Politics
Last Call for 10.19.26 – 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 —
Florida Democrats turned a Republican lawsuit over their Hope Florida television ad into fresh campaign fodder Monday, vowing to keep the spot on the air as early voting began.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said during a news conference that the ad remains on the airwaves and called the lawsuit “a gift of being able to talk about this issue for the next two weeks.”
The Republican Party of Florida filed suit late Friday in Highlands County, naming FDP, three statewide Democratic nominees, and television station owners as defendants. It asked a judge to immediately halt the ad targeting Attorney General James Uthmeier — before the defendants have a chance to respond.
Republicans argue the spot invokes the authority of a grand jury while omitting that an appellate court rejected its central conclusion: that $10 million connected to a Medicaid settlement was misappropriated.
The 1st District Court of Appeal ordered the grand jury report expunged Oct. 7, finding the panel exceeded its authority and that the money “was never public money.” The grand jury returned no indictments.
The opinion nevertheless traces the money from Centene through the Hope Florida Foundation and two nonprofits to a political committee opposing marijuana legalization.
RPOF’s case for pulling the ad rests on grand jury secrecy law. Its lawyers also referred the matter to law enforcement and prosecutors, though the appellate court expressly left unanswered whether the press could publish it lawfully.
The electoral stakes run both ways. Republicans say the ad could inflict damage that no later correction could repair. An injunction, meanwhile, would shut down a Democratic line of attack while voters are casting ballots.
— Evening Reads —
—“Tehran seeks to punish Donald Trump in Midterms with oil price pain, Iranian officials say” via Susannah George of The Washington Post
—“This cybersecurity agency is supposed to protect U.S. elections. Officials fear it’s been compromised by Trump.” via Andy Mannix and Doug Bock Clark of ProPublica
—“How Trump’s immigration crackdown gave Florida Democrats a chance” via Daniel Castro of The New Yorker
—“These are not serious people” via Chris Cillizza of So What
—“Feds suspect ransom negotiator ran ShinyHunters extortion site” via Brian Krebs of Krebs on Security
—“Feds say Florida car dealerships charged hidden fees, deceptive advertising” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics
—“Pinellas to vote on Vince Nowicki’s Flock camera ban after Bob Gualtieri’s fierce defense” via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics
—“Miami-Dade skyline is sinking unevenly, new research finds” via Denise Hruby of the Miami Herald
—“Why buying a house feels so painful now — and your parents may not understand” via Julie Z. Weil of The Washington Post
—“Disney asked Character.AI to go bankrupt for a get-out-of-lawsuits card” via Maddy Varner of WIRED
—“Nathan Fielder tells us everything” via Katie Drummond of WIRED
— 3 Questions —
With Election Day just over two weeks away, all eyes are on Amendment 3, the property-tax relief measure on Florida’s November ballot. We spoke with 2026 Florida Realtors® President Chuck Bonfiglio, who leads the state’s largest professional trade association, about what the measure would mean for Florida families, how communities can adapt and what comes next.
Q: Florida Realtors® has made Amendment 3 a top priority. Why this issue, and why now?
For more than a century, our job has been to speak up for Florida homeowners. That’s why we’ve worked to improve the insurance market, expand down payment assistance and help more families build generational wealth through owning a home. Amendment 3 is part of that same commitment.
We also see Florida’s affordability challenges up close every day. Realtors® are in kitchens and living rooms across the state, working with families as they make some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. And more and more, those conversations aren’t just about whether someone can afford to buy a home. They’re about whether a family can afford to stay in the one they have.
Like lawmakers and elected officials across the state, we hear from retirees on fixed incomes watching their tax bills climb, young families juggling insurance and childcare and longtime homeowners wondering whether Florida is still within reach. Home values have gone up, and property-tax bills have followed, but paychecks haven’t kept pace.
Amendment 3 is one thing voters can act on directly. It raises the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, and many homeowners could save more than $1,000 a year in 2027 and more than $1,800 a year in 2028. It also lowers the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, bringing more predictability for property owners and small businesses, which can help ease some of the cost pressures often passed on to tenants.
Meaningful homestead relief can’t happen without voter approval, and chances like this don’t come around often. When so many costs are out of Floridians’ control, this is one they can do something about, and the time to act is now.
Q: Opponents have raised concerns about potential impacts to local revenue. How do you respond?
We’ve seen this work before. When voters approved major property-tax relief in 2008, homeowners benefited, and Florida kept moving forward. Florida Realtors® has every confidence that our local elected officials will implement Amendment 3 effectively and continue delivering the quality of life that makes Florida such a special place to live.
Voting yes on Amendment 3 does not force a decision between tax relief and local services, like some would have you believe. It’s important voters understand why.
Let’s look at the full picture here. Property-tax collections by Florida’s local governments have grown from $32 billion to $60 billion in just seven years, and they’re projected to reach $83 billion by 2032. Floridians have paid for that growth, often while their own budgets got tighter. After years of carrying that load, homeowners deserve some relief.
Amendment 3 delivers it with the right priorities in place. School funding is protected, and local governments are directed to put the dollars they collect toward core needs first, like public safety, infrastructure and other essential services. Those priorities don’t change.
From there, local leaders will continue making budget decisions in public, guided by their communities’ needs and accountable to the residents they serve. Florida families and businesses have made adjustments as their own costs have climbed, and local governments can do the same.
Q: What’s your message heading into Election Day, and what comes after?
To voters: Drown out all the noise around this amendment and make your decision based on this one question: Will more room in your budget help you and your family? That’s what Amendment 3 will deliver for millions of Floridians. It’s just that simple. All the “what ifs” and “maybes” are just noise. I’m confident local and state leaders will implement this in a fair and balanced way that keeps our communities thriving, just as they have before. This is a rare opportunity to lower the cost of owning a home in Florida, and it’s relief families can feel year after year, not just once. The measure needs 60% to pass, so every vote truly matters.
To lawmakers and local leaders: Our commitment to Amendment 3 doesn’t end in November. When it passes, we’ll be there as a resource and a partner to make sure our communities stay strong. We also know it won’t be the final word on property taxes, and we look forward to engaging with the Taxation and Budget Reform Commission as it reviews Florida’s broader tax structure next year.
To everyone who calls Florida home: We love this state, and we believe every Floridian who has worked hard to own a home or build a business here should be able to afford to stay. Amendment 3 helps make that possible. That’s why we’re asking you to vote yes.
— Quote of the Day —
“Raúl Castro ordered the murder of four Floridians in cold blood, and Florida will never stop pursuing accountability for that communist conspiracy.”
— Attorney General James Uthmeier, announcing a state arrest warrant for the former Cuban President.
— 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 Byron Donalds a Bull Shot after 12 former Cattlemen’s Association presidents endorsed him; though the organization is staying neutral, he’ll have to settle for the herd without the brand.
Pour María Elvira Salazar a Fernet con Coca after adding Argentina’s Javier Milei to her international endorsement collection, even if the votes still have to come from local sources.
Send Darren Soto a 50/50 Martini after his second tied internal poll, since moving from 41–41 to 44–44 apparently counts as progress when everybody’s running in place.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
Rays closing in on World Series
The Tampa Bay Rays are one win away from the third World Series in franchise history as they host the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series tonight (8 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV).
The Rays won the pivotal fifth game last night, 3-1, thanks to timely hitting from Jonathan Aranda, Jonny DeLuca and Liam Hicks, and strong starting pitching from Drew Rasmussen, who tossed seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits.
Since the league championship series was expanded to a best-of-seven format in 1985, only seven teams have come back from three games to two down to advance to the World Series. In both of the Rays’ previous World Series trips, in 2008 and 2020, Tampa Bay accomplished the feat.
Last year, the Toronto Blue Jays fell behind three to two and won consecutive games to advance to the World Series.
The Rays are scheduled to send Freddy Peralta to the mound to start Game 6. Peralta has pitched in three postseason games, including twice against the Guardians. In Game 2, Peralta started and held Cleveland scoreless through six innings, earning the win in a 3-1 Tampa Bay victory. On Saturday, he pitched two-thirds of an inning in the Rays’ 7-3 Game 4 victory.
The World Series is scheduled to begin Friday in Milwaukee, where the National League champion Brewers will host Games 1 and 2.
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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.
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