Politics
Last Call for 10.26.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics
Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.
— First Shot —
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Raise a glass to Monica Russell, Chair of Florida’s Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged!
___
Two million doors down. Eight days to go.
Republican Byron Donalds’ campaign says it has knocked on more than 2 million doors in its bid for the Governor’s Mansion, calling the effort the largest canvassing operation in Florida history.
The campaign says volunteers and field staff have been talking with voters statewide about insurance premiums, property tax relief and Donalds’ agenda ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
“I am so grateful to every single volunteer who has given their time to this campaign,” Donalds said. “Every door they knock is a conversation with a Floridian about the future of our state. While David Jolly is busy pandering to the radical Left, our volunteers are out in every community earning every vote. Eight days to go. Let’s finish this strong.”
The turnout push comes with polling showing a competitive race. A University of North Florida poll released last week put Donalds at 49% and Democrat Jolly at 47%, including voters leaning toward either candidate. The survey of 1,471 likely voters, conducted Oct. 12-19, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.81 percentage points.
Donalds appeared with President Donald Trump in Fort Myers on Friday and is touring North Florida today and Tuesday, with stops in Pensacola, Niceville, Panama City, Tallahassee and Live Oak.
Jolly and running mate Gwen Graham launched their own statewide bus tour Monday. His campaign also announced a seven-figure closing ad buy, pairing a promise to lower costs with attacks on Donalds’ support for Trump.
Democrats still held a narrow turnout edge in Monday morning’s state report: 1,109,679 registered Democrats had voted by mail or at early-voting sites, compared with 1,100,787 Republicans — a gap of 8,892 ballots through Sunday. Another 574,648 third- and no-party voters had also cast ballots.
— Evening Reads —
—“Donald Trump’s D.C. hotel is gone. Republicans still pay millions to his businesses.” via Meryl Kornfield and Kevin Crowe of The Washington Post
—“In fight for the Senate, Democrats face a once-in-a-generation test” via Carl Hulse of The New York Times
—“Let’s talk shop about every Senate race” via Nate Silver of the Silver Bulletin
—“In leaked audio, Flock CEO tells cops backlash to the company isn’t real” via Joseph Cox and Jason Koebler of 404 Media
—“Cybersecurity CEO indicted for allegedly scamming millions from ransomware victims” via Renee Dudley of ProPublica
—“Red states are dumbing down college admissions” via Rose Horowitch of The Atlantic
—“Florida heading into week one” via Steve Schale of Steve’s Substack
—“Kimberly Overman tests GOP’s redistricting gamble in race against Gus Bilirakis” via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics
—“What’s riding on Anthropic going public? Nearly everything.” via Erin Griffith and Lauren Hirsch of The New York Times
—“Ponzi schemer Christopher Delgado’s riches will get auctioned before sentencing” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics
—“She fumbled child-sex sting, but isn’t on list of unreliable cops” via Trinity Webster-Bass of the Florida Trib
— Quote of the Day —
“Amendment 3 slashes and cuts and burns. It does not give government a haircut with appropriate tools and scissors; it gives us a haircut with a weed eater. As a result, you’re going to be left with bloody results.”
— Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, sounding the alarm on Amendment 3.
— 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 on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.
Order Tampa City Council a Blank Slate as it reviews the Rays’ community benefits proposal, which promises $21 million and leaves plenty of room to write it down.
Order Lisette Bonano a Paper Plane after her missed filing deadlines, and see if she can get a campaign finance report to Tallahassee that way.
Order Christopher Delgado a High Roller as Christie’s prepares to auction his luxuries, preferably in a glass the feds haven’t seized.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
Rays in World Series hole
The World Series shifts to Florida tonight for Game 3, with the Tampa Bay Rays down two-nil to the Milwaukee Brewers (8 p.m. ET, FOX).
Milwaukee took the opener 3-1 and overcame a 4-0 first-inning deficit to win Game 2, 5-4, on Saturday. Only 10 teams in Major League Baseball history have won a World Series after losing the first two games, and no teams have done it since the 1996 New York Yankees bounced back after losing two to the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees swept three games in Atlanta and then won the series in Game 6 in New York.
The Rays must find a way to beat the Brewers in close games. So far this postseason, Milwaukee has won five of six one-run games, including Saturday’s contest.
Tonight, Tampa Bay will send former Brewer Freddy Peralta to the mound against Milwaukee’s Robert Gasser. Peralta spent his first eight seasons in the majors with the Brewers before Tampa Bay acquired him just before this year’s trade deadline. Now, he’ll pitch against his former team. In his last 10 starts, Peralta went 7-0 with a 0.89 ERA and was the American League Championship Series MVP.
Game 4 is scheduled for tomorrow, with Game 5 in St. Petersburg on Wednesday if necessary.
___
Peter Schorsch publishes Last Call, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.
The post Last Call for 10.26.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..