Politics
Delegation for 10.27.26: Cuba clash — scam alert — socialism — Omar feud — bridge building
Dictating the debate
Cuba just delivered a major blow to Democratic unity on Florida’s federal ticket. After an interview with CBS News in which Senate candidate Angie Nixon largely demurred on describing the communist nation as a dictatorship, Democratic House candidates sharing the ballot pushed back on her remarks.
Importantly, Nixon never denied the Cuban regime was a dictatorship. But when asked if the word applies, the Jacksonville Democrat deferred to others’ assessment. “That is what people have told me. I have never been to Cuba, and so I will have to take their word for it,” she said.
For Eliott Rodriguez, a Democratic candidate challenging Republican Rep. María Elvira Salazar, that answer was disappointing. A former CBS journalist, Rodriguez is running in a battleground in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, entirely in Cuban-rich Miami-Dade County.
“Rep. Angie Nixon, you and I agree on many issues, including the need to lower costs for working families. But Cuba being a dictatorship is not a matter of opinion. It is a fact,” the Miami-Dade Democrat posted. “I appreciate every opportunity to help those unfamiliar with Cuba’s reality understand the existence of political prisoners, the repression, and the lives lost fighting for freedom. The suffering of the Cuban people should never be a matter of debate.”
Phil Ehr, a Democrat challenging Rep. Carlos Giménez in Florida’s neighboring 28th Congressional District, was more forceful in distancing himself from Nixon.
“My first mission in the United States Navy was rescuing Cuban families fleeing Castro’s regime. I spent the next 26 years defending the Constitution and the freedoms those families risked everything to find,” he posted. “I find it profoundly disturbing that someone aspiring to represent the United States in the Senate would struggle to answer a question so fundamental to our country’s principles. I will not stand behind Angie Nixon or defend her remarks. If the Democratic Party is unwilling to condemn them, I will.”
Republicans, meanwhile, suggested every Democrat running for the House in Florida should have to address the comments.
“Socialist Angie Nixon cannot even call the Cuban regime what it is: an oppressive dictatorship that has stripped its citizens of their dignity, rights, and liberties for decades,” said Maureen O’Toole, National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson, before calling out incumbents and candidates in Democrat-held seats targeted by the GOP.
“If Darren Soto, Jared Moskowitz, Kathy Castor and Pia Dandiya are elected, they will empower the socialists in their Party, like Angie Nixon, who sympathize with authoritarian regimes instead of standing up to them.”
All four of those candidates notably issued statements to Florida Politics, making clear they consider Cuba a dictatorship and distancing themselves from Nixon’s remarks. Moskowitz went so far as to say Cubans in Florida “deserve leaders who recognize their suffering and stand firmly with them.”
Nixon, for her part, criticized the presentation of the story by CBS, particularly a social media post that initially suggested she declined to address whether Cuba was a dictatorship at all.
“It’s disappointing to have to say this, but CBS News, this is a serious failure of editorial reporting,” she said. “I clearly state in this clip that while I have not personally been to Cuba, I have spoken with Cubans who have described it as a dictatorship, and I believe them. To claim I declined to answer the question is categorically false. That is not journalism. It is misinformation.”
CBS News deleted the post, then reposted the video without that offending wording and instead reported Nixon “was asked whether Cuba is a dictatorship. Here’s what she had to say.”
Rapid response
Republicans quickly slammed Nixon’s remarks, including her opponent, Sen. Ashley Moody.
“Socialist Angie can’t answer if Cuba is a dictatorship? I guess now we know why she voted against the Florida law to require schools to teach the dangers of communism,” the Plant City Republican posted on X.
Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican nominee for Governor, also slammed the interview response.
“This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” he posted. “Of COURSE the Castro regime is a dictatorship. It’s sad to see what has become of the Democrat Party. They are fully consumed by socialism.”
Sen. Rick Scott, who isn’t on the ballot this year but would be Florida’s other voice in the Senate if Nixon wins, suggested the remarks were out of step with Florida voters.
“Like many of her Democrat colleagues who can’t seem to define what a woman is, we now have a candidate for the U.S. Senate who can’t define a dictatorship,” the Naples Republican posted.
Scammers and stalkers
Unrelated to the campaign trail, Moody is using National Cybersecurity Month to fight scammers and online predators.
“I’m reminding Floridians that criminals don’t have to break into your home to steal from you – they can target you through a call, email or even a text,” the Plant City Republican said in an online video. “As U.S. Senator, I’m working to protect Floridians from online bad actors – including scammers, fraudsters and child predators.”
To watch the ad, please click the image below:
She also called for passage of the Kids Online Safety Act, which she has sponsored in the Senate and has supported since her days as Florida Attorney General.
The Senator also introduced the Stop Scams Against Seniors Act in June, which supports further investigation of criminals targeting seniors with fraud, as well as the Saving Wallets and Increasing Penalties for Elder Scams (SWIPES) Act, which creates tools for prosecuting gift card fraud.
Rescuing America
Few politicians have criticized the rise of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as much as Scott. Florida’s senior Senator last year flew a plane over Manhattan encouraging voters who disliked the Democratic Socialists of America member’s politics to relocate to the Sunshine State.
But Scott said electing an open socialist was also predictable. As Scott launched the newest phase of his Rescuing America project, he said voters embraced leftist ideas as much for economics as for politics.
“People like Mamdani are speaking to a real pain point,” Scott said in a new video.
To watch the ad, please click the image below:
But the Naples Republican differs from left-leaning politicians by saying federal regulations cause hardship, not solve it. “Socialism has failed everywhere it’s been tried,” he said.
For years, he has held summits to rescue the kind of economic opportunity he felt was more available decades ago than it is now. Now, he wants to expand the efforts.
“Rescuing the American Dream isn’t just an economic argument. It’s a fight for the soul of this country,” he said.
Nutrition meets health
During a campaign visit to Florida, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr. also sat with Rep. Aaron Bean for a roundtable on healthcare at Lincoln Memorial University.
Bean told News4Jax that the event focused on the value of strong nutrition standards in improving U.S. health outcomes.
“We are learning that protein should be the basis of any diet because once you eat protein you get full and you’re continuing to consume some of the bad food,” the Fernandina Beach Republican said. “It’s educating people on better choices; everybody has the power to do this themselves.”
The roundtable included industry leaders including Dr. James Toldi of Lincoln Memorial University’s Orange Park campus; Dr. Aaron Carpenter of North Florida for Nemours Children’s Health; Dr. Morhaf Ibrahim of Ibrahim Heart Clinic and PremierCardia; Scott Kashman of Ascension St. Vincent’s Health System; Dr. Karthik Krishnamurthy of Parks Dermatology Center; Dr. Jason McConnell of Lincoln Memorial University; Dr. Teanna Moore of Lincoln Memorial University’s DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine; Dr. Stephen Motew of UF Health; Chad Patrick of HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital; Dr. Kent Thielen of Mayo Clinic in Florida; Dr. Christopher Reeder of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Jacksonville University; and Matthew Zuino of Baptist Health.
Kennedy praised the schools that signed on to a medical school nutrition commitment and said Lincoln Memorial was among the nation’s first hospitals to do so.
“It was gratifying to me to meet this pantheon of extraordinary medical leadership from medical schools, from the hospitals in the Jacksonville area,” he said. “If we want to make America healthy, we’ve got to start with nutrition.”
Escalating argument
A feud between Rep. Randy Fine and one of the only Muslims in Congress stepped up as he promised to file a resolution to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Fine said he believes a criminal investigation of the Minnesota Democrat’s immigration status should automatically disqualify her from serving.
“I assume that she’s not a citizen and we don’t even have to do that,” the Atlantic Coast Republican told Fox News Radio. “I don’t think you can be in Congress if you are not a citizen of the United States. If it’s adjudicated, she’s not a citizen; I would imagine she’s automatically gone. But if it isn’t automatic, I absolutely will demand her expulsion.”
But Omar said a Justice Department investigation moving days before an election is politically motivated. She turned her blame on President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly discussed the investigation at political rallies, including in Fort Myers when he said she should be disqualified for not being sworn in with her full birth name.
“The pedophile protection party’s President is laundering right-wing conspiracy theories through the most corrupt DOJ in American history,” Omar posted on X.
“Whenever the news turns bad, this creep reaches for one name: mine. So, let’s make it crystal clear. My name has always been Ilhan Omar. Maybe you should focus on what your VP’s real name is.”
Vice President JD Vance was born James Donald Bowman and later adopted JD Vance as a pen name.
Expanding coverage
The Veterans Affairs Department today doesn’t treat Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM) as a health condition connected to military service. But Rep. Gus Bilirakis launched a bipartisan effort this week to change that.
The Palm Harbor Republican led a bipartisan letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins to recognize the progressive muscle disease as a presumptive service-connected condition. Such a designation would allow all VA patients diagnosed with the condition to receive regular benefits rather than having to make an individual case to the federal agency.
“Our veterans should not have to spend years fighting a devastating disease while also fighting a burdensome bureaucracy to receive the benefits they have earned,” Bilirakis said.
“Veterans living with Inclusion Body Myositis face progressive muscle weakness, declining independence, and tremendous uncertainty for themselves and their families. With this disease reported at substantially higher rates among veterans, the VA must take these concerns seriously and establish a fairer pathway to benefits. I am proud to lead this bipartisan effort to ensure these veterans are heard, treated fairly, and given the support they deserve.”
More than 50 lawmakers signed the letter. The Myositis Association (TMA) also cheered the lawmakers’ advocacy.
“Thank you to each Member of Congress who signed on to this letter and supported military veterans who live with Inclusion Body Myositis. The Myositis Association proudly stands with you in calling upon the Veterans Benefits Administration at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to approve a presumptive service connection for veterans with IBM,” said Rich DeAugustinis, Chair of the TMA Board.
New span
The Cape Coral Bridge provides Lee County’s largest city with most of the county’s commercial and professional resources. Rep. Greg Steube said it’s time the piece of infrastructure sees an update.
The Sarasota Republican sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration supporting Lee County’s request to replace and expand the road span.
“Southwest Florida is growing, and our infrastructure needs to keep up,” Steube said. “Families shouldn’t have to sit in endless traffic or worry about whether our roads can handle the next major hurricane. Lee County has put forward a strong proposal, and it’s time for the federal government to step up and support this investment.”
The bridge across the Caloosahatchee River sees 50,000 trips a day, including Cape residents traveling to Southwest Florida International Airport. According to the Bridge Investment Program application, expanding the corridor to six lanes instead of four would ease traffic, but it would require replacing both the east- and westbound bridges.
Freedom fighter
The National Endowment for Democracy honored Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart with its 2026 Champion of Freedom Democracy Award, praising the Hialeah Republican for his work crafting a foreign aid budget in the House.
“Mario Díaz-Balart knows through his own family’s experience what tyranny takes from people – and why the hope of freedom endures,” said NED Board Chair Peter Roskam, a former Congressman for Illinois.
“His family’s exile from Cuba has shaped a lifelong commitment to people seeking a say in their own future. In Congress, he has been a powerful champion for them, ensuring their voices are heard, and America supports their pursuit of freedom.”
Díaz-Balart chaired the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee this Congress. He accepted the award at Freedom Tower in Miami.
“As the son of Cuban exiles, receiving this recognition at a landmark that welcomed so many families fleeing communist tyranny carries special meaning. It is a reminder of America’s promise and our responsibility to stand as a beacon of freedom,” Díaz-Balart said.
“Throughout my service in Congress, I have worked to ensure that those fighting for liberty have a steadfast ally in the United States. That commitment is especially urgent in our own hemisphere, where generations of Cubans, Venezuelans, and Nicaraguans have demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience in the face of decades of authoritarian repression.”
Homecoming
While running a heated re-election campaign, Salazar paused to cheer a democratic development in Venezuela. The Coral Gables Republican took to social media to herald the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado to Venezuela.
“Venezuela’s story has changed for the better. María Corina Machado is back in the country to carry out her role in organizing Venezuela’s political forces ahead of upcoming presidential elections,” Salazar said in an Instagram post.
Machado, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was greeted by thousands after returning home from a year away, Reuters said. That should bring the South American country a step closer to restoring economic norms.
“You have to give full credit to President Trump’s administration and to (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio, not only for removing (Venezuelan President Nicolás) Maduro in January, but for laying the groundwork so that a new democratically elected government, chosen by the Venezuelans, can return to that presidential palace. María Corina, best of luck. Many blessings. May the Venezuelan people be free forever, and count on the United States.”
On this day
Oct. 27, 1962 – “U.S., Soviet Union step back from brink of nuclear war” via History.com – Complicated and tension-filled negotiations between the United States and the Soviet Union finally result in a plan to end the two-week-old Cuban missile crisis. A frightening period in which nuclear holocaust seemed imminent began to end. Since President John F. Kennedy’s Oct. 22 address warning the Soviets to cease their reckless program to put nuclear weapons in Cuba and announcing a naval “quarantine” against additional weapons shipments into Cuba, the world held its breath, waiting to see whether the two superpowers would come to blows.
Oct. 27, 1787 – “First of Federalist Papers published” via the National Constitution Center – Alexander Hamilton published the opening essay of The Federalist Papers – Federalist 1. The Federalist Papers were a series of 85 essays printed in newspapers to persuade the American people (especially Hamilton’s fellow New Yorkers) to ratify the new Constitution. Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay drafted these essays under the pen name “Publius.” The delegates to the Constitutional Convention had signed the new U.S. Constitution, the Framers’ proposal for a new national government. But it was only that — a proposal. The Framers left ratification to the American people.
Happy birthday
Best wishes to Rep. Byron Donalds, who turns 48 on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
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Peter Schorsch publishes Delegation, compiled by Jacob Ogles, edited and assembled by Phil Ammann and Ryan Nicol.
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