Politics
Last Call for 9.9.26 – 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 —
Ed. note — Peter and Drew are locked in on an AI project that we believe will change the way Florida political news is covered. They’re going heads-down Thursday to bring it across the finish line, so there will be no Sunburn or Last Call. We’ll be back Friday — with more to share soon.
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The first Republican Midterm Convention is underway in Dallas, where RNC Chair Joe Gruters, a Sarasota state Senator, joined the party’s 2026 nominees to open the program late this afternoon.
The two-night gathering is part political rally, part fundraiser and part experiment: an attempt to generate the attention and enthusiasm of a presidential convention without a presidential nomination to settle. The RNC’s official schedule promises 109 speakers and segments across 12 hours, all built around the record and agenda of President Donald Trump.
Florida was on the program almost immediately. U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, who is defending a battleground Pinellas County seat, was part of the opening-hour lineup. Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds gets a later and more prominent assignment, appearing during the final full block before Trump’s keynote.
More than 100 Republican House members and candidates were expected in Dallas. But a majority of the more than four dozen candidates surveyed by the AP either planned to skip the convention, had not decided or did not respond. Some House members also balked at a reported request for $25,000 to cover convention tickets and lodging.
That tension supplied Florida Democrats with their counterprogramming.
During a virtual news conference Wednesday morning, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried argued that Donalds and Luna were leaving the campaign trail to “kiss the ring” of a President whose approval ratings have fallen.
Fried invoked the reported cost of attending and tied both lawmakers to Trump’s tariffs, domestic spending law and the continuing war with Iran. She said their appearances would make it harder for either candidate to distance themselves from administration policies while campaigning on affordability.
Luna dismissed the attack, pointing instead to Democratic opposition to her proposal to cap student-loan interest rates and votes against a congressional stock-trading ban.
The same news conference touched other Florida Democratic fault lines. Fried downplayed concerns about Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Angie Nixon joining a Democratic Socialists of America chapter, arguing that voters are more concerned with prices and the Iran war than Republican labels.
But Fried declined to address former Democratic Party Chair candidate Cynthia Chestnut’s endorsement of Donalds over Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly. Fried said that question could be handled offline because the call was limited to the convention.
— Evening Reads —
—“Donald Trump’s 9/11 fantasies” via Judd Legum of Popular Information
—“Secretary of State races: Election denialism could cost GOP again in swing state races” via Sabato’s Crystal Ball
—“The big thing I worry about 55 days before the election” via Chris Cillizza of So What
—“Voters have a message for Democrats” via Sarah Longwell for The Atlantic
—“Six charts that explain how Americans really feel about the economy” via Justin Lahart of The Wall Street Journal
—“A stealth startup thinks it just hacked the memory shortage” via Lauren Goode of WIRED
—“Nikki Fried downplays DSA-led divide ahead of Midterms, says Dems focused on costs, Iran war” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics
—“More than 247,000 Florida kids have lost food stamps” via Teghan Simonton of the Tampa Bay Times
—“Ex-pilots for cargo company in MIA crash had concerns about safety: documents” via David Goodhue and Shirsho Dasgupta of the Miami Herald
— Quote of the Day —
“They should go LARP somewhere else.”
— U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, pushing back on critiques from Florida Democrats Chair Nikki Fried.
— 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.
Nikki Fried had plenty to say about Byron Donalds and Anna Paulina Luna, but when Cynthia Chestnut came up, all she had was a Dodge Special.
Send a Flying Phoenix and a Tiger’s Claw to Lakeland, where Florida Poly is partnering with the Detroit Tigers to utilize data science and academic research to tackle real-world challenges in player health and performance.
Central Florida voters don’t need to settle for a Tin Can Telephone; they can — and have — been calling Sen. Jason Brodeur directly for years now.
— Breakthrough Insights —
— Tune In —
Marlins try to avoid sweep by Mets
The Miami Marlins continue a three-game series against the New York Mets tonight as Miami tries to stay in the wild card race (6:40 p.m. ET, Marlins.TV).
The Marlins sit two games under .500 after losing the first two games of the series to the Mets. While the divisional race is all but a lost cause — Miami sits 13.5 games out of first place in the National League East — the club can still make a push for the final wild card spot.
With 16 games remaining in the regular season, the Marlins are six games out of the final wild card spot, currently occupied by the Arizona Diamondbacks. The San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates sit between the Marlins and the Diamondbacks. It’s a tough set of obstacles, but if Miami gets hot down the stretch, they could challenge for the postseason.
Shortstop Otto Lopez is one of just seven players in the Major Leagues to be hitting over .300 this season. Lopez has never hit better than .270 in three seasons with the Marlins.
Right-hander Janson Junk is scheduled to start tonight for the Marlins. Junk is in search of his first victory since Aug. 12. He is scheduled to be opposed by right-hander Robert Stock, who last pitched out of the bullpen on Friday when he faced two batters in a 10-6 win over the San Francisco Giants. Yes, it’s the highly anticipated Junk-Stock matchup.
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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.
The post Last Call for 9.9.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..