Redistricting — Code Pink — duty calls — money moves — ag women

Cartography concerns

A pair of Special Election wins for Democrats in Florida has heightened skepticism about whether the Florida Legislature will follow through with a redistricting plan.

The race gaining perhaps the most national attention came in President Donald Trump’s backyard on Tuesday, where Democrat Emily Gregory flipped a state House seat the President carried by double digits in 2024. But a bigger surprise occurred in Tampa Bay, where Democrat Brian Nathan flipped a state Senate seat despite being outspent 10-to-1.

But more than notching two narrow wins — and in districts Republicans feel confident they can win back in November — the outcomes sparked national headlines that the GOP could be losing its appetite for mid-decade redistricting.

“Don’t do it,” Rep. Daniel Webster, a Clermont Republican, told Punchbowl News.

“You could put incumbents at risk,” Rep. Greg Steube, a Sarasota Republican, told POLITICO.

And while GOP skepticism about a new map became more public this week, it isn’t exactly new. One GOP consultant who spoke to Florida Politics about the risks of redistricting in February texted the outlet this week saying, “Remember who warned you first.”

Throughout the state, the fear that certain areas of Florida, particularly in heavily Hispanic South Florida, could become competitive even when they appear safe on the existing map gripped the political world. Many declined to speculate if the process will still occur.

“That’s left for much smarter people than I,” said Tampa Bay-based consultant Anthony Pedicini. “I am not a constitutional lawyer.”

Republican Party of Florida Chair Evan Power issued a defiant statement about the election results. He sounded a familiar defense, that Special Elections aren’t indicative of larger trends and fundamentals in Florida still favor the GOP.

“Our record isn’t just strong, it is unmatched,” he said. “With a Republican voter registration advantage of nearly 1.5 million, we are well-positioned and fully energized as we head toward November.”

He also suggested that edge shows Florida Republicans should control more than the 20 of 28 Florida districts now in GOP hands.

“While I have not discussed redistricting because that’s up to the Legislature. Due to the rapid growth of Republicans in Florida, they are underrepresented currently in D.C.,” he told Florida Politics.

Joe Gruters, the Republican National Committee Chair who holds a seat in the Florida Legislature, has already said he will sit out a Special Session on redistricting out for legal reasons. But the RNC says he remains supportive of “Republicans drawing fair maps and ensuring an honest process.” They pointed to past statements he made, most of which condemned blue states for drawing more Democratic-friendly maps before the Midterms.

“Actions have consequences — and Republicans will ensure voters have leaders who actually stand up for them,” Gruters posted in December.

Pink beef

Sen. Rick Scott has often butted heads with the far-left group Code Pink in D.C., and most recently engaged in a lengthy exchange with the organization.

He criticized the organization earlier this month for taking a trip to Cuba despite a U.S. embargo on the country.

“Can’t say I’m surprised to see Code Pink went to Cuba to throw a party and cozy up to the evil (Raúl) Castro/(Miguel) Díaz-Canel regime,” Scott posted alongside coverage in the New York Post. “This is the same radical dark money group that follows me around the Senate to do Iran and Communist China’s bidding and spew antisemitic hate. These people don’t stand for anything but profit.”

An activist confronted Scott in the halls of the Hart Office Building about that, and then posted a video on its own social media.

“We stayed in one of only four hotels the U.S. government allows us to stay in,” said Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin. “They are all four- or five-star hotels. They have to under U.S. policy, be owned by a foreign company.”

She also notably criticized former President Joe Biden for mishandling Cuba while praising former President Barack Obama’s efforts to normalize relations a decade ago.

Scott engaged in the topic.

“You don’t care that people are starving. You don’t care that they don’t have electricity. You don’t care they don’t have food,” he said.

Benjamin said she dedicated her life to ending starvation, while Scott maintained that it should involve ending socialism.

Weeks ago, Scott got into another exchange with Benjamin about Iran, one also published by Code Pink but amplified by Scott’s staff on social media. In that, the two argue over whether Iran posed a threat to Americans, and he noted the regime repeatedly called for “death to America.”

Called to duty

Barely more than a year after she joined the Senate, Ashley Moody has been elevated to one of the most prominent panels in that chamber.

Moody was selected to join the Senate Committee on Armed Services. The panel’s Chair, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, said that given Florida’s commitment to the military, it was a natural fit for Moody to join the Committee.

“Florida has a significant contribution to our military, and Sen. Moody brings a wealth of experience to this body’s critical work, and her addition comes at a consequential moment for our national defense,” Wicker said. “I look forward to working alongside her as we address a pivotal year for military budgeting, modernization, and industrial base expansion.”

The Committee oversees expenditures and operations for multiple military institutions, including aeronautical and space activities, defense elements and military research and development, among others. The Committee has existed in various incarnations since 1816.

Florida’s military bona fides are extensive. The Sunshine State is home to more than 20 military installations. Several key command posts, including Central Command, Southern Command and Special Operations Command, are all headquartered in Florida.

Many service members also stay in Florida when their service concludes. It’s estimated that 1.5 million U.S. military veterans reside in Florida.

“It is an honor and a privilege to join the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services. Florida has a deep and respected military culture, and as a member of a military family, every issue that comes before the Armed Services Committee is a personal one to me,” Moody said.

“I promise to be a voice of reason for our service members, Florida’s many military installations, and act in the best interest of our nation at all times.”

Whispers

​​A series of individual text messages and emails sent by Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick served as key evidence in a House Ethics trial held late into Thursday before an adjudicatory Committee.

Several of the messages went to family members signaling a desire for them to donate money to the Miramar Democrat’s 2021 congressional campaign, money that originated from pandemic response payments to Trinity Health Care Services. Cherfilus-McCormick’s family ran that business, and House investigators say millions were funneled through shell companies to the political operation.

One of the most damning emails predated her successful run for Congress but was sent after a prior campaign against incumbent Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Fort Lauderdale Democrat. “I will be running for Congress again,” Cherfilus-McCormick wrote, “and need to roll out my nonprofit.”

Investigators saw that as a clear indication she intended to use a new organization as part of a financial scheme to finance a run. But the timing of the email also raised the question: What were these whispers?

On Jan. 14, 2019, Hastings, then-dean of the Florida congressional delegation, announced publicly that he was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, as reported at the time by WPTV. He died on April 6, 2021, prompting the election for his successor the following January.

Women in Ag

Women on the House Agriculture Committee took a step to honor female farmers across the country, with Rep. Kat Cammack helping lead the charge.

The Gainesville Republican co-led a House resolution that designated March 21 as National Women in Agriculture Day. She introduced the bill with Rep. Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat and the ranking member on the powerful House Committee.

“Agriculture is a cornerstone of Florida’s economy, and women are helping lead the way,” Cammack said. “Women in agriculture are cultivating the next generation of leaders, safeguarding our food supply, and proving that food security is national security. I’m proud to lead this effort with my colleagues in recognizing the grit, leadership, and relentless dedication of America’s female producers in strengthening our nation’s agricultural industry.”

 Sens. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, and Tina Smith, a Minnesota Democrat, carried a similar resolution in the Senate

Forcing TPS vote?

Members of Florida’s congressional delegation from both parties came together to try to restore Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan refugees.

Rep. Darren Soto, a Kissimmee Democrat, filed a discharge petition, a way of forcing leadership to bring legislation to the floor if a majority of House members support it. If enough members sign on, it would require a vote on the Venezuelan TPS Act (HR 3310), a bill introduced last year by Soto with Reps. María Elvira Salazar, a Coral Gables Republican, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a Weston Democrat.

“The Trump Administration has stripped Venezuelans of Temporary Protected Status, parole, and other critical protections, as well as unjustly deported refugees during a time of major instability in their country. In Central Florida, thousands of Venezuelans have fled political violence and joined family members already living in the United States, contributing to our economy, and working hard to help our community grow,” said Rep. Soto, Deputy Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

His fellow Florida co-sponsors also signed onto the effort.

“While it is encouraging to see signs of progress and a potential path forward for Venezuela, much work remains to be done, and the country is still not safe for many people to return. Until conditions meaningfully improve, we must uphold our commitment to those we granted Temporary Protected Status while ensuring strong criminal vetting measures remain in place,” said Salazar, who refrained from attacking the President. “This discharge petition is about doing the right thing, pushing Congress to act and stand on the side of those who fled repression and instability.”

But Wasserman Schultz gladly critiqued the administration.

“Right now, law-abiding Venezuelan TPS recipients are treated like criminals by Trump Administration officials who behave like criminals. It’s simply wrong to strip away people’s legal status and rip them out of the workforce to send them back to the same dictatorship they fled,” she said. “I’m proud to fight alongside my colleagues to defend South Florida’s Venezuelan community from these unwarranted attacks as we work toward a pathway to citizenship for hardworking Venezuelan families.”

7-OH crackdown

Republicans in the delegation joined an effort to restrict a kratom byproduct.

Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan and Laurel Lee introduced legislation to ban concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH or 7-Hydroxy.

”Protecting the health and safety of our communities, especially our children, must remain a top priority,” said Bilirakis, a Palm Harbor Republican and lead sponsor of the End Needless Distribution of (END) 7-OH Act (HR 8000).

“When a substance is linked to hospitalization and even death, Congress has a responsibility to act. Scheduling 7-OH is a necessary step to ensure oversight, prevent abuse, and safeguard the public from dangerous and unregulated products.”

The bill follows the Food and Drug Administration’s decision last June to schedule 7-OH as a controlled substance.

“We cannot allow unregulated substances with opioid-like effects, such as synthetic 7-OH, to be marketed and sold in ways that endanger our children,” said Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican. “Florida has led the way in addressing emerging drug threats, but we need a clear, nationwide standard to prevent bad actors from exploiting gaps in the law. The END 7-OH Act will help us get ahead of this growing crisis and ensure families across the country are protected.”

Florida has taken steps to regulate 7-OH as lawmakers and law enforcement in the state seek greater regulation. Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco and Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis have already endorsed the bill in Congress.

Lee said the legislation could put federal rules in place in what is now a largely free market.

“Unregulated kratom products are being sold without basic safeguards, despite containing compounds that act like powerful opioids,” said Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican.

“Concentrated synthetic 7-OH is a highly potent substance with opioid-like effects that is often marketed directly to young people and vulnerable individuals. The END 7-OH Act establishes clear federal standards and strong enforcement tools to address this growing threat. This legislation keeps dangerous products off our streets and gives law enforcement clear authority to stop these substances from reaching our communities.”

DCA to DJT?

The Florida Legislature already voted to rename Palm Beach International Airport after Trump. Now, Rep. Brian Mast wants Congress to approve the change.

The Stuart Republican filed a bill to formally redesignate PBI as the Donald J. Trump International Airport and to change its official location identifier to DJT. Mast said the move was appropriate considering the Mar-a-Lago resident’s personal ties to the region.

“President Donald J. Trump’s impact on our nation will transcend our time — a historic legacy of dedication and commitment toward the American people,” Mast said. “He’s called Palm Beach County ‘home’ for many years, and this designation reflects our gratitude for his public service and leadership.”

The bill will first go to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration.

Equal Pay Day

This week, Thursday marked the point in the year when the average salary of American women could have caught up to what men earned in 2025.

Rep. Lois Frankel led other female lawmakers in spotlighting the continued income inequality. She served as the lead sponsor of a resolution recognizing March 26 as Equal Pay Day.

“Equal pay is not just about fairness — it’s about economic security and opportunity,” the West Palm Beach Democrat said.

“For generations, women have been paid less for the same work, concentrated in lower-paying jobs, and pushed out of the workforce by a lack of affordable child care. And for the second year in a row, the pay gap for full-time, year-round women workers has widened. This disparity limits women’s ability to save for retirement and reduces their Social Security and pension benefits, contributing to higher rates of poverty among older women. It’s long past time for Congress to take meaningful action to support equal pay and narrowing the gender wage gap.”

The bill has 140 introducing co-sponsors, and was also endorsed by major women’s advocacy groups, including the National Partnership for Women and Families, the National Organization for Women and MomsRising.

Getting on track

​​Public transit keeps many of the nation’s biggest cities moving, and Miami is no exception. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Miami-Dade Democrat, announced legislation this week that could expand and improve training for workers in bus and rail systems.

The National Transit Frontline Workforce Training Act would expand the Transit Workforce Center, a national training hub focused on the specialized workforce. That’s a center created in 2021 under Biden, a longtime Amtrak commuter.

“Public transportation is the backbone of our communities,” Wilson said. “It connects people to jobs, education, and essential services, but right now our transit systems are facing a serious workforce shortage that threatens safety and reliability,” Wilson said.

As written, the legislation would authorize the Transportation Secretary to award grants to nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated capacity to develop and provide transit career ladder programs through labor-management partnerships and apprenticeships.

“This legislation will strengthen training, expand apprenticeship and mentorship opportunities, and provide the long-term federal support needed to build a skilled, modern transit workforce. When we invest in our workers, we strengthen our infrastructure, improve service for riders, and build a more resilient future for every community.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, will champion the legislation in the Senate.

IVF access

Lee and Wasserman Schultz also joined together in support of a bipartisan bill expanding access to fertility care.

The two were leading co-sponsors to the Helping to Optimize Patients’ Experience (HOPE) with Fertility Services Act, introduced by Rep. Zach Nunn, an Indiana Republican.

The legislation had personal meaning to Wasserman Schultz.

“Infertility impacts millions and doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone who wants to start or grow a family. I know firsthand. Thanks to IVF, my husband and I conceived our twins, now both healthy young adults,” she said.

“But after enduring that struggle, I’ve fought to expand insurance coverage for the prohibitively costly fertility treatments that can make this only accessible to the very few who can afford it. As a breast cancer survivor, I’m also concerned with how a diagnosis and treatments can affect survivors’ ability to conceive or even prevent cancer from being genetically passed on. So, for many survivors with a BRCA gene mutation, like me, IVF can be a godsend.”

Lee said many families face challenges in starting a family and deserve support.

“For millions of Americans, the ability to build a family is deeply personal — but too often, it is made unnecessarily difficult by cost and limited access to care. Infertility affects families in every corner of our country, regardless of background or income. Yet access to treatment too often depends on those very factors — and that is not acceptable,” Lee said.

“The HOPE with Fertility Services Act is about changing that by ensuring families have a real opportunity — not just in theory, but in practice — to grow and thrive. This bipartisan legislation gives Americans what they deserve: the chance to pursue the American Dream and the hope of becoming parents. Strong families are the foundation of a strong nation, and this bill is an investment in the future of our country.”

On this day

March 27, 1990 — “U.S. begins beaming TV-Marti signal to Cuba” via the Los Angeles Times — The U.S. government made its first foray into television broadcasting Tuesday, beaming signals to Cuba that the Cuban government promptly jammed. Cuban officials warned of “incalculable consequences” should the U.S. broadcasts continue. “The initiation of tests today by the United States of a television channel in the Spanish language designed against Cuba can have incalculable consequences for almost nonexistent bilateral relations,” the official Cuban news agency Prensa Latina said. The Bush administration, however, hailed the debut of the new television station, TV-Marti, as a success despite the jamming.

March 27, 1794 — “Navy as we know now formed” via USN For Life — Congress passed the Naval Act, authorizing the construction of six powerful frigates — the foundation of what would become the United States Navy. This decision was not made lightly; many feared a standing navy would be too expensive or provoke unnecessary conflict. Yet the need for protection outweighed hesitation. President George Washington recognized the necessity of a maritime force. As a former general, he understood that national security depended on control of the seas as much as on control of the land. Though Congress was hesitant to fund a navy, Washington’s advocacy helped keep the issue alive, setting the stage for its eventual creation.

Happy birthday

Best wishes to Rep. Lee, who turned 52 on Thursday, March 26.

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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol, with contributions by Drew Dixon.