In what’s emerging as a crowded race next year, Eatonville Mayor Angie Gardner has filed to run for District 7 on the Orange County Commission — one of the new districts created in a recent redistricting process.

“Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about trust. It’s about listening, preparing, and standing up for what’s right. That’s the leadership I’ve brought to Eatonville, and that’s the leadership I’ll bring to District 7,” Gardner said in a press release announcing her candidacy. 

Selina Carter, Framily Support Network co-founder Aaron Lewis, real estate agent Sonya Shakespeare and former Orlando City Commissioner Vicki Vargo also are seeking the seat.

Gardner made headlines last month for angering Eatonville Town Council members who accused her of blindsiding them by siding with Orange County Public Schools to advance a sale regarding the historic Hungerford property, the Orlando Sentinel reported this Fall.

“For someone to take it upon their authority to go ahead of the Council and not discuss this among the Council members and have us walking into something blind that we did not know, that was not right,” said Councilwoman Wanda Randolph, according to Spectrum News 13, as the Council voted to limit Gardner’s powers last month.

But Gardner said she stood by her decision because it was best to advance Eatonville, the oldest black-incorporated municipality in the United States.

“I didn’t break any of the rules in the charter. And the term ‘strong mayor’ is what we are, and that’s what we have to be sometimes,” Gardner said, according to the news station. “So, I’m glad they recognized the power of that charter.”

The controversial agreement centered around OCPS getting a $1 million payment from Dr. Phillips Charities so the former 117-acre high school campus can be developed with housing, spaces for education and health care, according to the Sentinel. Some of the land would be donated back to Eatonville for a grocery store, conference center hotel and retail.

Gardner, who spent two decades teaching, highlighted her accomplishments as Eatonville Mayor in helping secure millions to improve infrastructure, build affordable housing and support small businesses.

“Across District 7, from Pine Hills, Maitland, College Park, and Fairview Shores, families are feeling the strain of rising costs, outdated infrastructure, and leadership that doesn’t always listen,” Gardner said in her press release.

“I’m running for Orange County Commission because every neighborhood deserves a leader who shows up, respects its history, and fights for its future. Together, we can build a county that works for all of us, one that champions uncompromised neighborhoods, strengthens our communities, and ensures every resident has a fair shot at a better tomorrow.”

Orange County voters approved a 2024 referendum to expand the County Commission from six districts to eight. The Mayor also serves as an at-large vote.

The boundary lines of District 7 were heavily debated before the Orange County Commission approved a new map in October.

The Commission decided against putting Winter Park in District 7, which covers Maitland, Eatonville and Pine Hills.

Good Friday morning.

🔥 — Latest hot take: I’ve been full of ‘em this week, and my latest is a must-read about none other than Senate President Ben Albritton and his memo. To the untrained eye, it was merely a smart notice to members about coloring in the lines during a proposed mid-decade redistricting process. To the trained eye, he said the quiet part out loud. Read more here.

___

The Florida Chamber’s 2025 Annual Insurance Summit is underway on its second day, with a lineup that covers past reforms and the future outlook for the state’s insurance market.

Former House Speaker Paul Renner, a candidate for Governor, opens the morning with a look at how Florida’s lawsuit-abuse crackdown is performing at the three-year mark.

It was during Renner’s tenure leading the House that lawmakers passed the late-2022 insurance package aimed at stabilizing the market and the 2023 torts rewrite, which made broad changes to how insurance litigation is handled in Florida, including the elimination of one-way attorney fees.

Communications pros and industry journalists will follow with a panel on public perception and messaging, featuring Allison Aubuchon, Alia Faraj Johnson, William Rabb and Michael Peltier, who are set to dig into how insurers and media frame an industry that has at times struggled to maintain public trust.

Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky will deliver the day’s keynote on the overall health of Florida’s insurance market, a marquee session as carriers continue navigating reforms, rate filings and an insurance market that is stabilizing after years of rocky waters.

The agenda closes with an executive-level roundtable on the state’s insurance landscape moderated by Florida Chamber of Commerce VP Carolyn Johnson and featuring Mangrove Insurance CEO Steve Weinstein, Patriot Insurance CEO John Rollins, Orange Insurance CEO Don Matz and Kin Insurance CIO Angel Conlin.

___

Holland & Knight is adding former senior congressional adviser Christopher Jaarda to its Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group in Washington.

Jaarda joins the firm as a partner after serving as a senior policy adviser and counsel to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. At Holland & Knight, he’ll advise clients on legislative strategy and advocacy with a focus on technology, data privacy, telecommunications and consumer protection.

“As the top policy adviser in Speaker Johnson’s office, Chris brings exceptional Capitol Hill experience and deep relationships with Congressional leadership in both houses, as well as with the (Donald) Trump administration,” said Chris DeLacy, co-leader of Holland & Knight’s Federal Government Affairs Practice.

During his tenure with Johnson, Jaarda advised on privacy, IT, homeland security, foreign intelligence, supply chain and economic policy. He helped shepherd more than 100 bills through Congress, including the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act and multiple continuing resolutions.

Johnson praised his outgoing aide, calling Jaarda “a trusted adviser whose humility, expertise and nearly 15 years of service have meaningfully advanced the work and priorities of the Speaker’s office and the Republican Conference.”

Jaarda previously served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and held senior roles with U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, the Senate Republican Policy Committee and former U.S. Sen. John Ensign.

___

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Florida has tapped Richard Backa of Backer Construction to serve as its 2026 State Chair.

As State Chair, Backa will lead the state’s largest commercial construction association to advance its mission of furthering free enterprise, protecting competitive markets, and addressing growing problems facing the state’s construction industry.

ABC of Florida represents more than 2,500 general contractors, specialty contractors, associates and suppliers, and is the leading voice for commercial construction throughout Florida.

Backa has more than 43 years of experience in the concrete construction industry. He’s been a member of ABC since 2003 and previously served as Chapter Chair in 2022. His firm is behind several recognizable commercial and entertainment projects, including Raymond James Stadium, Benchmark International Arena (where the Tampa Bay Lightning play), Trump Hollywood, Gaylord Palms, the Peabody Hotel expansion in Orlando, several Disney projects, and more throughout the state and beyond.

Backa will focus directly on statewide advocacy efforts, including interacting with lawmakers during the 2026 Legislative Session.

___

The Americans for Prosperity Foundation is launching a statewide mail and digital education campaign touting early signs of stabilization in Florida’s property insurance market following a series of reforms.

The organization says the materials are designed to help Floridians understand how recent legislative changes — including curbing excessive litigation, eliminating one-way attorney fees and adding consumer protections — are contributing to a more competitive market for homeowners, families and small businesses.

“Florida’s property insurance crisis called for meaningful reforms,” said Skylar Zander, state director for Americans for Prosperity-Florida.

“We are now seeing that the market has stabilized. Newer insurers are writing property insurance policies in the state and litigation costs are declining. We are even seeing many Florida homeowners receiving rate decreases to their premiums, helping to ease costs and bring some financial relief to Florida families.”

State lawmakers approved major insurance reforms in 2022 and 2023 as multiple carriers entered receivership or pulled out of Florida, litigation costs soared, and homeowners faced rapid premium increases.

AFP says its new campaign highlights how those changes are already showing results, including reduced legal expenses and more companies returning to the market.

The Foundation plans to continue its education effort, saying the reforms have fostered what it describes as a more stable and sustainable property insurance system.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

Tweet, tweet:

Tweet, tweet:

—@CSPAN: Q: “Was there a ‘kill all’ order from Secretary (Pete) Hegseth?” @SenTomCotton: “No. Admiral (Frank) Bradley was very clear that he was given no such order to, to give no quarter or kill them all.”

—@JakeSherman: @SpeakerJohnson just told me he intends to finalize a health care bill early next week and have it on the floor before the end of the year.

—@FBSaunders: Audible laugh from opponents packed into the Congressional Redistricting Committee as Chair Rep. Mike Redondo says: “Let me be very clear, our work as a Committee and as a legislative body is not directed by the work of other states or partisan gamesmanship.”

Tweet, tweet:

— DAYS UNTIL —

Special General Elections for SD 11 and HD 90 — 4; ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ premieres on Netflix — 7; ‘Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era’ docuseries premieres on Disney+ — 7; Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet will meet — 12; ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ premieres — 14; ‘ELWAY’ documentary premieres on Netflix — 17; Broncos vs. Chiefs in Kansas City on Christmas Day — 20; ‘Industry’ season four premieres — 37; Special Election for HD 87; HD 51 Special Primary and two Boca Raton referendums — 39; 2026 Legislative Session begins — 39; Florida Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Fly-In — 39; The James Madison Institute’s 2026 Red, White & Bluegrass event — 40; ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel ‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ premieres on HBO — 44; ‘Melania’ documentary premieres — 56; Florida TaxWatch State of the Taxpayer Dinner — 62; Milano Cortina Olympic & Paralympic Games begin — 63; ‘Yellowstone’ spinoff ‘Y: Marshals’ premieres — 86; Boca Raton Mayoral and City Council Elections — 95; last day of the Regular Session — 98; Special Election for HD 51 (if necessary) — 109; Yankees-Giants Opening Day matchup / Netflix’s first exclusive MLB stream — 110; MLB 14-game Opening Day slate — 111; new season of ‘Your Friends And Neighbors’ premieres on Apple+ — 119; Tampa Bay Rays first game at the newly repaired Tropicana Field — 122; Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting begins — 131; MLB Jackie Robinson Day — 131; First Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (Federal) — 136; Federal Qualifying Period ends — 140; F1 Miami begins — 147; ‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’ premieres — 168; A new mission for ‘Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run’ ride premieres at Disney World — 168; MLB Lou Gehrig Day — 179; Second Qualifying Period for 2026 begins (State) — 185; State Qualifying Period ends — 189; ‘Toy Story 5’ premieres in theaters — 196; FIFA World Cup begins — 188; live-action ‘Moana’ premieres — 208; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 211; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 216; 96th annual MLB All-Star Game — 221; Domestic Primary Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 223; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation — 227; Primary Election 2026: Deadline to request that ballot be mailed — 244; Primary Election 2026: Early voting period begins (mandatory period) — 246; Primary Election Day 2026 — 256; Yankees host the Mets to mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 — 280; MLB Roberto Clemente Day — 284; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to UOCAVA voters — 288; General Election 2026: Deadline to send vote-by-mail ballots to domestic voters — 293; Domestic General Election VBM Ballots Mailed deadline — 300; General Election 2026: Deadline to register to vote — 304; Early Voting General Election mandatory period begins — 323; 2026 General Election — 333; ‘Dune: Part 3’ premieres — 378; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 378; Untitled ‘Star Wars’ movie premieres — 378; Tampa Mayoral Election — 452; Jacksonville First Election — 473; Jacksonville General Election — 529; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond The Spider-Verse’ premieres — 547; ‘Bluey The Movie’ premieres — 609; ‘The Batman 2’ premieres — 665; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 742; Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 952; U.S. Presidential Election — 1068; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1468; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 2199.

—TOP STORY —

“The Florida residents left in limbo among ‘zombie homes’” via Giulia Caronaro of Newsweek — Driving through Shore Acres today, the charm of this waterfront St. Petersburg neighborhood collides with the scars left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as “zombie homes” sit gutted, abandoned, or for sale in staggering numbers. Residents say the exodus is unmistakable. “Probably a third or a half of the residents either moved or are not currently back,” Brian Martin told Newsweek.

Jason Nash estimated that “approximately 40% of our neighborhood was for sale.” The storms swallowed 2,200 homes, a calamity that Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf said “instantly” left thousands homeless. Families returned to wrecked living rooms, ruined belongings, and what Nash described as a smell that “punches you in the face like a professional boxer.”

Home values collapsed after the storms, trapping longtime residents who couldn’t sell without devastating losses. Martin lifted his house more than 12 feet at a cost approaching $400,000, saying, “It was our cheapest option.” Many others, he warned, gave up and left.

Nash pinned his hopes on Elevate Florida, a statewide mitigation program, but said the city has made rebuilding “very difficult,” adding, “We’re not asking for handouts. We’re asking for a way to do it.” Like many families, he and his wife remain in limbo waiting for approval.

Despite the obstacles, Martin and Nash remain determined to return. “We can get through anything,” Martin said, crediting his family’s resolve. Both men say the neighborhood’s once tight-knit identity has frayed but not vanished.

Batdorf believes a rebirth is underway, with up to 150 homes set to rise through state mitigation grants. With so many properties being elevated or rebuilt, he said, “We’re talking about a place that could be at the forefront of what many areas in Florida need to do.”

— STATEWIDE —

“State’s federal Medicaid payment undermines Ron DeSantis claim about Hope Florida donation” via Jeffrey Schweers of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida’s $10 million diversion from a Medicaid fraud settlement to the Governor’s favored Hope Florida charity is facing new scrutiny after state payment records show Florida repaid the federal government based on the full $67 million settlement, contradicting earlier claims that the $10 million wasn’t Medicaid money. DeSantis had called the donation a discretionary “cherry on the top,” but the state’s 57% federal pass-through indicates otherwise. “Not only did we lose $10 million, we are still paying the feds back for it,” said Rep. Alex Andrade, who led the Legislature’s probe and argues the entire settlement “was Medicaid money.” The repayment revelation deepens a scandal that sparked investigations, fueled criticism of Casey DeSantis’ Hope Florida network, and raised allegations that Medicaid funds were steered into political fights.

—“Alex Andrade questions state agency’s repayment in Hope Florida scandal” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics

“DeSantis again ducks showing support for Jay Collins’ struggling bid” via Florida Politics — Lt. Gov. Collins promoted a Wednesday night town hall “with” DeSantis, but those who joined say the Governor never showed, reinforcing that he’s still sitting out the race to succeed himself. For 14 minutes, Collins praised DeSantis while a host fed him questions, the Governor’s absence hanging over the call. DeSantis’ public schedule showed no conflict other than an 8:20 p.m. Fox News interview, and he has repeatedly refused to say whether he’ll back Collins, offering only “we’ll see.” Despite months of favorable coverage and hefty spending by Florida Fighter PAC, Collins remains stuck in single digits, and the implied support from DeSantis hasn’t budged voters.

“Human rights report, art exhibit allege inhumane conditions at Alligator Alcatraz” via Churchill Ndonwie of the Miami Herald — Alleging human rights abuses in two South Florida immigration detention facilities, Amnesty International released a 61-page report on Thursday describing inhumane conditions at Alligator Alcatraz and Krome North Service Processing Center. The report, released a day after the organization opened a related art exhibit in Miami Beach, focuses on Florida’s efforts to lead the nation in aiding Trump’s mass deportation mandate by building and operating first-of-its-kind immigration detention centers like Alligator Alcatraz, and by deputizing local and state enforcement agencies to assist in immigration apprehensions. The human rights organization accuses the federal government of “chronic medical neglect” at Krome, and the DeSantis administration of “torture and ill-treatment” of detainees being held at Alligator Alcatraz.

“‘Fraudemic 2.0’: Insurance schemes are evolving, not disappearing” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics — Experts at the Florida Chamber’s 2025 Insurance Summit warned that while PIP reform has finally stabilized Florida’s notorious personal-injury market, fraud rings have simply shifted to bodily injury claims, driving up costs for insurers and consumers. Panelists detailed rampant overbilling, staged accidents coordinated through WhatsApp, and increasingly extreme medical inflation schemes. Jessica Schmor of Allegiant Experts cited BI cases with charges exceeding $500,000, including procedures that aren’t medically allowed, while attorney Jordana Kahn described organized networks loading cars with fake “victims” to maximize payouts. Uber’s insurance costs per trip jumped 50% in three years, a burden passed on to riders. With fraudsters pivoting to experimental, dangerous treatments, experts warned Floridians remain at risk as schemes evolve.

“Florida TaxWatch calls on state to hire private contractors, nonprofits to reduce SNAP errors and expenses” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Florida TaxWatch released a report called “Oh Snap! Federal Policy Changes Threaten the Stability of Florida’s SNAP Program.” The analysis details issues that SNAP will face as part of the congressional approval of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act this year and how Florida’s budget responsibilities for that program could skyrocket if errors aren’t reduced. “Perhaps most significantly, one provision establishes a tiered matching fund requirement for states with SNAP payment error rates higher than 6%,” said Dominic M. Calabro, CEO and president of Florida TaxWatch. He went on to say Florida has one of the highest SNAP payment error rates in the country, at 15.13%.

— LEGISLATIVE —

“DeSantis pitches AI protections for Floridians as federal moves loom” via Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO — DeSantis is pressing ahead with a sweeping plan to regulate artificial intelligence in Florida, insisting the state shouldn’t surrender its authority even if Congress or a future Trump administration tries to block state-level AI laws. Rolling out his long-awaited proposal, DeSantis said Florida must defend its “right” to act while avoiding what he called California’s “crazy stuff.” His plan includes an AI “bill of rights,” bans on AI therapy, stronger parental controls, disclosure requirements and protections aimed at children, seniors and businesses. He also wants limits on datacenter water use and opposes subsidies for tech companies. DeSantis blasted federal preemption as “amnesty” for Big Tech and said he’s had “productive” talks with legislative leaders, who support transparency-focused AI rules ahead of the 2026 Session.

“Blaise Ingoglia warns that tort reform could be repealed, turns heat on schools” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics — Chief Financial Officer Ingoglia warned that the state’s insurance tort reform legislation is at risk of being repealed under changing political headwinds. Ingoglia said he is working hard to keep the “historic reforms” for insurance put in place under DeSantis, then-Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and then-House Speaker Renner. “We got lucky. The stars aligned for that,” Ingoglia said during a speech at the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s annual insurance summit. “What I need everyone in this room to understand is that as much as everything was politically aligned to get tort reform, things can get politically aligned to undo tort reform, which would be a travesty here in the state of Florida. So, we need to start delivering wins to consumers here in the state of Florida, policyholders.”

“Florida’s ‘ag enclave’ bill language is back after bipartisan opposition earlier this year” via Bruce Ritchie of POLITICO — A Republican Committee Chair is reviving a controversial push to ease development inside Florida’s agricultural enclaves, filing a new bill that closely mirrors the proposal lawmakers rejected earlier this year. Sen. Stan McClain’s measure, SB 686, adds compromise language but still expands the circumstances under which enclave projects qualify for expedited reviews and administrative approval rather than public hearings. McClain said the goal is to “drive this density to where it’s supposed to go” and curb leapfrog development, but environmental advocates remain wary. 1000 Friends of Florida said the bill is “less far-reaching” than last year’s version yet still weakens local planning authority. McClain maintains that growth laws need updating. The fight resumes when the Legislative Session begins Jan. 13.

— LEGIS SKED —

The Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants drew more than 150 CPAs to Tallahassee this week for its annual CPA Day at the Capitol, marking the largest advocacy event in the organization’s history.

FICPA was at the Capitol to support the Institute’s priority legislation for 2026, HB 333 by Rep. Omar Blanco and SB 364 by Sen. Joe Gruters, who is a CPA by trade.

The bills focus on modernizing Florida’s CPA licensure system. FICPA leaders say the proposed updates would make the state’s regulatory framework more efficient and accessible while maintaining professional standards.

The legislation outlines four significant changes: creating three new pathways to licensure, establishing automatic mobility for CPAs licensed in other states, streamlining Florida’s licensure-by-endorsement process and implementing broader efficiencies aimed at strengthening the state’s position as “a leader in pro-business licensing.”

“Our priority legislation aims to make Florida into a national model for effective, efficient CPA licensure,” said Shelly Weir, FICPA’s president and CEO. “We are grateful to our bill sponsors for their leadership, and we are excited to work with both chambers to see this landmark legislation pass through the Florida House and Senate.”

SB 364 is on the agenda for the Senate Regulated Industries Committee meeting on Dec. 9. If approved, the bill would move to its second and final stop in the Senate Rules Committee. The House companion is awaiting a hearing in the Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.

— D.C. MATTERS —

“White House renames building the ‘Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace’” via Dan Diamond, Alec Dent and Katharine Houreld of The Washington Post — Trump is eager to be recognized as a peacemaker. His administration obliged on Wednesday by renaming the building that houses the U.S. Institute of Peace in downtown D.C. “Donald J. Trump” is now emblazoned in several places on what has often been dubbed the Peace building. A White House official said the building would now be known as the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.” The move comes after the President’s work to settle global conflicts this year and ahead of his plan to host leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo to sign a White House-brokered peace deal between the two countries. That signing is scheduled to take place at the USIP on Thursday and comes amid an uptick in fighting this week in eastern Congo, observers said.

“Diplomats support Trump’s heavy hand in Venezuela, Western Hemisphere” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Florida leaders tapped by Trump to lead U.S. diplomacy are championing the President’s decision to take a firm stance with Venezuela. Both Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera and Ambassador to Colombia Dan Newlin support the attacks of Venezuelan boats allegedly trafficking drugs to North America. “How many boats would have made it to the United States of America, transported that cocaine, possibly laced with fentanyl and other drugs?” Newlin said. “They’re killing our Americans. Over 200,000 Americans a year die just from fentanyl overdoses. How many of those drugs on those boats would have already been filtered through into our country? All of it.” The diplomats spoke on a foreign policy panel at the Rescuing the American Dream summit, moderated by Sen. Rick Scott.

“Can Pete Hegseth’s MAGA playbook spare him again?” via Jack Detsch of POLITICO — Hegseth has given Washington a roadmap for how to succeed in the Trump administration: Attack your enemies, revamp your story and never say you got it wrong. When a Democrat ran an ad urging soldiers to disobey illegal orders, Hegseth threatened him with a court-martial. After reports emerged that the military hit wounded survivors in a second boat strike, the Pentagon chief revised his initial timeline of watching the attack and said he ducked out before it happened. As for those sensitive texts, he sent a Signal group chat about airstrikes on Yemen. Hegseth said they were not “war plans.”

“Trump tightens work permits for migrants, expanding crackdown on legal immigration” via Michelle Hackman of The Wall Street Journal — Work permits issued to immigrants who have applied for asylum or a range of other humanitarian programs will now be valid for 18 months rather than five years, under a new policy announced Thursday by the Trump administration. By forcing immigrants to renew their work permits more often, the government will have more opportunities to re-vet them, said Joe Edlow, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “It’s clear that USCIS must enforce more frequent vetting of aliens,” Edlow said. “All aliens must remember that working in the United States is a privilege, not a right.”

“Trump orders U.S. flags lowered to half-staff to honor fallen National Guard Sarah Beckstrom” via Frank Kopylov of Florida’s Voice — Trump ordered all U.S. flags flown at half-staff to honor Specialist Sarah Beckstrom of the West Virginia Army National Guard, issuing a presidential proclamation directing federal facilities across the nation and abroad to lower flags through sunset. In the proclamation, Trump called the action “a mark of respect for the memory” of Beckstrom, whose service in the National Guard was recognized by directing the half-staff observance at the White House, all public buildings, military posts, naval stations and federal properties throughout the United States and its territories. The order also extends to U.S. embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic facilities worldwide, as well as to all American military installations and naval vessels operating overseas.

“Trump’s own voters begin blaming him for affordability crisis” via Erin Doherty of POLITICO — New polling shows many Americans have begun to blame Trump for the high costs they’re feeling across virtually every part of their lives — and it’s shifting politics. Almost half — 46% — say the cost of living in the U.S. is the worst they can ever remember it being, a view held by 37% of 2024 Trump voters. Americans also say that the affordability crisis is Trump’s responsibility, with 46% saying it is his economy now and his administration is responsible for the costs they struggle with.

“White House is expected to submit plans for new ballroom to Planning Commission this month” via Gary Fields and Darlene Superville of The Associated Press — The White House is expected to submit plans for Trump’s new ballroom to a federal Planning Commission before the year ends, about three months after construction began. Will Scharf, who Trump named as Chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, said at the panel’s monthly meeting that colleagues at the White House told him that the long-awaited plans will be filed sometime in December. “Once plans are submitted, that’s really when the role of this Commission and its professional staff, will begin,” said Scharf, who also is one of the Republican President’s top White House aides. He said the review process would happen at a “normal and deliberative pace.” Separately, the White House confirmed Thursday that a second architectural firm has been added to the project.

“GOP Senators want an alternative to Obamacare. What would it look like?” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Sen. Scott kicked off a summit in Washington with a discussion of health care policy as he moves forward with his own legislation to push an overhaul nationwide. Joined by U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Roger Marshall of Kansas, Scott discussed the need for greater free-market competition to lower Americans’ costs. “Whether you’re trying to buy health care or cars or food or gas or electricity, government involvement has hurt the middle class every time,” Scott said. “What we have got to do is, we’ve got to protect the American dream.” The comments opened the Rebuilding the American Dream summit.

—“Pollster at Rick Scott summit says majority of Americans turned against Obamacare” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

“House Freedom Caucus members praise Scott as their direct line to the Senate” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Leaders of the House Freedom Caucus earn a lot of press for pushing a more conservative agenda in Congress. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, Chair of the House Freedom Caucus, said many of the ideas in President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” came from meetings at the home of U.S. Sen. Scott. “We’ve had no better partner ever than Sen. Rick Scott,” Harris said. “I’ll just tell you our leadership on both sides tries to hide the ball from us. ‘Well,’ we say, ‘what’s the Senate going to do?’ And they tell us what they perceive the Senate is going to do, or what they think they want the Senate to do. But now we have our own inside line to what the Senate’s going to do.”

“Aaron Bean strives for consensus on health care credits” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Bean convened a “Path to Consensus” summit on Capitol Hill to search for a health care affordability plan that can win broad public and bipartisan support as Congress confronts the looming expiration of pandemic-era ACA subsidies. Bean said he won’t back a straight multiyear extension “in their current form,” arguing current subsidies drive costs and inflation, but he emphasized the need for workable reforms. Health policy experts at the summit debated eligibility caps, affordability safeguards, structural changes to the ACA, fraud prevention measures, and new insurance options for small businesses. With Florida leading the nation in ACA enrollment, Bean said the state has a stake in finding solutions, while GOP colleagues signaled openness to bipartisan compromise on long-term affordability.

“Byron Donalds sees space, finance sectors growing under his watch as Governor” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Republican Donalds says Florida will grow its space sector tremendously if he’s elected Governor. And he doesn’t think any other states will be able to compete. “We now are in a position because of what’s happening in the space sector, where now commercial space is becoming viable,” Donalds said. He noted that Florida has an edge over other states in launching satellites. That offers advantages even before the fact that, as home to Kennedy Space Center, Florida has already played a long role in America’s space race. “Start looking at companies not just launching from Kennedy Space Center but actually manufacturing their rockets in Florida — North Florida in particular,” Donalds said.

“Donalds says Cory Mills should spend time in district to evaluate political future” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Donalds is suggesting that U.S. Rep. Mills should spend some time in Florida to evaluate his political situation. The remarks come amid an ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation and a series of personal scandals for Mills. “When any other members have been involved and stuff like this, my advice is the same,” said Donalds, a Naples Republican. “They need to actually spend a lot more time in the district and take stock of what’s going on at home and make that decision with their voters.” The response came less than a year after Mills, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, spoke at the launch of Donalds’ gubernatorial campaign.

“Randy Fine warns that antisemitism must be excised from Republican politics” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Fine says antisemitism serves as a “canary in the cold mine” when it comes to destructive hate. “Jews have been around for 3,000 years. In fact, we’re the oldest civilization that has existed,” Fine said, “and the antisemitism was around for most of that 3,000 years. What we have seen over that history is that every civilization that has hated Jews has not stopped at hating Jews.” Fine spoke at the Rescuing the American Dream summit alongside other allies of Sen. Scott. While calling the negotiated release of hostages from Hamas the most significant accomplishment to date of Trump’s second term, Fine also saw a need to root out hate within his own party.

“Jobless claims fell to a new recent low per Labor Department” via Matt Grossman of The Wall Street Journal — Newly filed unemployment claims last week dropped to the lowest level in three years, the Labor Department said Thursday, a reassuring signal that the economy avoided a big surge of layoffs through the first 11 months of the year. About 191,000 Americans filed for new unemployment benefits in the week through Nov. 29, a drop from 218,000 a week earlier and the fewest since September 2022. Economists anticipated 220,000 new claims. Continuing claims, which track the total size of the unemployed population, were 1.94 million in the week through Nov. 22, down slightly from the previous week. Those data lag the initial-claims numbers by a week. The continuing claims tally has gradually moved higher this year, a sign of slower hiring that has prolonged job searches.

— ELECTIONS —

“Gloria Romero Roses makes to-be-called HD 113 Special Election a 5-candidate race” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — The race to replace Vicki Lopez in House District 113 is now a five-candidate contest, following the entry of Democratic real estate professional and community activist Romero Roses. Romero Roses, who mounted an unsuccessful congressional campaign more than a decade ago, filed paperwork this week to run for the vacant HD 113 seat. She joins four other active candidates: former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Bruno Barreiro and businessmen Tony Diaz and Frank Lago — all Republicans — and Democratic finance and politics pro Justin Mendoza Routt. For now, they’re officially running on the regular November 2026 Election schedule until DeSantis calls a Special Election.

— LOCAL: S. FL —

“GOP electoral worries shift to Miami’s Mayoral Runoff” via Kimberly Leonard of POLITICO — Republicans are bracing for a high-stakes test in next week’s Miami Mayoral Runoff, a race they’ve controlled for nearly 30 years but now risk losing as Democrat Eileen Higgins enters with an advantage over Trump-backed Republican Emilio González. The GOP is rattled after a close Tennessee Special Election and sees Miami — a city Trump narrowly lost in 2024 — as another warning sign. Higgins led the first round with 36% and dominates in vote-by-mail as Democrats pour money and staffing into the race, while Republicans scramble with late spending and marquee surrogates. Both candidates pitch competence over flash, but the Runoff has become a national proxy fight, with each party framing Miami as a bellwether heading into 2026.

—“5 key issues to watch in the race for Miami’s next Mayor” via Tess Riski of the Miami Herald

—“Marvin Dunn, Giffords PAC endorse Eileen Higgins for Miami Mayor” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics

“Boca campus updates: No January election; March ballot language tweaked” via Jasmine Fernández of the Palm Beach Post — A Palm Beach County Judge’s ruling blocking two citizen-initiated charter amendments has led the city to cancel its Jan. 13 Special Election. The injunction, initially issued temporarily on Nov. 25 by Circuit Judge Joseph Curley, stems from a lawsuit filed by Boca Raton resident and retired lawyer Ned Kimmelman. It argued the city violated its own charter by scheduling the vote more than 90 days after the petitions were certified. The charter requires voter-initiated amendments to be placed on the ballot within three months of certification. The petitions were certified Oct. 2, making the deadline Jan. 2.

“Ingoglia rips Palm Beach County spending in latest round of scrutinizing municipal budgets” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — Ingoglia singled out Palm Beach County for overspending by $344.62 million in the last Fiscal Year, calling it the most egregious excess he has seen in the state. It’s Ingoglia’s latest stop in a budget-bashing tour as he rails against “wasteful and excessive” spending by municipal governments. Ingoglia said Palm Beach County’s general fund budget in Fiscal Year 2024-25 came in at $878.66 million. Ingoglia has already homed in on 10 other municipal government budgets during his tour, which started in the Summer. “That is the biggest number in the state of Florida that we have seen so far this year,” Ingoglia said of Palm Beach County.

“Fighter jets intercept planes over Palm Beach with Trump at Mar-a-Lago” via Kristina Webb of the Palm Beach Daily News — Fighter jets rushed to intercept seven wayward civilian pilots who violated temporary flight restrictions during Trump’s Thanksgiving visit to Palm Beach. There were nine airspace violations, seven of which required North American Aerospace Defense, or NORAD, jets to rush to redirect the pilots between Nov. 25 and Nov. 30, a NORAD spokesperson said. This was the President’s 15th visit to his Mar-a-Lago home since taking office. Only the interception that occurred about 4:20 p.m. on Nov. 29 required fighter jets to use flares to get a pilot’s attention. The flares, which burn out quickly and pose no danger to people on the ground, may have been visible to the public, NORAD said. That pilot was escorted from the restricted airspace, NORAD said.

“Stuart preparing for City Manager search; pick won’t be internal” via Keith Burbank of Treasure Coast Newspapers — The City Commission is planning to take its first steps toward hiring a new City Manager following the firing of Michael Mortell about a month ago. “That’s something that we need to figure out, how we’re going to attack that issue,” Commissioner and former Mayor Eula Clarke told her colleagues Nov. 24. That brief discussion is expected to lead to further talks on Dec. 8. Vice Mayor Christopher Collins agreed with Clarke. “My goal is to hit the ground running for the City Manager position first of the year,” Collins said, “so, as soon as possible, if we’re not going internal,” referring to a decision not to look within the city’s ranks. “It seems like we’re not,” he said.

“Key West cites TPS expiration, notifies nine employees of potential job loss” via Ted Lund of Above the Fold — The city of Key West has identified nine municipal employees whose work authorizations are set to expire under a federal temporary protected status (TPS) program, potentially forcing their termination early next year, according to an internal city email chain obtained and reviewed by Above the Fold. The employees who work in the city’s Parking, Transit, and Port Departments hold Employment Authorization Documents that are automatically extended through Feb. 3, 2026. Without a new legal extension from the federal government, the city plans to end its employment on or around Jan. 18, 2026, to process final payouts. The situation was detailed in a series of emails between city managers and human resources officials.

— LOCAL: C. FL —

“Central Florida immigrants seeking legal residency thrust into limbo with Trump directive” via Natalia Jaramillo and Cristóbal Reyes of the Orlando Sentinel — The immigration system in Central Florida has jolted to a halt after the Trump administration ordered an immediate pause on cases involving immigrants from 19 “high-risk” countries, stopping asylum claims nationwide and freezing green card and naturalization proceedings. Venezuelans and Haitians, two of the region’s largest immigrant communities, saw interviews and citizenship ceremonies abruptly canceled, leaving thousands in legal limbo. “It’s just disastrous,” attorney Ingrid Morfa said, noting her office is fielding dozens of panicked calls a day. The directive bars many from leaving the country and exposes them to the risk of raids or deportation. Lawyers across Florida report similar cancellations, while critics warn the sweeping freeze traps lawful immigrants who have waited years. A naturalization ceremony in Orlando proceeded on Thursday, but none of the affected nationalities were included. Congressman Carlos Giménez said he’s seeking details from DHS, urging case-by-case evaluations rather than blanket restrictions as the fallout continues.

“Tourist tax revenue surges again in Orange County” via Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel — The tourism industry, as measured by tourist tax collections, continues its boom in Orange County. On the heels of a record-setting 2024-25, the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) raked in $33.9 million in October, the start of the new Fiscal Year. Orange County Comptroller Phil Diamond said the surge out of the gate was surprising. “These collections are especially impressive because the federal government was shut down during the entire month of October,” Diamond said, noting the shutdown limited air travel, affected federal workers’ earnings and likely caused some to put off vacations. Revenues generated by the county’s 6% surcharge added to the cost of a hotel room, a home-sharing rental like Airbnb or VRBO and other short-term lodging options were up more than $4.4 million or 15% from a year ago, Diamond’s figures show.

“Daytona auditor says some city employees stonewalling financial probe” via Eileen Zaffiro-Kean of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — What began as a presentation of the internal auditor’s recent report on city employee travel expenses quickly shifted into a critique of how some employees are responding to requests for financial records. “In any organization, more important than the finding is the culture of openness, transparency and accountability,” City Internal Auditor Abinet Belachew told City Commissioners. “In some parts of the organization, there is defensiveness. Anyone who asks a question is treated as an enemy and attacked.” Standing a few feet from where City Manager Deric Feacher was sitting on the dais, Belachew asked Feacher why he didn’t tell his employees to be cooperative with the new auditor’s probes and provide the documents he needed.

“Daytona Beach could soon be under a state financial audit” via Eileen Zaffiro-Kean of the Daytona Beach News-Journal — A Committee of state legislators will meet in Tallahassee Monday afternoon and vote on a request to launch an audit of the city of Daytona Beach’s financial operations. In a letter to state Rep. Chase Tramont, a Port Orange Republican, Sen. Tom Wright requested the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee consider the audit of Daytona Beach at its Dec. 8 meeting. The meeting agenda item says it’s a request for an Auditor General operational audit of the city of Daytona Beach. “Recent developments have raised significant concerns about the city’s financial management practices, and I believe a review is appropriate and necessary to protect taxpayer confidence,” Wright, a New Smyrna Beach Republican, wrote in his one-page letter.

— LOCAL: TB —

“Education Commissioner booed at Tampa School Board conference” via Jeffrey S. Solochek and Divya Kumar of the Tampa Bay Times — Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas told School Board members and superintendents from around the state on Thursday to get over their complaints about Schools of Hope seeking to co-locate in underused district buildings. Then he suggested the state could look at shutting down “failing” School Districts. That’s when the boos started flying. Kamoutsas’ lunchtime remarks riled attendees at the Florida School Boards Association’s Winter conference in Tampa, the latest escalation in tensions between the state’s top education official and local district leaders.

“St. Petersburg has ideas for Al Lang Stadium, including Spring Training” via Colleen Wright of the Tampa Bay Times — St. Petersburg officials have changed course after getting strong pushback earlier this year against a proposal to demolish Al Lang Stadium as part of a plan to develop a portion of the city’s waterfront. Now, they’re considering making the stadium even bigger. Representatives from design firm ASD | SKY’s Tampa office gave some City Council members a presentation Thursday that included a concept to build a three-story addition at Al Lang for lockers, year-round concessions and a rooftop restaurant and bar. The stadium is the home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team. The team’s lease expires next year, and the city hopes that making the upgrades could keep the Rowdies in St. Petersburg in the long term, said Beth Herendeen, managing director of the city’s development administration.

— LOCAL: N. FL —

“Leon County Commissioner Rick Minor launches re-election bid” via Tristan Wood of WFSU — Leon County Commissioner Minor launched his re-election campaign at a holiday party at the Tallahassee Garden Club. There were rumors that Minor might run for Tallahassee Mayor, but he instead is seeking a third term representing District 3 in Northeast Leon County. The holiday-themed event featured food, a live cello played by Lauren Mulinax, and a speech from the Commissioner. He told the crowd of supporters gathered at his campaign launch party that he wants to keep fighting for them, not for political glory.

“Former Jacksonville Mayor says Trump ousted him from NTSB over race” via David Bauerlein of The Florida Times-Union — Former Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown has expanded his federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging he was illegally and discriminatorily removed from the National Transportation Safety Board as part of a broader pattern targeting Black leaders in independent agencies. Brown, appointed in 2024 to a term running through 2026, was forced out in May without cause, a move he says violates federal law that limits the removal of Board members to misconduct or neglect. Another ousted official, Robert Primus of the Surface Transportation Board, has added similar claims. The administration counters that the President can dismiss members at will and seeks dismissal of the cases. Brown says he’s challenging his removal to prevent such actions “in the shadows.”

“UF relaunching search for permanent president this week” via Lucy Marques of the Tampa Bay Times — Board of Trustees Chair Mori Hosseini said during his remarks at Thursday’s Board meeting that the university will resume its search for a permanent president on Friday. He also said interim President Donald Landry will apply for the role. Landry was named interim president in September, shortly after the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, rejected Santa Ono as interim president over the Summer. Ono was the UF Board’s unanimous pick and the former president of the University of Michigan. Still, it was rejected by the state over concerns about some of his stances, particularly on diversity issues.

— LOCAL: SW. FL —

“Emergency system breached, Bradenton says. Do you need to change your passwords?” via Amaia Gavica of the Bradenton Herald — CodeRED, an emergency alert system used by the city of Bradenton, experienced a cyberattack during which personal information of users was breached. According to a press release provided by the city of Bradenton, the breached information was associated with personal accounts and included things such as names, addresses, contact information and account passwords. Some residents should change their passwords for other platforms to avoid hacking attempts, officials say. Residents who subscribed to CodeRED before March 31 of this year should change any passwords that are similar or identical to the one used for their CodeRED account, City of Bradenton spokesperson Tiffany Shadik told the Bradenton Herald.

— TOP OPINION —

“Republicans’ war on property taxes will lose them the suburbs” via Aaron Renn for The New York Times — Republican leaders in Florida and across the country are escalating calls to eliminate or sharply limit property taxes, with Gov. DeSantis proposing to abolish them for Florida homeowners and national figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene pushing for a nationwide repeal. Their argument follows a long conservative tradition that views property taxes as illegitimate, but the movement overlooks how deeply many communities rely on them.

In reality, property taxes remain a stable and appropriate way to fund local services. Suburban, college-educated voters increasingly expect strong public amenities, from parks to trail networks to well-maintained schools. These voters, including many in Florida, often approve tax measures that support their quality of life.

Examples from red states show this clearly. Republican-leaning areas in Utah, Ohio and Indiana have repeatedly backed taxes for schools, recreation and infrastructure. These communities want effective services, not bare-bones governance, and they are willing to pay for them when they trust the results.

Carmel, Indiana, illustrates the model. Long a Republican stronghold, it has paired constitutionally capped property taxes with significant investments in roundabouts, parks, events and commercial development, earning national recognition for livability. Its success depends on preserving the revenue property taxes provide.

Republicans risk alienating suburban professionals by attacking that revenue source. These voters have already trended left over the past two decades, including in places like Carmel and parts of Florida, where frustration with austerity-driven state politics has grown.

Eliminating property taxes may energize retirees seeking lower bills, but it would weaken local services, undermine thriving communities and damage the GOP’s long-term coalition. Florida’s debate shows how quickly the party could harm both governance and its political future.

— MORE OPINIONS —

“If nursing education is downgraded, Florida will suffer,” via the Orlando Sentinel editorial board — Nurses are increasingly central to modern health care, taking on executive, clinical and community leadership roles that go far beyond bedside care. Yet, President Trump’s administration is moving to strip nursing degrees of “professional” status under its budget proposal. The change would slash graduate nursing loan caps from $50,000 to $25,000 and tighten loan-forgiveness programs that help place nurses in underserved communities, a move critics call an unjustified insult to a workforce Florida desperately needs. The state faces up to 60,000 unfilled nursing jobs within a decade, even after investing $350 million to expand training and working with hospitals to cut vacancies by tens of thousands. Florida leaders warn that Trump’s policy would undermine recent progress and devalue nurses’ essential contributions.

“It’s dying time again for black bears” via the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — Barring a last-minute miracle, Florida’s black bears will be in the crosshairs of hunters on Saturday — a planned slaughter based on shoddy science and laden with potential for things to go wrong. More wrong is more like it. This hunt should never have been approved, let alone labeled an annual event that will continue until state officials come to their senses. Thousands of Floridians begged the Legislature and the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to stop the hunt from going forward, citing threats to a bear population that are going to get worse as more people crowd into Florida. In August, the FWC approved a three-week hunt from Dec. 6-28, based on its own estimates that the bear population is around 4,000.

“Here’s why Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades rank an ‘F’” via Maria Morales Menendez for The Palm Beach Post — Leapfrog’s Hospital Safety Grades are coming under fire from hospital leaders who say the system misleads patients and punishes facilities that refuse to participate in its survey-driven business model. Although Leapfrog promotes itself as a transparency watchdog, it relies on selling self-reported hospital data and “safety grade” accolades. Hospitals that decline to complete Leapfrog’s 350-page survey are downgraded, even when independent accrediting bodies rate them highly. One Leapfrog panel member admitted penalties for nonparticipation were a “simple business decision” to keep its data profitable. Palm Beach Health Network hospitals, newly hit with poor grades, say their scores reflect a refusal to legitimize the system rather than safety issues. Critics argue hospital quality should be measured with standardized, peer-reviewed metrics, not proprietary formulas.

— WEEKEND TV —

ABC Action News Full Circle with Paul LaGrone on Channel 10 WFTS: Maj. Gen. Bob Dees breaks down the Venezuela boat bombings and the chain of command between Defense Secretary Hegseth and Adm. Bradley. Political analyst Dr. Susan MacManus explains why Gov. DeSantis is pressing lawmakers to redraw Florida’s congressional maps. Sports radio host Rock Riley sizes up USF’s surge under a top-tier coaching hire and whether coaches should be allowed to bail before a season ends.

Facing South Florida with Jim DeFede on CBS 4 in Miami: The Sunday show offers viewers an in-depth look at politics in South Florida and other regional issues.

In Focus with Allison Walker on Bay News 9/CF 13: In Focus will discuss law enforcement and public safety with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd and Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood.

Political Connections on Bay News 9 in Tampa/St. Pete and Political Connections on CF 13 in Orlando: The weekly Sunday show is now a joint weeknight show airing Monday through Friday at 7 p.m.

The Usual Suspects on WCTV-Tallahassee/Thomasville (CBS) and WJHG-Panama City (NBC): Veteran pollster Steve Vancore speaks with Senate President Albritton and Feeding Florida CEO Robin Safley.

This Week in Jacksonville with Kent Justice on Channel 4 WJXT: James Fishback, candidate for Governor; Dr. Sunil Joshi, Jacksonville’s Chief Health Officer and City Council member Matt Carlucci.

This Week in South Florida with Glenna Milberg on Local 10 WPLG: Milberg covers the big news of the week and speaks with the newsmakers Sunday at 11 a.m.

— INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY —

— ALOE —

“Holiday hiring drives sharp drop in Florida first-time unemployment claims” via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics — The holiday hiring bonanza is on in Florida as the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) reports a huge drop in first-time claims. There were 3,547 new filings for jobless benefits in the Sunshine State for the week ending Nov. 29. That’s down from the 5,946 claims recorded for the week ending Nov. 22, a drop of 2,399. That’s the biggest single-week reduction in months for Florida, and it’s one of the rare weeks when the total number of new claims fell below 4,000 this year. The latest DOL report is a sign that full holiday hiring is underway throughout the state. Businesses typically see a rush of hiring from November into January as stores prepare for shoppers to buy gifts for loved ones and friends. Usually, the low number of new claims persists because businesses rush to hire during the stretch from November into January.

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Happy birthday to Carlecia Collins, Beth Herendeen and Rachel Jennings.

___

Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Daniel Dean, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, and Drew Wilson.

Holland & Knight is adding former senior congressional adviser Christopher Jaarda to its Public Policy & Regulation Practice Group in Washington.

Jaarda joins the firm as a partner after serving as a senior policy adviser and counsel in the office of U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson. At Holland & Knight, he’ll advise clients on legislative strategy and advocacy with a focus on technology, data privacy, telecommunications and consumer protection.

“As the top policy advisor in Speaker Johnson’s office, Chris brings exceptional Capitol Hill experience and deep relationships with Congressional leadership in both houses, as well as with the Trump administration,” said Chris DeLacy, co-leader of Holland & Knight’s Federal Government Affairs Practice. “Having recently worked on the 2025 budget reconciliation, Chris brings incredible knowledge of the process, key issues and decision makers as we head into 2026.”

During his tenure with Johnson, Jaarda advised on privacy, IT, homeland security, foreign intelligence, supply chain and economic issues. He helped shepherd more than 100 bills through Congress, including the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act — an extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — and multiple continuing resolutions. He also led legislative and oversight strategies before committees, including Energy and Commerce, Oversight and Reform, Judiciary and Homeland Security.

“Chris has been a trusted advisor whose humility, expertise, and nearly 15 years of service on Capitol Hill have meaningfully advanced the work and priorities of the Speaker’s office and the Republican Conference,” Johnson said.

“He has a wealth of policy knowledge from his experience in both chambers, and a deep understanding of the legislative process that has bolstered our efforts in countless ways. I am profoundly grateful for his service, and I am confident that his extraordinary talent will continue to benefit any team fortunate enough to have him.”

Jaarda previously served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, now Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. His Capitol Hill résumé also includes roles as counsel to U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, chief counsel to the Senate Republican Policy Committee and legislative counsel to former U.S. Sen. John Ensign.

“Holland & Knight has an outstanding reputation for its government relations practice, and I’m thrilled to join this talented team,” Jaarda said. “The rules of Washington are changing, and legislative strategies need to change as well. I’m excited to leverage my recent experience working at the highest levels of Congress to help corporate and institutional clients adapt to this new environment and shape future policy.”

Jaarda holds a law degree from Villanova University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Furman University. He is admitted to practice in Michigan.