Last Call for 2.17.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

Senate Democrats have selected the leader who will take them into the next decade.

Senators on Tuesday voted to designate Shevrin Jones as Senate Democratic Leader for the 2028-30 cycle, positioning the Miami Gardens Democrat to take the helm following the 2026-2028 term of current Leader Designate Tracie Davis.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to be elected as Senate Democratic Leader Designate. I want to thank my colleagues in the Florida Senate Democratic Caucus for their trust and confidence as we prepare to lead and grow our caucus,” Jones said. 

He also praised current Senate Democratic Leader Lori Berman for her “unwavering leadership” and said he looks forward to working alongside Davis as Senate Democrats “unite and forge ahead stronger than ever.”

In his statement, Jones pointed to what he described as “profound challenges” facing the state, including housing affordability, access to health care, voting rights and economic opportunity for working families.

“As Democrats in the Senate, we have a responsibility to lead with courage, compassion, and a relentless commitment to the people we serve,” Jones said. “… Together, we will work every day to build a Florida where opportunity is within reach for all — regardless of who you are or where you come from.”

Berman, who ascended to Senate Democratic Leader after now-independent Sen. Jason Pizzo stepped down last year, said she was “thrilled” to support Jones as Leader Designate.

“Senator Jones has a long track record of putting Floridians first and fighting for policies to make Florida a more affordable and welcoming place for all. I know his compassionate leadership style will steer Senate Democrats well. Our caucus will be in good hands,” she said.

First elected to the House in 2012, Jones served four terms in the lower chamber, including as Democratic Deputy Whip during the 2016-18 term and Deputy Democratic Leader for 2018-20. He joined the Senate after the 2020 election and was subsequently re-elected in 2022.

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A bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump advanced toward final passage Tuesday despite efforts to curb potential financial gain tied to the name change.

The Senate Rules Committee approved SB 706 by Sen. Debbie Mayfield, sending the measure to the full Senate alongside its House companion (HB 919), which the House passed 81-30 earlier in the day.

The legislation would pre-empt authority over naming major commercial airports in Florida to the state and rename Palm Beach International as President Donald J. Trump International Airport, contingent on Federal Aviation Administration approval and an agreement with Palm Beach County.

Lawmakers debated amendments aimed at preventing any private entity, including those connected to Trump, from profiting through royalties, licensing or trademark fees linked to the new name. The push stemmed from recent trademark applications by a company controlling Trump’s intellectual property that seek protection for variants of the proposed airport name and related merchandise categories.

Republican members of the Committee rejected those changes before advancing the bill. Mayfield argued that any licensing revenue would not come from county taxpayers and highlighted what she described as the President’s accomplishments, saying he has “put our country back as first.”

In the House, Democrats filed amendments to limit the renaming to Trump’s tenure or to add other figures, such as John F. Kennedy, but those proposals were defeated.

To supporters, it’s a home-state honor. To critics, it’s a branding deal. Either way, the boarding door is closed.

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The Florida Education Association and public sector workers from across the state will hold a virtual news conference on Wednesday to address what they describe as misinformation spread by anti-worker groups. The event, scheduled for 11 to 11:30 a.m. ET on Feb. 18, will include remarks aimed at “setting the record straight” and urging state leaders to focus on policies that support working families. Media planning to attend must register in advance. Viewers can sign up here.

Evening Reads

—“Donald Trump sought vast budget cuts. Congress granted few.” via Tony Romm of The New York Times

—”Marco Rubio’s impressive speech” via Eliot A. Cohen of The Atlantic

—“I covered Jesse Jackson’s 1988 campaign. The racism he faced was undisguised.” via Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post

—“Trump uses Jackson’s death to attack Democrats” via Nikki McCann Ramirez of Rolling Stone

—“Inside the Homeland Security forum where ICE agents talk shit about other agents” via Vittoria Elliott of WIRED 

—”Senate shoots for the moon with Farmers Feeding Florida allocation, while House maintains funding” via Janelle Irwin Taylor of Florida Politics

—”$92 million for porta-potties? Big spending at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’” via Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel

—“Latest attempt to ban removal of historic monuments passes House Committee” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix

—“Foiled Guana River land swap leads House to pass protections for conservation lands” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

“USA vs. Canada: The rock ’em, sock ’em Olympic hockey final you cannot skip” via Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal

Quote of the Day

“Laws like this do not protect children. Laws like this silence them.”

— Ashe Bradley, during public comment on a House parental rights health care bill.

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.

A Conclave would nicely complement John Sowinski’s shiny new Benemerenti Medal.

Save the Fake IDs for the bar, because lawmakers are moving forward with legislation that would tighten voter citizenship verification requirements.

Send Sen. Nick DiCeglie a Fallback for getting his bill addressing the “unintended consequences” of last year’s hurricane recovery law to the Senate floor.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

Seminoles continue baseball rivalry with Jacksonville

The NBA is on the All-Star break. The NHL is on a pause for the Winter Olympics. Now, college baseball gets underway. Tonight, No. 16 Florida State plays at Jacksonville University in the first road game of the year for the Seminoles (6 p.m. ET, ESPN+).

Both teams are undefeated in the young season. Florida State won a pair of games in Tallahassee against James Madison over the weekend. JU has opened with four consecutive victories in which they averaged more than 12 runs per game, the highest total in the first four games for JU in a decade.

Jacksonville’s Cade Walter opened his college career in dramatic fashion. Leading off in his first game in a Dolphins uniform, Walter homered to give JU a 1-0 lead. The lineup batted around, loading the bases, bringing Walter back up in the first inning. He launched a grand slam, his second home run of the inning. Nine pitches. Two home runs. Five runs batted in.

The series is one of the most-played in Florida State program history. Aside from the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Seminoles and Dolphins have met at least once every year since 1993. Florida State has won seven in a row and 10 of the last 11. The Noles lead the all-time series 138-42.

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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.