice in preaching the MAGA gospel,' reports Stephen Dinan of The Washington Times. 'He worked in the George W. Bush administration running U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and then returned to Miami, where he served as CEO of Miami International Airport and city manager. 'Mr. Gonzalez emerged as a major critic of President Biden's immigration policy and became a founding member of Veterans for Trump, a bilingual surrogate for candidate Donald Trump. He was a transition team member for President-elect Trump and has just been named a senior fellow at the Trump-connected America First Policy Institute. Now, Mr. Gonzalez is pursuing a bid to become mayor of Miami. He said the city needs the kind of shake-up that Mr. Trump delivered to Washington.' TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP BIG BEAUTIFUL REIMBURSEMENT — 'Trump's Big Beautiful Bill sets aside $300 million during the next four years to compensate counties and municipalities that provide security for the president,' reports Mike Diamond of the Palm Beach Post. 'Palm Beach County will benefit if the U.S. Senate approves the bill and Trump signs it, which he has said he will do.' ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN THEY DREAMED A DREAM — Rep. RANDY FINE (R-Fla.) and state Sen. JOE GRUTERS (R-Sarasota) were among Trump's guests at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday night to see 'Les Misérables.' — 'Florida man convicted of posing as flight attendant to score more than 100 free flights,' per Sergio Candido of CBS News Miami. BIRTHDAYS: Sally Bradshaw, Tallahassee bookstore owner and former chief of staff and campaign adviser to Jeb Bush ... state Rep. Kim Daniels ... Alex Castellanos of Purple Strategies ... former state Rep. Neil Combee ... Steve Bovo, former Hialeah mayor now at Corcoran Partners.
Newsweek
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Democrats' Chances of Flipping Florida in Governor's Race—Polls
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A new poll of the 2026 Florida gubernatorial race showed Republican Representative Byron Donalds with a narrow lead over former Representative David Jolly, a former Republican who is running as a Democrat. However, nearly one-third of voters remain undecided, and Jolly told Newsweek on Wednesday he feels "very good about this race." Newsweek reached out to the Donalds and Jolly campaigns via email and online contact form. Why It Matters Florida zoomed toward Republicans over the past decade, with the former swing state backing President Donald Trump by double digits in last year's elections. But Democrats are hoping to make the Sunshine State competitive once again in the 2026 midterms, particularly if Trump's approval fuels a 2018-style "blue wave" next November. Historically, the president's party loses seats in the midterms. Whoever emerges victorious in the election will have a say over key economic and social policies in Florida, home to more than 23 million residents. What to Know A new poll released by Victory Insights revealed how Floridians are feeling about a hypothetical matchup between Donalds and Jolly more than a year out from the primary election. A plurality of voters said they are leaning toward Donalds, but many are still up for grabs, according to the survey of 600 likely voters conducted from June 7 to June 10, 2025. Donalds received support from 36.7 percent of respondents, while 31.4 percent said they intend to cast their ballot for Jolly, according to the poll. Still, 31.9 percent said they weren't sure who they would support in the election. Representative Byron Donalds speaks to reporters in Washington, D.C. on October 3, 2023. Former Representative David Jolly participates in a swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 2014. Representative Byron Donalds speaks to reporters in Washington, D.C. on October 3, 2023. Former Representative David Jolly participates in a swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 2014.;Jolly announced his gubernatorial campaign last week. He previously served in the House of Representatives as a Republican from 2014 to 2017, representing areas of Pinellas County. Since leaving Congress, he has become a vocal Trump critic and officially became a Democrat this year before joining the race. Democrats also ran a former Republican as their nominee in the 2022 gubernatorial race, with former Governor Charlie Crist winning the party's nomination but ultimately losing to GOP Governor Ron DeSantis by about 20 points in the general election. Ben Galbraith, a senior pollster at Victory Insights, wrote in a polling memo that while Democrats hope Jolly may be 'more palatable to modern Republicans," Crist's defeat in 2022 indicates that thought process "is grounded more so in hope than in reason." Other polls have also suggested Republicans have an early lead in the state's gubernatorial race. A poll from the James Madison Institute, which surveyed 1,200 registered Florida voters from May 5 to May 7, showed Donalds as well as Florida first lady Casey DeSantis leading Democratic candidates, albeit by a smaller margin than Trump's 2024 victory in the state. Trump won Florida by 13 percentage points, the strongest Republican showing in the state in decades. He won Florida by about three points in 2020 and just over a single percentage point in 2016, with former President Barack Obama winning the state in both his 2008 and 2012 election campaigns. The primary is still more than a year away, and it's unclear whether other candidates like DeSantis or former Representative Matt Gaetz, also a Republican, are going to jump into the race. However, Trump has already endorsed Donalds, giving him a likely boost in the GOP primary. What People Are Saying Florida Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly told Newsweek: "This election is about change vs more of the same. I am focused on mobilizing a coalition of Florida voters ready to bring generational relief to our affordability crisis, while other candidates ignore the urgency. I'm not surprised polls are now where they are. But we are just getting started. I feel very good about this race." J. Edwin Benton, a professor of political science and public administration at the University of South Florida, told Newsweek last month: "The Democratic Party could make it interesting, if, and that's a very big if, it can get its act together, which they haven't been able to do for the last four, five, six years. But the opportunity is there, if nothing more than the pushback against DeSantis and Trump." Donalds on CBN News, according to Florida Politics: "I have the support of President Donald Trump. I have the support of [Florida's GOP] Senator Rick Scott. I have the support of most of the Republican congressional delegation. And we're picking up steam every single day. I've been crisscrossing the state nonstop for the last six weeks, except when I'm here doing my job here in Washington." What Happens Next Florida voters will head to the polls in the primary on August 18, 2026, and the general election will be held on November 3, 2026. The Cook Political Report currently classifies the race as Solid Republican.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida gubernatorial candidates weigh in on prospect of three or four-way race
The race to become Florida's next Governor is shaping up with President Donald Trump-backed candidate Congressman Byron Donalds on the Republican side, and now, former Congressman David Jolly jumping in on the Democratic side on Thursday. But voters could end up having more options beyond those two next November. State Senator and former Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo has indicated he's interested in running as an Independent. Pizzo made headlines earlier this year after announcing his departure from the Democratic Party and declaring the Florida Democratic Party dead on the Senate floor. Trial attorney John Morgan has also teased a possible run and the formation of a new political party. Unlike prior third-party bids, Morgan and Pizzo both have deep pockets. Action News Jax asked Jolly whether added competition in the field could hurt Democrats' chances of pulling out a victory. 'An Independent cannot win the governorship in 2026,' Jolly said. Jolly is banking his candidacy on building a coalition of Independents and Democratic voters. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'We have to build a coalition that's bigger than the Democratic Party. If the Democratic Party insists on a circular firing squad and litmus tests, then we end up with more MAGA in Tallahassee in 2026,' Jolly said. Donalds, on the other han,d said he's confident Floridians won't be enticed by a third or fourth option on the ballot. He pointed to the growing Republican dominance in voter registrations as evidence. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] 'We've gone from a purple state to a very red state. So, do I think that Floridians want to change course? No. I think they want to continue Florida being the great state that it is,' Donalds said. There's still a long way to go in the race, and even Donalds and Jolly may end up facing challengers in their respective primaries. Candidates have until June 12 of next year to qualify for the race. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rep. Byron Donalds calls on UF to restart presidential search over Ono's past DEI comments
Florida U.S. Congressman Byron Donalds, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump to serve as Florida's next governor, is calling on the University of Florida to restart the search for its next president. Donalds' comments came May 7 in a Fox Business interview over a resurfaced March 2023 video of University of Michigan President Dr. Santa Ono — the only finalist to serve as UF's 14th president — in which he discussed the success of the school's DEI program and called racism one of America's original sins. Donalds, R-Naples, said during the interview that the University of Florida's search committee needs to go back to the drawing board after selecting a president that praises DEI initiatives. 'We have been clear about DEI not being a pillar of our educational systems in Florida,' Donalds said. 'It does not comport with the values of the state of Florida.' Donalds also addressed UF's selection of Ono on X. "Florida cannot afford to inject wokeness into our flagship university. This selection must be blocked and the search committee must start over." Ono, however, said in his first appearance on UF's campus on May 6 that he closed the University of Michigan's DEI office in March because he felt the investment was going toward the bureaucracy of the office, not the students. The decision to close the office was made after Trump signed an executive order targeting DEI programs. "Some of the things I hear is not everyone is included in the support that's provided," Ono said at UF. "To me, it's an American thing to support all students as opposed to just some of the students. It was my decision, but it was based on data and evidence, and this reallocation of funds allows more students to be given more opportunities." More: UF president finalist Ono talks DEI, experimental learning in meetings with students, faculty Ono added that his position on eliminating the DEI office aligns with Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration, state government and the university. The University of Florida announced on May 4 that Ono was the sole finalist to become the university's president. "Dr. Ono's proven record of academic excellence, innovation and collaborative leadership at world-class institutions made him our unanimous choice. We are confident he is the right person to build on UF's strong foundation and help realize our bold vision for the future," said Rahul Patel, chair of UF's Presidential Search Committee and a member of board of trustees UF declined to comment on Donalds' remarks. This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Trump endorsed candidate in Florida calls out UF president finalist
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside Ron DeSantis' tough year in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — It's shaping up to be the year from hell for Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor has been in a war of words and blame with the Republican state House speaker. A drawn-out budget dispute has left him frozen on filling key positions. Allies are streaming out the door, and it's unclear whether a successor in the governor's mansion will continue his legacy initiatives. Florida's current unsettled political landscape is a reminder that DeSantis — about 17 months removed from his unsuccessful bid for president — no longer has an iron grip on his state's politics. And it's a long cry from the once-rising conservative star whose handling of Covid-19 and his battles over education, race and gender identity garnered widespread attention — and have been replicated to some extent by the Trump administration. 'I think he's flailing. He is alienating even the people he thinks are his friends,' said one longtime top Florida Republican operative who was granted anonymity to talk about DeSantis frankly. 'I think he's a man without an island.' DeSantis, who is term-limited and cannot run again next year, has declined to endorse Rep. Byron Donalds for governor, even though Donalds has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. First lady Casey DeSantis has been mulling her own gubernatorial run, but she has not moved ahead even as Donalds picks up additional endorsements and financial support. The DeSantises have also been playing defense after the House probed a foundation linked to Hope Florida, an initiative launched by the first lady to help steer people away from government welfare programs. Amid all this, a messy presidential battle has exploded at the University of Florida. Donalds and other conservative Republicans called on the board that governs universities to reject the hiring of Santa Ono, who had already won the backing of the UF board and its DeSantis-allied chair. The board ended up doing just that, as the governor, who has championed an overhaul of the state's higher education system, tried to remain neutral in the fight. Another Tallahassee lobbyist said bluntly: 'There is no plan. It's just chaos all the time.' Taryn Fenske, a longtime aide for DeSantis who remains part of his political operation, pushed back on this description of DeSantis. 'Governor DeSantis keeps people guessing — and winning,' she said in an email. 'Decisions will be made when it best serves Florida's interests. Not a moment sooner, not a moment later. He's playing the long game. And so far, he hasn't missed.' DeSantis remains popular among Republican voters in the state. But for now, his own political prospects beyond 2026 are murky. The same GOP operative who said DeSantis is 'alienating' people said it 'got in [DeSantis'] craw' when Trump recently mentioned Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio — a fellow Floridian — as potential Republican candidates for president. DeSantis has continued to raise money, but it has not been anywhere near what he amassed ahead of his successful 2022 reelection. Another looming decision DeSantis has not yet moved on: Who to tap as lieutenant governor after Jeanette Nuñez stepped down to become president of Florida International University — an arrangement pushed by the governor's office. POLITICO talked to more than a dozen operatives, consultants and top Republicans about the vacancy and DeSantis' future. Names that have emerged for lieutenant governor include former state House Speakers Jose Oliva, Paul Renner and Richard Corcoran. Oliva has been a longtime ally of DeSantis, but he also has been a sharp critic of state House Speaker Daniel Perez, and his appointment may only increase tensions with the House as DeSantis heads into his final year. Another DeSantis ally — state Sen. Jay Collins — has expressed interest. Florida's lieutenant governor is not a high-profile position, with few of its own specific responsibilities. But DeSantis' pick is being closely watched to see whether he installs a placeholder or someone who has ambitions to run in 2026. If DeSantis goes with someone who may run, it would be the strongest signal yet that Casey DeSantis may not seek the job herself. Florida's first lady has largely sidestepped that question, and when asked nearly two weeks ago, she said, 'We literally just went through an election cycle.' She added, 'You talk to a lot of people around the state, and they are so tired of politics. They want people to actually do their jobs.' In Tallahassee, meanwhile, people are steadily streaming out of top government jobs. Manny Diaz, Florida's education commissioner who was hand-picked by DeSantis, accepted the job of interim president at the University of West Florida. DeSantis' legislative affairs director also departed last week. One of DeSantis' most trusted allies is no longer working side by side with the governor. Earlier this year, DeSantis appointed his chief of staff James Uthmeier to become attorney general after he named Ashley Moody to replace Rubio in the Senate. The move has been seen as a testament to Uthmeier's steadfast loyalty to DeSantis, but since taking the position, Uthmeier has been focused on his new job and his own campaign for 2026. But another key vacancy is that of chief financial officer. POLITICO previously reported that state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia is the leading contender for that post, but installing Ingoglia brings the risk of drawing the ire of Trump supporters. Trump has already endorsed state Sen. Joe Gruters — who has an icy relationship with DeSantis — for the post. Former state Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican who would chide fellow GOP legislators for bowing too much to DeSantis, said he understands why DeSantis has not acted on some of his appointments. 'The governor actually prefers delaying these appointments as it maximizes his options and gives him additional control,' he said. In prior years, DeSantis has bent the state Legislature to his will. But he has clashed with it for most of the year, starting with a dust-up over immigration that took three special sessions before legislators and the governor put together a measure designed to help Trump's mass deportation efforts. He has been at odds with Perez for months now and has sharply criticized the state House's legislative agenda. It's been the House that has held hearings on Hope Florida. But he's also seen the Senate fail to confirm agency heads and reject some of his appointments to college boards. Then there was an ongoing budget dispute that kept the governor from filling some of his major appointments, since those could take some of his key allies out of the Legislature. Perez and state Senate President Ben Albritton in early May announced the outlines of a deal on a state budget, but Albritton walked away from the agreement to cut $2.8 billion in taxes. He did so in part because DeSantis said a push to permanently reduce sales taxes would be 'dead on arrival,' as the governor said it would undermine his push to cut local property taxes. Lately, DeSantis has remained mostly out of the fray as budget negotiations slogged on. He did take some swipes at legislators Friday for failing to act before hurricane season, since his budget recommendations included a sales tax holiday on hurricane preparedness supplies and replenishing a program that helps homeowners hurricane-proof their homes. Legislative leaders did late Friday come to a 'framework' for a deal and are scheduled to resume work this week on crafting a new budget. 'He acts like he runs this state when he's taking credit for other people's work,' said one longtime GOP Tallahassee insider. 'If anything could show he's not running the state, this is it.' Ingoglia bristled at the suggestion that DeSantis is a lame duck and lacks clout now. 'I still think he's a dominant force in Florida politics,' said Ingoglia. 'The people of Florida think he's doing a great job. In my mind, he has a mandate. I don't think he's going to take his foot off the gas.' Kimberly Leonard contributed to this report.
