The scramble for a Scott challenger

Good morning and welcome to Tuesday. And congratulations to the Miami Herald on its 24th Pulitzer Prize, winning for its Broken Promises series of editorials that highlighted “unfulfilled and forgotten promises to improve the community.”

Dream team — Just in time for the NBA playoffs, Democratic operatives and donors are trying to recruit high-profile former basketball stars Grant Hill or Dwayne Wade to challenge Republican Sen. Rick Scott, report NBC News’ Matt Dixon and Jonathan Allen.

Reaching out — The interesting story quotes megadonor John Morgan as someone who has spoken to Hill — who played for the Orlando Magic for several years and is now a co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks as well as a television analyst — about getting into the game.

Also on the roster — There are also some familiar Democratic names floated out there as potential Scott challengers, including former Reps. Stephanie Murphy and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and state Sen. Shevrin Jones.

Response — Chris Hartline, who is helping with Scott’s reelection, scoffed at the effort late last night on Twitter: “Hilarious how even @FlaDems think @MurphyforFL, @DebbieforFL or whoever else is being floated are jokes. Between Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, and Ron DeSantis, Florida Republicans have systematically dismantled the Democrats’ bench in Florida.”

In the game — There should be no doubt that getting someone like Hill, who has dabbled in Democratic politics in the past, or Wade, who said he had moved out of the state due to the transgender bills pushed by the Florida Legislature, would likely create a lot of attention and buzz in a Senate race that otherwise would be overshadowed by the presidential contest.

Downsides — But key questions about any Democratic effort remain. While there are some signs that President Joe Biden may engage in Florida, doubts remain about Senate Democrats. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recruited Val Demings for the 2022 race against Marco Rubio but the party did little to help her.

Has his own ball (and jet) — Rick Scott has won three very close elections in his political career, none of them coming during a presidential election year. But Scott is a multi-multimillionaire who has spent more than $150 million of his own money on his campaigns, a signal that any effort to take him out this time around would be an expensive endeavor.

— WHERE’S RON? — Gov. DeSantis will be in Miami for a press conference with House Speaker Paul Renner, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez and Education Commissioner Manny Diaz.

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CAMPAIGN MODE

JUMP BALL — “Democratic donors hope to recruit NBA legends Grant Hill and Dwayne Wade to run for Senate in Florida,” by NBC News’ Matt Dixon and Jonathan Allen: “NBA legends Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill have rocketed to the top of the recruitment lists for some Florida Democrats looking for a strong candidate to run against Sen. Rick Scott in 2024. There have been separate active efforts to get both to consider forays into state politics, which have not been driven by either the state or national parties, three sources familiar with the situation said. The party operatives and donors see the need for a moonshot-type candidate to reverse the trend of Republican dominance in the state, in which most recently Gov. Ron DeSantis won re-election by a double-digit margin.”

FLA CONNECTION — “Under the radar, right-wing push tighten voting laws persist,” by The New York Times’ Nick Corasaniti and Alexandra Berzon: “Until recently, the Foundation for Government Accountability was best known as a Florida-based think tank that focused nearly all of its lobbying on seeking to dismantle government assistance programs like Medicaid, food stamps and other welfare initiatives. But in early 2021, the group added election issues to its portfolio. A few months later, when Republican secretaries of state gathered at the Conrad hotel in Washington, D.C., for their annual conference, the foundation was the only outside organization with a speaking slot at every panel.”

CHARGES — “Accused ‘ghost’ candidate in Osceola County commission now arrested,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Natalia Jaramillo: “A former Kissimmee city commissioner accused of being a ‘ghost’ candidate in the 2022 District 4 race for Osceola County Commission is facing 14 criminal charges for campaign finance reporting violations, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said in a statement Monday. FDLE began its year-long investigation after Jackie Espinosa, a candidate in the same District 4 race, filed a complaint, accusing [Carlos] Irizarry of being paid to enter the commission race, which she lost to the incumbent. Espinosa said she was ‘torn emotionally’ by the news of Irizarry’s arrest on eight counts of willful certification of false or incomplete campaign treasure’s reports and six counts of deliberate failure to report campaign expenditures as required.”

— “Groups launch Florida ballot drive on abortion rights,” by News Service of Florida’s Jim Saunders

— “County commissioners want to ban candidate faces from bus ads. Exception: Their own,” by Miami Herald’s Douglas Hanks

— “Daniel Davis political committee tops $1.7M raised in April,” by Florida Politics’ A.G. Gancarski

DESANTISLAND

‘TAKING ACTION’ — “DeSantis signs bills limiting Chinese land ownership, TikTok at schools,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Lawrence Mower: “Saying that China posed a threat to Floridians, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed three bills targeting Chinese influence in Florida’s schools, universities and agriculture. During a news conference in Hernando County, DeSantis signed legislation that would ban the use of TikTok and other Chinese apps on school and government servers, limit land purchases by Chinese citizens and prohibit universities from accepting funding from China. ‘Today, we’re really recognizing the threat, and we’re taking action,’ DeSantis said.”

MOUSE TRAP — “Disney cites DeSantis’ latest comments in expanded lawsuit,” by Orlando Sentinel’s Skyler Swisher: “Citing the governor’s own words, Disney expanded its federal lawsuit against Ron DeSantis on Monday, targeting two bills passed last week by the Florida Legislature. Legislation dealing with Disney World’s monorail and development agreements is further evidence of a ‘targeted campaign of government retaliation’ by DeSantis and his allies, Disney’s lawyers wrote in the amended suit. Disney’s lawyers quote DeSantis’ comments on Friday to support their accusations that DeSantis is punishing the corporation over its opposition to the Parental Rights in Education Law, which critics call ‘don’t say gay.’”

— “DeSantis says Trump deploying ‘Democrat attacks’ on Social Security, Medicare,” by The Hill’s Stephen Neukam

... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS — “‘I just couldn’t comment to that:’ Florida’s attorney general dodges question about DeSantis public record delays,” by WKMG’s Mike DeForest: “The office of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has “consistently sought to safeguard” Florida’s Government-in-the-Sunshine open meeting and public record laws, according to Moody’s own website. But when it comes to Governor Ron DeSantis delaying the release of certain public records requested from state agencies like the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Department of Health — sometimes for months — while his staff conducts a secondary review of the documents, Florida’s most powerful attorney is reluctant to share her thoughts.”

— “Jennifer Canady poised to win contentious speaker’s race, will be first female to lead Florida House of Representatives,” by Florida Politics’ Peter Schorsch

— “DeSantis-desired defamation legislation didn’t go the distance. Here’s why,” by USA Today Network-Florida’s Douglas Soule

— “Florida may study use of radioactive waste in building roads,” by The Associated Press

— Mexican president calls Florida’s new anti-immigration bill ‘immoral,’ by POLITICO’s Kierra Frazier

TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP

UNSOCIAL MEDIA — “Trump prohibited from posting evidence in hush money case to social media, judge rules,” by NBC News’ Adam Reiss and Dareh Gregorian: “The New York state judge presiding over the criminal hush money case against Donald Trump issued an order Monday restricting the former president from posting about some evidence in the case on social media. In his order, Judge Juan Merchan largely sided with the Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg by limiting what Trump can publicly disclose about new evidence from the prosecution before the case goes to trial.”

— “Jury hears closing arguments in Carroll’s civil case against Trump,” by Washington Post’s Shayna Jacobs, Kim Bellware and Mark Berman

— The Trump rape trial is headed to the jury. Here are the questions jurors will weigh, by POLITICO’s Erica Orden

— “Trump, Pence, DeSantis on tap for North Carolina GOP convention,” by NBC News’ Alexandra Marquez

DATELINE D.C.


ASK — “Florida Democrat asks Comer, Jordan for field hearing in Parkland on red flag laws,” by The Hill’s Mychael Schnell: “Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) asked Monday that a congressional field hearing focused on red flag laws be held in Parkland, Fla., where such provisions were enacted in 2018 after the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The request — made to House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) — came days after a gunman fatally shot eight people at an outlet mall in Allen, Texas.”

— “Scott, Roy introduce bill to make bureaucrats at-will employees,” by The Floridian’s Jackson Bakich

PENINSULA AND BEYOND


FOR YOUR RADAR — “Florida’s new death penalty law gets applied to old cases in Broward,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Rafael Olmeda: “The ink has barely dried on Florida’s new death penalty law, and courts are wasting no time putting it to the test. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein has already ruled that the new law applies to crimes committed before it was passed. He also ruled that it’s constitutional and that jurors have to be told that they need at least eight votes out of 12 to recommend a death sentence. Fein’s rulings do not apply outside his courtroom, but as he and other judges decide whether the law can be applied retroactively, the potential for a challenge increases. If another judge disagrees, an appellate court will have to resolve the conflict.”

‘OF COURSE I WANT TO STAY HERE’ — Florida tosses climate lifeline to swamped ‘Keybillies,’ by E&E News’ Daniel Cusick: The 33-year-old, who was raised here on the southernmost tip of Florida, enjoys for free what others pay thousands of dollars to see: kaleidoscope sunsets; saltwater vistas; and a life mostly unencumbered by noise, traffic and other big city burdens. Yet [Saima] Kawzinsky and her family face what was once unthinkable — leaving the Florida Keys. Climate change is making it more dangerous — and much more expensive — to live here.

Extreme heat, tidal flooding and a rekindled respect for hurricanes are driving out longtime residents and driving up the cost of basic needs: rent, food, water, power and gas. It’s enough that Kawzinsky says she’s considering a move to Kissimmee, a sprawling Orlando suburb. The city is 60 miles away from the Atlantic coast. It might as well be a million miles from Big Pine Key.

‘A VERY DUMB PERSON SOMETIMES’ — “‘I do stuff without reasoning’: Shooting threat made by South Florida student caused panic across country,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Angie DiMichele: “The 18-year-old South Florida high school student who emailed threats that a mass shooting would occur last week told police she didn’t know why she did it, aside from saying she is ‘a very dumb person sometimes,’ a probable cause affidavit said. ‘Sometimes I do stuff without reasoning,’ the student told detectives who interviewed her at her Tamarac home on Friday, a day after she used two laptops at her school, signed in with her friends’ information and sent emails using their names that said a ‘memorable slaughter’ would happen, the affidavit said. Catrina Petit was arrested on 19 charges, including written threats to kill or do bodily injury, making a false bomb threat and disrupting a school function, the affidavit said. She said the threats were ‘supposed to be funny.’”

— “Randy Fine got so upset he launched a political career. What upset him? A math problem,” by Palm Beach Post’s Antonio Fins

— “Tampa Bay City Council member Lynn Hurtak’s home searched by FBI,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Justin Garcia

— “Federal agents execute search warrant at JinkoSolar plant in Jacksonville,” by Florida Times-Union’s David Bauerlein

— “SBA offering millions in loans to flooded Fort Lauderdale businesses,” by South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s David Lyons

— “Florida driver’s license, motor vehicle systems suffer outage statewide,” by Lawrence Mower

— “Submerged island off Florida reveals secret: Civil War-era cemetery,” by New York Times’ Livia Albeck-Ripka

ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN

— “6 years later, Tampa neo-Nazi murder case ends with guilty plea,” by Tampa Bay Times’ Dan Sullivan: “The man at the center of a bizarre double-murder case that brought to light a small-time neo-Nazi group made a guilty plea Monday morning, six years after the killings. In an agreement with state prosecutors, Devon Arthurs pleaded guilty to two reduced charges of second-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping. In exchange, he agreed to a 45-year prison sentence. Arthurs, red-bearded and donning a red jail uniform, sat straight-backed and spoke at length after pleading guilty. He apologized to the families of the two men he killed and denounced extremism and hate.”

BIRTHDAYS: Bill Herrle, NFIB’s executive director in Florida … Journalist Renzo Downey