Staff Reports
Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
Ed. Note — After covering the expanse of races from last night’s Presidential Primary, we are giving Sunburn and our staff the night off. Don’t worry, the morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics will be back in inboxes first thing Friday morning. And don’t forget to check out Diagnosis tomorrow! Thanks for your support, and please, stay safe.
First Shot
The results from Tuesday’s municipal elections are in, and Florida Democrats didn’t do well.
Though Chair Nikki Fried touted victories for the Florida Democratic Party’s “Take Back Local” program, a Florida Politics review found that a Democrat had already held the seat in every race where the state party intervened with that program and won.
The Take Back Local effort indeed tallied victories.
In Ocoee, George Oliver fended off a better-funded conservative activist, and won back a District 4 seat he previously held. Giagnorio called that race a “flip,” but the Ocoee office won by Oliver is held now by Ages Hart, a registered Democrat.
Additionally, Maria Rodriguez became the first Colombian American elected in Broward County history when she won a Pembroke Pines City Commission seat. And Andy Thomson won back a seat on the Boca Raton City Council with the state party’s help.
But the seat that Rodriguez won is occupied at the moment by Iris Siple, another Democrat. Thomson succeeds Monica Mayotte, also a Democrat. The other victory for the party also came in Boca Raton, where City Council member Yvette Drucker defended a seat she already held.
FDP spokesman Eden Giagnorio later noted that Democrat Megan Zemaitis ousted Kenneth City Mayor Robert Howell, who has no party affiliation. That race, however, was not a Take Back Local target.
Evening Reads
—”Joe Biden’s dreams of ending poverty crumbled. Will he get a second chance?” via Jeff Stein of The Washington Post
—”Democrats prepare aggressive counter to third-party threats” via Rebecca Davis O’Brien of The New York Times
—”Donald Trump claims 2024 will be rigged, putting Republican turnout at risk” via Mariah Timms of the Wall Street Journal
—”Touting ‘law and order,’ Ron DeSantis signs bill allowing homeless camps in South Florida” via Lawrence Mower and Aaron Liebowitz of the Miami Herald/Tampa Bay Times
—”Chair Nikki Fried defends Democratic Party’s move to cancel primary; DeSantis ridiculed the move” via Jackie Llanos and Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix
—“The IRS finally has an answer to TurboTax” via Saahil Desai of The Atlantic
—”Why abortion in the U.S. is on the rise” via Rachel M. Cohen of Vox
—”A Florida paramedic doubted this response to overdoses — then he saw it working” via Lauren Peace of the Tampa Bay Times
Quote of the Day
“The lengths in which Nikki is spinning this electoral disaster is mind-bending.”
— Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power, on the Tuesday election results touted by Fried, his counterpart at the FDP.
Put It on the Tab
Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the public sleeping ban, it’s time to cancel the round of Park Benches and order a Camp for the unhoused person down the street.
We’d suggest a Spin Move for Nikki Fried, but it seems as if someone already served her a few.
Order a Through The Wire for Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann, who leads challenger Gary Price by a mere 12 votes and is headed toward a recount.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Heat looking for spark in season’s final month
Battling injuries, the Miami Heat continue to battle for playoff positioning as they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers tonight (7 p.m. ET, Bally Sports Florida).
The Heat (37-31) find themselves in a similar position as last year, in line to compete in the play-in tournament. Currently the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, Miami has lost five of their last seven games including a 98-91 loss on Monday in Philadelphia. In that game, center Bam Adebayo and guard Terry Rozier each scored 20 points but without leading scorers Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro, the Heat couldn’t keep up with the 76ers, who played without reigning MVP Joel Embiid.
With 14 regular season games remaining, Miami must make up at least one game in the standings to avoid the play-in tournament. The top six teams in each conference do not participate in the play-in tournament while seeds seven through 10 must earn their way into the playoffs.
Miami enters tonight’s games half a game behind seventh-place Indianapolis and a game behind sixth-place Philadelphia. Orlando sits two and a half games clear of the play-in tournament in fifth in the East.
The Heat and Cavaliers have split two games this season with Miami winning at Cleveland in November and the Cavaliers returning the favor by winning in Miami in December. The two teams will meet again on March 24 in Miami.
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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
