Politics
Last Call for 3.25.26 – 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
Happening tonight — Gov. Ron DeSantis will hold a fireside chat Wednesday evening at the LeMieux Center’s DeSantis Family Chapel in West Palm Beach at 7 p.m. Send RSVPs to [email protected].
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Reactions are still pouring out following Tuesday night’s upsets in Senate District 14 and House District 87. The common thread: Democrats see a blueprint for delivering the change they say voters want.
State Sen. Shevrin Jones called the wins by Brian Nathan and Emily Gregory “a testament to the importance of running strong candidates everywhere,” adding, “I look forward to welcoming them to the Legislature as we work together to lower costs, improve health care access, tackle the housing crisis, and improve the lives of everyday Floridians.”
Labor leaders leaned into both the candidate and the coalition behind Nathan’s victory, framing it as a moment where the message broke through. Florida AFL-CIO President Kimberly Holdridge said voters saw “a leader who understands their daily challenges and shares their hopes for a stronger, fairer Florida.”
Florida AFL-CIO Director of Politics and Public Policy Rich Templin added, “Brian inspired his fellow union members and their neighbors to get out and fight for the needs of all working families … This is how a better Florida for everyone is built.”
Gregory’s win in House District 87 drew national and institutional attention, particularly given the district’s Republican tilt. Christina Diamond, CEO of Ruth’s List Florida, said the outcome “defied the odds against a steep Republican registration edge,” framing it as “a direct rejection of the Florida GOP’s failed, out-of-touch agenda.”
“In a district that includes Mar-a-Lago, this result is a direct rejection of the Florida GOP’s failed, out-of-touch agenda and proof that their politics of division are losing ground. Across Florida and the country, women are stepping up, building winning campaigns, and leading the way forward, and this is just the beginning,” she said.
And candidates higher up the ballot are using the results to sharpen their own messaging.
“Voters are sick and tired of the corruption and chaos in Tallahassee. They’re sick and tired of rising costs on working families and seniors. And they’re sick and tired of the politics that put insurance and electric companies’ interests ahead of the people,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who is running for Governor.
“These flips in these Trump-won districts show there is an appetite for change now and in November. My message to the people of Florida and the nation: Democrats can and will win in the Sunshine State.”
U.S. Senate candidate Alex Vindman struck a similar note in a news release congratulating Gregory.
“Floridians are sick and tired of the chaos, corruption, and high cost of living. This victory proves that Floridians are ready to turn the page after years of skyrocketing home insurance prices, grocery bills, and corrupt favors for wealthy special interests. South Florida is lucky to have a strong voice headed to Tallahassee to represent them,” he said.
Evening Reads
—”The U.S. said it helped bomb a drug camp. It was a dairy farm.” via By Luis Ferré-Sadurní, José María León Cabrera, Annie Correal and Eric Schmitt of The New York Times
—”Is the U.S. repeating the mistakes that led to forever wars?” via David Luhnow of The Wall Street Journal
—”What a GOP loss in Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago district says about the Midterms” via Dan Merica and Marianna Sotomayor of The Washington Post
—”Democrats cheer Brian Nathan upset, frame SD 14 flip in Hillsborough as GOP warning sign” via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics
—”30-0” via Chris Cillizza of So What
—”Political strategists debate the significance of Tuesday night’s Democratic Special Election wins” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix
—”A defining moment for the Rays — and Tampa Bay” via Will Weatherford of the Tampa Bay Times
—“COVID in Florida six years later: Another new variant, milder infections, fewer deaths and vaccines” via GQLSHARE
—“FBI investigating MacDill bomb threat video sent to Tampa Bay Times editor” via Katelyn Ferral and Shrey Vuttaluru of the Tampa Bay Times
—”How American camouflage conquered the world” via Avery Trufelman of WIRED
—”What baseball’s ‘robot umpires’ tell us about the future of work” via Bryan Walsh of Vox
“Republicans at all levels need to understand we will need to stand together or … you know the expression.”
— Republican strategist Anthony Pedicini, on Tuesday’s Special Election results.
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.
While Nathan and Gregory get a Flip, Tuesday’s other winner, Hilary Holley, deserves an Artichoke Hold.
Send some Health Potions to the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute and USF Health Morsani College of Medicine for earning the Cancer Center of Excellence designation.
Order a Devil’s in the Details for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is trying to figure out the ‘timing’ of a potential property tax phaseout.
Breakthrough Insights
Tune In
Heat battling for postseason positioning
With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Miami Heat try to snap a five-game losing streak as they travel to Cleveland to face the Cavaliers (7:30 p.m. ET, FanDuel Sports Network – Sun).
Miami followed up a five-game winning streak with five consecutive losses, including a 136-111 loss against the San Antonio Spurs on Monday. The loss dropped the Heat to 10th in the Eastern Conference standings, the last spot for the play-in format. It’s unlikely the Heat will miss the postseason, however. The Milwaukee Bucks, the 11th-place team, are eight and a half games behind the Heat and would have to close the gap in the final weeks of the regular season.
Still, Miami’s position is fluid. Two and a half games separate fifth-place Toronto from 10th-place Miami in the standings.
Cleveland is in a much better position, sitting in fourth in the Eastern Conference entering tonight’s game. The Cavs seem destined to have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and could catch second-place Boston with a strong finish. The Celtics and New York Knicks are both two and a half games ahead of Cleveland in the standings. The Cavaliers have won four straight games and seven of the last 10 entering tonight’s contest.
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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.