Politics
Winner and Loser of the Week in Florida politics — Week of 10.19.25
Not long ago it felt like a reset had arrived for Florida’s college football titans.
In the opening weeks this season, each program flashed signs of life: Florida opened the year with a 55-0 rout of Long Island University, a tidy tune-up that fed optimism in Gainesville. Florida State began the season 3-0 — including a signature 31-17 win over Alabama that had Tallahassee buzzing. Miami, too, looked the part early, riding a run of convincing performances that put the Hurricanes into the Top 3.
Fast forward to the present and the storyline has reversed.
Florida pulled the plug on Billy Napier this week after a 3-4 start and a body of work the program decided wasn’t trending upward. Athletic officials instead installed longtime receivers coach Billy Gonzales as interim while the search begins.
At Florida State, the early spark has gone out — a four-game skid has left Mike Norvell’s future in doubt and school leaders saying a post-season decision is coming.
And Miami, which once was part of the national championship chatter, was stunned at home in a shocking loss to Louisville last weekend that gutted its momentum and knocked the Canes out of the very top tier of contenders. Now, Miami is fearing a repeat of last year, where a trip to the College Football Playoff looked like a lock, then fell apart after late-season stumbles.
Put bluntly: What looked like a three-team rebound after two promising weeks is now a scramble. Coaching changes, simmering buyouts and upset defeats have turned early optimism into urgent questions about whether any of the Big Three can sustain a run at relevancy this year and beyond.
But now, it’s onto our weekly game of winners and losers.
Winners
Honorable mention: Moez Limayem. The University of South Florida this week selected Limayem as its next President, marking a homecoming for the longtime academic leader who previously served as dean of USF’s Muma College of Business before taking the top job at the University of North Florida in 2022.
Florida’s State University System Board of Governors still needs to approve the selection, but that’s largely a formality — largely.
Limayem’s return to USF comes after a national search and at a pivotal time for the Tampa Bay area institution, which has climbed steadily in national rankings and is juggling major capital projects, including the long-awaited on-campus football stadium.
Trustees praised Limayem for his combination of business acumen and academic credibility — traits that helped him win strong support from faculty, donors and state leaders during his time at both universities.
During his tenure at UNF, Limayem expanded partnerships with local organizations and improved student retention and graduation rates. At USF, he was widely credited with helping to grow the business school’s national reputation and boosting connections with the Tampa Bay area business community.
In a state where university Presidents are increasingly expected to deliver both performance and political finesse, Limayem has a proven track record on both counts. His appointment signals continued momentum for USF.
Almost (but not quite) the biggest winner: Rick Scott. Scott broke ranks with Donald Trump this week — and walked away looking stronger for it.
The Florida Senator, one of Trump’s most consistent allies, opposed two of the President’s nominees: Paul Ingrassia for head of the Office of Special Counsel and John Guard for a federal judgeship in the Middle District of Florida.
It’s a rare move in the Trump era, where party loyalty often overrides principle. And this week, both nominations were pulled.
Ingrassia’s nomination imploded after a series of offensive and bigoted remarks surfaced from his past communications. He had referred to having a “Nazi streak,” disparaged the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and used racial slurs in text messages — revelations that instantly made him radioactive for a post charged with protecting federal whistleblowers and enforcing civil service law. And that’s all in addition to his lack of experience.
Scott was one of several Republican Senators who were set to oppose Ingrassia’s confirmation.
Guard’s nomination, meanwhile, was caught in the fallout of a criminal probe surrounding the Hope Florida initiative. The investigation, tied to allegations that $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was redirected to a political committee aligned with the Governor’s Office, has placed Guard squarely in the political crossfire.
Scott’s decision to oppose both nominees distances him from Trump’s more controversial picks at a time when the President seems to be testing how far he can push GOP allies in Congress.
Scott has often defended the former President. But his efforts here shows his loyalty has limits if the White House is going to insist on putting forward such substandard nominees.
The biggest winner: Wilton Simpson. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson notched a major political win this week by earning Trump’s endorsement for his 2026 re-election campaign — a boost that instantly cements his front-runner status and sends a clear signal to potential challengers to think twice.
Simpson, a former Senate President and longtime conservative power broker, has built his brand for many years and connected with Republican voters in the state. But Trump’s blessing carries extra weight in a GOP Primary landscape as he remains the leader of the party.
Laughably, some hard-liners in the conservative movement have tried to criticize Simpson over his pragmatic streak in Tallahassee. Trump’s nod blunts those misguided attacks, giving Simpson support from the MAGA flank and likely smoothing the path to a second term.
Simpson, who has maintained strong ties among legislative leaders and donor networks across the state, now enters the 2026 cycle with plenty of advantages: name recognition, money, and now, the ultimate seal of approval from Mar-a-Lago.
Losers
Dishonorable mention: Rick Lacey. It’s been a rough week for Lacey, the once-powerful Brevard County Republican Chair who is now out of the job after the state party removed him from party leadership.
Lacey, who had long been a fixture in local GOP politics and a vocal supporter of Trump, was ousted after months of mounting controversy and internal friction within the Brevard Republican Executive Committee (REC). His removal follows a series of complaints about alleged mismanagement and conduct unbecoming a party leader — issues that have fractured what was once one of Florida’s most reliably organized local Republican operations.
The Brevard REC has been roiled by factional infighting for much of the past year. Republican Party of Florida officials had grown frustrated with the dysfunction and the mounting grievances, which included allegations that Lacey skirted the rules to support Republican candidates and failed to properly document expenditures.
While the party dominates electorally — holding every statewide office and commanding supermajorities in the Legislature — local-level fractures like this one show that unity isn’t guaranteed. The fight in Brevard reflects the broader tug-of-war between institutional Republicans and grassroots activists vying for control of the party’s direction.
This time, the state party apparatus won out.
Almost (but not quite) the biggest loser: Chad Chronister. Controversy across leadership at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office is dragging Sheriff Chronister down with it.
This week, scrutiny deepened over a widespread academic-cheating scandal among senior staffers, reflecting a failure of leadership, oversight and accountability that falls squarely on Chronister.
The trouble began when the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that newly promoted Chief Deputy Anthony Collins resigned after allegations surfaced that someone else completed his coursework for the FBI National Academy. Among the allegations, Collins reportedly admitted at least half of his assignments were done by someone else, prompting a review and his immediate departure from the agency.
The unraveling didn’t stop there. Six of the agency’s top officials have either resigned or were terminated in connection with the same academic integrity probe.
In his public response, Chronister acknowledged the scandal dealt a “black-eye” to the agency, saying the reputational damage falls on everyone when one leader missteps. But acknowledging the issue isn’t the same as fixing it. The number of senior departures, the high profiles of the victims involved, and the detailed nature of the accusations raise hard questions about how internal controls were allowed to fail.
For a Sheriff who has cultivated a reputation for community outreach, high-profile operations and political prominence (including a nomination for the Drug Enforcement Administration that he later withdrew himself from), the scandals undermine his ability to lead. Chronister’s failure to prevent the cheating debacle raises questions about whether it’s symptomatic of a broader culture flaw under his command.
The biggest loser: Brightline. Brightline this week faced a searing Atlantic feature that branded it the “Death Train.”
According to federal data cited in the report, Brightline has been involved in at least 185 fatalities since 2017 — 148 of them not believed to be suicides. That’s a staggering rate, more than double the next-highest major U.S. railroad, the National Transportation Safety Board found.
The story paints a troubling portrait: a beautiful, efficient train that’s also statistically the deadliest rail line in America. It explores how the company’s route — with 331 grade crossings slicing directly through South Florida’s urban core — creates a uniquely dangerous environment.
Brightline insists it’s not at fault, arguing that all deaths have involved people acting illegally or recklessly. But as the Atlantic piece shows, that explanation falls flat compared to accident rates for other train routes. Brightline countered that those stats don’t account for foot traffic. But the Atlantic piece argued, the fact that Brightline tracks run through neighborhoods and other high-trafficked areas is all the more reason to ensure there are plenty of safety measures in place.
The article also raised questions about Brightline’s finances. It notes that Brightline lost more than $500 million in 2024, has had its bonds repeatedly downgraded, and even deferred interest payments while seeking outside investors. The company’s California expansion, Brightline West, is relying heavily on federal funds, undermining its “no government money” narrative.
For a brand that sells itself as America’s sleek private answer to Amtrak, this was a PR derailment of epic proportions. And it was eerily — and unfortunately — timed, as a Brightline train reportedly struck and killed another pedestrian the same day the piece was published.
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Welcome back to Diagnosis, a vertical that focuses on the crossroads of health care policy and politics.
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— Health freedom —
Former House Speaker and Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner is making “health freedom” a centerpiece of his 2026 campaign, rolling out a sweeping plan to end vaccine mandates, overhaul school nutrition, and push for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Renner unveiled his Florida Health Freedom and Wellness Initiative during a Naples appearance, calling for Congress to repeal Obamacare and for Florida lawmakers to ban “medical vaccine mandates,” including any segregation of patients based on vaccination status. He said the federal health law “caused the costs of health care to skyrocket” and argued that “the solution is not to keep subsidizing.”
Renner’s priorities: protecting medical freedom, strengthening parental rights, improving school wellness and nutrition, and promoting preventive and alternative care options such as naturopathic and nutritional medicine. It also proposes “responsible guardrails” for artificial intelligence in schools, requiring parental consent before use and restricting it to classroom learning.
The initiative mirrors Gov. Ron DeSantis’ opposition to pandemic-era mandates but extends that approach with new provisions on parental authority. Renner said his administration would ensure that “parents and only parents” make medical and mental health decisions for their children, adding that “children get vaccines at too early an age” and should receive them only after discussion with their pediatrician.
Renner also emphasized childhood wellness, promising to partner with Florida farmers to bring fresh, healthy food into school cafeterias and to eliminate harmful additives from meals. Advocacy groups, including Stand for Health Freedom and Parental Rights Florida, praised the plan as a bold step toward “restoring transparency and empowering parents.”
— Anesthesia autonomy —
Rep. Mike Giallombardo is once again seeking to expand autonomous practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
The Cape Coral Republican refiled legislation (HB 375) that would allow CRNAs in Florida to work independently, removing the current requirement for written supervisory agreements with physicians in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
Under current law, only specific advanced practice registered nurses — including those in primary care, family medicine, general pediatrics and internal medicine — may practice autonomously. Giallombardo’s bill would extend that same authority to CRNAs, revising state statutes to permit them to administer anesthesia and perform related procedures without direct physician oversight.
The measure builds on similar efforts from the 2025 Session, when the House passed an earlier version (HB 649) in a 77–30 vote, though the companion bill in the Senate (SB 718) stalled in Committee. Critics raised concerns about patient safety and liability in the absence of physician supervision, while supporters argued the change would help close workforce gaps and improve access to care, particularly in rural communities.
The Florida Association of Nurse Anesthetists has long supported the proposal, noting that more than 30 states already allow CRNAs to practice independently and that Florida’s current framework contributes to provider shortages. Opponents, including the Florida Society of Anesthesiologists and the Florida Medical Association, continue to warn of risks to patient safety and the potential for reduced quality of care.
If approved, the measure would take effect July 1, 2026.
— Sky salute —
Last month, the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA) partnered with Dream Flights to honor local Veterans living in Big Bend long-term care facilities with flights in iconic WWII-era, open-cockpit biplanes.
“These Veterans who took to the skies are the model of service to the country,” said Emmett Reed, FHCA CEO. “FHCA and our member centers are focused on enriching the lives of the residents entrusted to our care, and it’s our honor to provide this unforgettable experience to these brave men and women. We’re thrilled to partner with Dream Flights to make this memorable experience possible for them.”
Veteran residents, their families, and team members from the care centers they reside in gathered at Million Air FBO in Tallahassee for the Dream Flight experience. Each Veteran resident received a FHCA challenge coin, a veteran’s service medal from the Florida Veterans Foundation, and additional recognition from the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
FHCA sponsored the Dream Flights experience to thank Veterans for their service during Florida’s Veterans Appreciation Month. Dream Flyers experienced the freedom of soaring in the same aircraft used to train aviators during WWII.
— ICYMI —
“Community focused or ‘out of touch’? Divide over hospital leadership bursts into open” via Elena Barrera of the Tallahassee Democrat — Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Florida State University are clashing over control of a proposed academic medical center’s Governing Board, with TMH insisting on a community majority to prevent political interference in medical decisions. The dispute, long simmering behind closed doors, has erupted publicly through dueling opinion pieces and a controversial text poll from Grow Tallahassee, which TMH called misleading and defamatory. TMH Board Chair James Killius says protecting community oversight is vital to keep health care decisions free from state politics, while business leader Bugra Demirel accuses TMH of blocking progress. City leaders are weighing competing Board proposals that would include FSU, Florida A&M University and Tallahassee State College, as both sides press their visions for the hospital’s future.
“Florida health agency submits application for millions of federal rural health funding” via Kimberly Leonard of POLITICO — Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration has applied for millions in federal funding through Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocates $50 billion over five years to improve rural health care. Deputy Medicaid Secretary Brian Meyer told state lawmakers the proposal emphasizes workforce development, expanded access to primary, maternal, dental and mental health services and telehealth technology. The state also outlined plans to promote nutrition and physical activity. Lawmakers voiced frustration over the short Nov. 5 deadline. Still, Meyer said officials will collaborate with the Legislature once funds are awarded on Dec. 31. Grants will be distributed in two phases, with spending restrictions and federal monitoring to ensure Florida meets improvement benchmarks.
“Poll shows most Floridians concerned about U.S. reliance on Chinese medical tech” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Nearly three-quarters of Floridians say America relies too much on Chinese medical gear. More would vote for politicians who support cracking down on Chinese influence on U.S. health care. That’s according to a poll commissioned by the Protecting America Initiative, which surveyed likely voters on issues related to China’s impact on U.S. medical services. The survey found 72% of Florida voters believe the U.S. is “too dependent” on Chinese-made medical technologies. About 81% support more decisive government action to reduce that reliance. “Florida voters are sending a clear warning about America’s growing dependence on Chinese-made medical technology. They view it as a direct threat to both patient safety and national security,” a polling memo from the group reads.
“Ron and Casey DeSantis announce pediatric cancer research initiative in Florida” via Beth Reese Cravey of The Florida Times-Union — DeSantis announced a five-year funding initiative today to boost pediatric cancer research at four Florida specialty children’s hospitals, including Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville. The other facilities are Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami and Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg. Each will receive $7.5 million each year — a total of $30 million this year — for five years, through the state’s Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator.
“‘We Are TGH Day’: Tampa General, USF Health bring academic medicine to Capitol” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — More than 100 patients, family advocates, medical students, and team members from across Florida gathered at the State Capitol to highlight the academic distinction that defines Tampa General Hospital and USF Health. “As our region’s only true university-affiliated academic health system, we are incredibly proud to provide compassionate, innovative, high-quality, and complex care to millions of people each year across an ever-growing network of seven hospitals and more than 150 care locations statewide,” said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “This event is an opportunity for Floridians who benefit from the power of academic medicine at Tampa General and USF Health to share their stories with our state’s leaders.”
— RULES —
The Board of Medicine’s final rule regarding application for licensure and licensure requirements for anesthesiologist assistants goes into effect Nov. 16. More here.
The Board of Medicine’s final rule regarding licensure by endorsement for electrologists and electrology facilities goes into effect Nov. 19. More here.
The Board of Osteopathic Medicine’s final rule regarding application for licensure and licensure requirements for anesthesiologist assistants goes into effect Nov. 16. More here.
The Board of Occupational Therapy’s final rule regarding application by endorsement for occupational therapists goes into effect Nov. 19. More here.
— PENCIL IT IN —
Nov. 12
Happy birthday to Sen. Nick DiCeglie!
10 a.m. — The Florida Association of Health Plans kicks off its annual conference, running Nov. 12-14, at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando. 4040 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando.
Nov. 13
Happy birthday to Rep. Sam Garrison!
Nov. 19
8 a.m. — The House Subcommittee on Health Care Facilities & Systems meets. Room 404 H, The Capitol.
8:30 a.m. — Hosted by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the summit brings together leaders in health, aging and long-term care to discuss policy and innovation for Florida’s growing senior population. Secretary Michelle Branham will deliver keynote remarks. DoubleTree by Hilton Tallahassee, 101 S. Adams St., Tallahassee.
9 a.m. — The Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services meets. Room 412 K, The Capitol.
Nov. 20
9 a.m. — The Social Services Estimating Conference will focus on KidCare caseload projections and related health service expenditures. Room 117 K, The Capitol.
Nov. 21
Happy birthday to Rep. Lindsay Cross!
9 a.m. — The Revenue Estimating Impact Conference will review updated data on health-related and general revenue streams affecting state programs. Room 117 K, The Capitol.
The annual “Stuff the Charger Food Drive” campaign is underway, as the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) collect food contributions for needy families throughout the state.
“Stuff the Charger” refers to the Dodge Charger vehicles many state troopers use to patrol Florida roadways. The campaign by the agencies is designed to encourage residents to donate nonperishable food that will be donated to local food banks throughout Florida to help feed families during the holidays.
The campaign runs through Nov. 30. The donated items, whether a single can of food or a box of spaghetti, can help Floridians in need. Many of the goods will be delivered to food banks in the neighborhoods of those who contribute.
“Floridians have always shown resilience and generosity, especially in times of need,” said FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner. “By loading our Chargers with food donations, we are delivering hope into Florida homes and helping families embrace the holiday season with dignity and joy.”
The two state agencies team up with local organizations in a partnership that is designed to reduce hunger. The general theme is “no family is left behind.”
“Join us in making a meaningful impact this holiday season by supporting our annual Stuff the Charger food drive,” said FHP Col. Gary Howze. “Your donations are essential in helping provide food to families in need, and together we can ensure that no Floridian goes without during this special time of year.”
The items most in need include:
— Canned goods: canned meats, vegetables, fruits and soups.
— Dried goods: stuffing, boxed potatoes, rice, cornbread mix, grits, cereal and oatmeal.
— Other goods: nuts, peanut butter, evaporated milk, bottled water and broth.
All donations can be made at any local outpost for the FHP and the agency is going to be hosting events for accepting contributions in the next few weeks.
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