Is Rick Scott Running for Governor Again?

Rick Scott to run for reelection in '24

Hello and welcome to Fri.

Walk On — While 2024 is a long fourth dimension away, one possible presidential contender from Florida is taking his proper name out of the running and says he's going to run for re-election instead.

Rust Never Sleeps — Sen. Rick Scott, who was in his hometown of Naples for Veterans Day, told NBC two that "I have no plans to run in '24. I program on running for the Senate in '24."

I've Been Waiting For You — This isn't a huge surprise, specially since former President Donald Trump seems to move closer and closer to mounting his own bid to retake the office. Plus, Scott hasn't gotten the boost in his national standing the way Gov. Ron DeSantis has equally he battles the Biden administration and pushes his anti-lockdown Covid-19 stance.

Rockin' in the Free World — But it'south too incorrect to underestimate Scott, a multimillionaire former wellness care executive who poured millions of dollars into his three runs for function so far. He'due south methodical and computing, while at the same time remaining cognizant on "ROI" — return on investment — every bit he is addicted of proverb. His decision to run the National Republican Senatorial Committee ahead of the 2022 midterms was seen equally a manner for him to create a national network for himself earlier a possible presidential bid. If he thought there was a path to the presidency, he would accept it.

Later on the Gilded Blitz — Information technology's worth noting that in his brief television interview, Scott also did non sound enthusiastic about either a Trump or DeSantis run for president. (Let's recall, as always, that Scott and DeSantis don't actually become along with each other.) He said that he would support the Republican nominee but as well said "there's a lot of people talking near running in '24. Nosotros'll see what happens."

— WHERE'Southward RON? — Nothing official announced for Gov. DeSantis.

HAPPENING TODAY — The "Florida Roundup" on many of Florida'southward public radio stations discuss the federal infrastructure beak and who information technology will impact in Florida. Politician's own Andrew Atterbury will be on to join a word of next week'southward special legislative session about vaccine mandates.

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HMM — POLITICO D.C. Playbook is out this a.m. with this interesting bit: DONALD TRUMP has been lament to members and guests at Mar-a-Lago that Florida Gov. RON DESANTIS notwithstanding hasn't joined the other 2024 hopefuls in pronouncing that he won't run for president if Trump runs. One guest suspects that Trump's gripes are so frequent because he is planting them in hopes that they'll get back to DeSantis. Trump has told his advisers that DeSantis privately bodacious him that he won't run if Trump does, but that's not enough for the former president — he wants DeSantis to say it in public.

Warnings — Trump has even suggested that DeSantis shouldn't underestimate his Democratic challenger CHARLIE CRIST, calling him a "killer." At present, equally DeSantis crisscrosses the country to raise money for his 2022 reelection, Trump aides are starting to feel pressure level to pick sides. Trump has made it known that he didn't appreciate that former White House chief of staff Mark MEADOWS traveled to Beverly Hills for a DeSantis fundraiser in June (too in omnipresence: Trump pal and casino magnate STEVE WYNN and quondam Treasury Secretary STEVE MNUCHIN) and so went on to Orangish County, where he introduced DeSantis to other deep-pocketed donors. In a statement to Playbook, a spokesperson for Trump chosen this reporting "simulated news."

WHAT'S GOING ON? — The campaign of Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried insists that the Democratic candidate did not miss the deadline to turn in her monthly fundraising report. The Division of Elections website still does not listing Fried'due south October totals. But the campaign has circulated a screenshot that shows the report was submitted electronically just before half dozen p.m. on Wednesday. That screenshot likewise shows that Fried raised $141,477 for her official account, bringing her October total to just over $414,000. Democratic main rival Rep. Charlie Crist raised nearly $625,000 last month.

'CONSENT ORDER' — "Mystery group behind attack ads in Fundamental Florida Senate race strikes settlement with election officials," past Orlando Scout'southward Jason Garcia and Annie Martin: "The leader of a mysterious group that sent attacks last year in an important Central Florida state Senate race without always disclosing its donors has struck a tentative bargain to settle a complaint accusing his group of breaking state election laws. The terms of the proposed 'consent lodge' between Stephen Jones, the chairperson of Floridians for Equality and Justice, and the Florida Elections Commission are confidential for now."

Entrada ROUNDUP — State Sen. Shevrin Jones is launching his 2022 re-election campaign this morn with the release of a video that mentions the challenges of reducing gun violence and standing the work against the coronavirus pandemic. The West Park Democrat said in a statement that "while we have made incredible progress, at that place is all the same a lot of work ahead as we recover from the pandemic, safeguard civil rights and our democracy, and await to the future to build pathways to prosperity and opportunity for every Floridian." ... Rep. Charlie Crist's gubernatorial campaign announced former Biden for President Labor & Veterans Vote Director, Carlos Carrillo, has joined the campaign team as a senior adviser on labor … Beverly Young, the widow of the belatedly Rep. Bill Young, is endorsing Republican Amanda Makki in the race for Florida's 13th Congressional District. She called Makki an "advocate for veterans and Pinellas County residents" and said she'south a better choice than GOP candidate Anna Paulina Luna, who was the party nominee in 2022 and is running over again with Trump's endorsement. "After staying out of politics for the last 8 years, I can't sit on the sidelines anymore," Immature said in a statement. "Especially after I saw the terrible entrada Luna ran last yr and lost this seat for Republicans when we picked upwardly seats all across Florida."

— "Gambling amendment campaigns plow another $22 million into drives," past Florida Politics' Scott Powers

— "Orange elections supervisor foils fake ballot in Orlando's election," past Orlando Lookout man'south Ryan Gillespie

TAKING A CLOSER Wait — "A deep dive into Florida Senate's draft redistricting maps," by POLITICO'south Matt Dixon: A 24-hour interval after Florida's first round of redistricting maps was released, a theme is emerging that is more surprising than specific changes to the country's political lines: Everyone is relatively happy. Democrats and progressive-leaning voter groups were concerned heading into Florida's 2022 redistricting bicycle that Republican majorities in the Legislature would utilise the process to endeavor to describe maps that would further entrench their majorities.

Some fundamental highlights — The 14th Congressional District currently held by Democrat Kathy Castor, which includes all of Tampa, in its electric current course is a safety Democratic seat that Joe Biden won with almost 58 per centum of the vote. Under the Senate drafts, however, Biden would accept won with 51 percent of the vote, creating what will functionally be a swing seat during the 2022 midterms when Republicans are expected to have momentum.

Worth watching — Republican Ileana Garcia'south state Senate District 37 would be significantly easier for Democrats to retake under the proposed Senate maps. Biden, under the Senate's proposed redistricting, would eke out a victory over Trump with less than l percent in the newly-configured seat…Republican Jason Brodeur's Senate Commune 9 based in Seminole County also would go tougher for Republicans to hold. The seat as proposed by the Senate would dip into bluer Orange Canton, boosting Democrats chances in a district that was already considered a swing seat.

Tallahassee seat in play? — Democrat Loranne Ausley'southward Tallahassee-based Senate District iii would become an easier pickup for Republicans under the Senate draft. Biden carried the seat with 54 percent of the vote in 2020, a number that would drop to under 51 percent on the Senate draft maps.

Two incumbents, one seat — The proposed Senate map draws both incumbent Republican state Sens. Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala) and Keith Perry (R-Gainesville) into District viii. The n-central Florida seat, which is very Republican-leaning, dips further south to pick up parts of Marion County where Baxley lives. … The proposed maps too draw in incumbent Democrats country Sens. Lori Berman (D-Delray Beach) and Tina Polsky (D-Boca Raton) into what is Senate District 31. Berman told POLITICO that she is "not worried about information technology" and stressed it's early on in the process.

Green RUSH — "In sentencing, prosecutors claimed Burnette, Beshears manipulated Florida medical marijuana police force," past USA Today Network-Florida'south Jeffrey Schweers: "Federal prosecutors argued that Tallahassee developer John 'J.T.' Burnette deserved a stiffer sentence, in function considering he admitted to conspiring with childhood friend and former country Rep. Halsey Beshears 'to keep out competitors' in the nascent medical marijuana industry. Burnette, convicted in August on extortion and other charges, was sentenced to iii years in federal prison Tuesday. His attorneys take vowed to entreatment. Prosecutors had asked for up to eight years, saying the once prominent man of affairs used his 'ability and wealth to decadent the political procedure.'"

— "College is unaffordable for many Florida students, but available financial aid is going unused," past WUSF'due south Bailey LeFever

— "Eskamani files bill to remove restrictions on how Orange Canton tin can spend tourism taxes," past Orlando Spotter's Caroline Glenn

The daily rundown — The Centers for Illness Control and Prevention has non posted daily totals for Wednesday. The U.S. Section of Wellness and Homo Services reported that 1,527 hospital beds were being used in the land for Covid-19 patients.

DROPPED — "Florida schools drop mask mandates alee of special session," past POLITICO's Andrew Atterbury: Later on months of fighting with the DeSantis administration, the last few Florida school districts requiring students to wear masks are loosening their Covid-19 restrictions. The final three school board holdouts — Alachua, Broward and Miami-Dade counties — this week agreed to drop their educatee mask mandates and come in line with a contentious land rule, signaling the possible conclusion to a fall clash ripe with lawsuits and sanctions.

'INITIAL SUPPLY' — "Florida ordered 90,000 doses of the child vaccine. Texas ordered ane one thousand thousand," by Tampa Bay Times' Ian Hodgson and Kirby Wilson: "Florida health officials say they preordered approximately 90,000 child-size doses of the Pfizer vaccine. That'south enough to fully vaccinate 3 percent of Florida's approximately 1.seven 1000000 children ages 5 to 11. Texas, another Republican-led state, preordered 1 million doses — enough to fully vaccinate over 17 per centum of the state's children in the same historic period group. California preordered 860,000 doses, enough to fully vaccinate 13 pct of kids at that place."

— "Study: Nursing home staff vaccination rates upwards; COVID-19 deaths downward," by Florida Politics' Christine Jordan Sexton

— "Was Florida's decision to prioritize antibody treatments the right call?" past WFTV's Christopher Heath

'A TERRIBLE Error' — "Sen. Marco Rubio wants to ban these contributions for election initiatives," by Miami Herald'south Alex Daugherty and Jimena Tavel: "For years, Republican politicians accept generally embraced fewer restrictions on political donations, arguing that deep-pocketed donors and corporations have a right to support politicians they agree with. But a recent Federal Elections Commission Ruling led Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio to take a different approach. On November 2, the FEC ruled that strange donors can contribute to land-based election initiatives and referendum campaigns — potentially opening the door for foreigners to influence U.S. policy."

Still TRYING — "U.South. Rep. Lois Frankel: Augment wellness coverage by expanding Obamacare," past Palm Embankment Post's Antonio Fins: "Thwarted again, this fourth dimension past 1 of their own, a Florida congressional Democrat said Tuesday that Medicaid expansion efforts in the state may at present exist accomplished past broadening Obamacare. U.Southward. Rep. Lois Frankel said she is confident a path to cover Florida's uninsured via the 2010 Affordable Intendance Act has been agreed to on Capitol Hill. The vehicle to achieving this long-held goal among Florida Democrats is the second piece of the Biden administration's infrastructure agenda, the so-chosen Build Back Improve legislation."

'INCREDIBLY PUNITIVE Constabulary' — "Two strikes and you're in prison forever," by The Marshall Projection'due south Cary Aspinwall and Weihua Li and the Tampa Bay Times' Dan Sullivan: "In many states, people sentenced to life used to become eligible for parole afterward 15 years. But Florida and others nigh ended parole a generation agone, and life sentences became permanent. Today, Florida has more than 13,600 people serving life without parole, far more than than whatsoever other state and almost a quarter of the total nationwide. Though this sentence is widely seen every bit an culling to the death penalization, which is used in murder cases, 44 per centum of the people serving it in Florida were non bedevilled of that crime, according to the assay of country data."

— "Opa-Locka mayor abruptly resigns during commission meeting, citing 'abuse,'" by Miami Herald's Aaron Leibowitz

— "Tallahassee constabulary to release less information, fewer alerts nearly crime to public," past Tallahassee Democrat's Christopher Cann

— "Group mobilizes against official who was Adjuration Keeper," by The Associated Press

— "Winter the dolphin dies at Clearwater aquarium," by Tampa Bay Times Jack Evans and Tracey McManus: "Winter the dolphin, the beloved star of the "Dolphin Tale" movies whose story of resilience with a prosthetic tail, and contempo illness, captured attention around the world, has died. Winter died at about seven:45 p.m. as she was being prepped for exploratory surgery to treat an abdominal blockage at Clearwater Marine Aquarium, co-ordinate to aquarium board chairperson Paul Auslander. She was xvi."

— "Versailles, the 'most famous Cuban restaurant in the world,' celebrates its 50th anniversary," by Lord's day Scout's Yvonne H. Valdez: "Piffling Havana's iconic Versailles Eating place celebrated its 50th anniversary on Wednesday with a special carte du jour with 1971 prices — ham croquette for 20 cents, breaded steak for $3.25, Cuban java, 20 cents — and fans, celebrities, S Florida politicians, lots of dancing and music. The 3 generations of the Valls family unit, who founded Versailles on Calle 8, honored their countless famous and non-famous patrons at the outcome."

BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Nick DiCeglie … former Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp ... Linda Shelley, former master of staff for Gov. Lawton Chiles ... Taylor Patrick Biehl of Capitol Alliance Group ... Orlando Lookout man's Gray Rohrer ... (Sat) … land Rep. Sam Garrison … Marker Delegal, partner at Delegal Aubuchon Consulting … (Sunday) one-time Firm Speaker Will Weatherford

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Source: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/florida-playbook/2021/11/12/rick-scott-to-run-for-reelection-in-24-495079

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