\u2014<\/p>\n
Now we turn the first part of Sunburn over to our friend Steve Vancore:<\/p>\n
Every cycle produces a handful of publicly released polls worth trusting and a landfill of polls worth the salt shaker. The new University of North Florida Public Opinion Research Lab (PORL<\/a>) survey of 848 likely Florida Midterm voters belongs firmly in the first pile.<\/p>\n This is a shop that shows its work, with a full methodology, transparent weighting, no self-identification (they use actual voter history from the voter file and confirm respondents!), and a well-balanced sample (well, except party, but we will address that further on).<\/p>\n As for the methodology and transparency, this is where PORL earns its keep: a mixed-mode design<\/a> (phone and text-to-web), stratification across 18 geographic strata, and a two-step raking weight on education and then party, age, race, sex and geography, benchmarked to the actual 2022 electorate.<\/p>\n So, when this pollster finds Byron Donalds leading David Jolly 46%-41% in the Governor\u2019s race<\/a>, and Ashley Moody leading both potential Democratic Senate opponents by high single digits to low double digits (10 over Alex Vindman, 8 over Angie Nixon), save the salt for your morning eggs.<\/p>\n Of course, nothing about these numbers should shock anyone who\u2019s been watching Florida drift red over the past three cycles or has reviewed credible polls, but the margins are notably tighter than 2022 or 2024 \u2014 which tracks with the read from PORL faculty director Sean Freeder that the party in the White House usually suffers in Midterms. No salt needed here; these are plausible, internally consistent numbers from a poll built the right way.<\/p>\n A half-grain: The raw sample skews red before weighting.<\/p>\n I know! I know! Post-sampling weighting can widen your margin of error, and this poll needed a good dose of that, as the original sample had a +20 GOP model. Even GOP-leaning consultants don\u2019t see that as a realistic turnout balance; it\u2019s more likely closer to +12. For this writer, post-call weighting is not optimal, but it doesn\u2019t harm the findings or impact the analysis, so I\u2019ll offer just a half-grain here.<\/p>\n Bottom line: solid shop, solid numbers, tight-but-plausible horse races, and one honest methodological note-to-self about how much lifting the party weight is doing on the raw sample.<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n Donalds remains the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nomination for Governor, according to a new Fabrizio Lee poll, the Southwest Florida Congressman is at 53% support \u2014 essentially unchanged from the 54% he posted in the firm\u2019s April survey \u2014 with the rest of the pack largely fighting over scraps.<\/p>\n Collins is in a distant second place at 10%. The double-digit showing is the first for a Republican not named Donalds in a Fabrizio Lee poll and puts the Lt. Governor back ahead of Fishback.<\/p>\n Renner is still bringing up the rear with 4% of likely Republican voters in his corner.<\/p>\n Fabrizio Lee surveyed 400 likely Republican Primary voters from July 14-16 using a mix of live-operator telephone interviews and SMS-to-web responses. The poll carries a margin of error of +\/- 4.9%.<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n Former Gov. Charlie Crist is building his lead over in the St. Petersburg Mayor race with a coalition that includes strong support among Democrats, Republicans and independent voters alike.<\/p>\n A new St. Pete Polls survey conducted for Florida Politics finds Crist leading pack with 31% support in the six-way race. Incumbent Mayor Ken Welch sits 14 points back at 17% with St. Petersburg City Council Member Brandi Gabbard being the only other candidate to crack double digits. More than a quarter said they were undecided.<\/p>\n The top three pull in a larger share when leaners are folded in, with Crist at 35% while the gap between Welch (18%) and Gabbard (12%) shrinks to 5.5 percentage points \u2014 slightly above the poll\u2019s 5% margin of error \u2014 suggesting the race for No. 2 may not be settled.<\/p>\n St. Pete Polls tested the head-to-head, which showed the former Governor and Congressman\u2019s lead stretching to 16 points, 44%-28%, with the remainder still on the fence. The head-to-head lead is double what the same pollster found in June.<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n The Republican nomination in Florida\u2019s 19th Congressional District remains up for grabs according to new polling from Action Solutions.<\/p>\n The survey, conducted on behalf of Ola Hawatmeh\u2019s campaign, found Hawatmeh leading the field with 12.9% support, followed by Chris Collins at 11.8% and Jim Schwartzel at 10.2%.<\/p>\n The most popular pick, however, was \u201cundecided or supporting someone else.\u201d Given the 96-person sample \u2014 just 45 voters expressed a preference \u2014 the campaigns for former Illinois Sen. Jim Oberweis, former Trump administration official Catalina Lauf and former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn are still very much in the mix.<\/p>\n The poll also found Hawatmeh remains largely unknown in the district. About 77% of respondents said they were unfamiliar with her, while roughly 11% viewed her favorably and 12% unfavorably.<\/p>\n Action Solutions also tested campaign messaging highlighting Hawatmeh\u2019s experience helping secure federal funding for Southwest Florida water infrastructure. Nearly half of respondents said that background would be \u201cvery important\u201d in deciding their vote, while another 19% said it would be somewhat important. About one-third said it was not important.<\/p>\n The survey additionally asked voters how a hypothetical endorsement from Donald Trump would affect their vote, with the consensus being the President\u2019s backing \u201cwould be a help to Hawatmeh\u2019s Campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014<\/p>\n Former Sen. Loranne Ausley has an early lead in the race for Tallahassee Mayor, with City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow not far behind.<\/p>\n A new St. Pete Polls survey conducted for Florida Politics shows Ausley leading the four-candidate field with 29% support, followed by Matlow at 24% with Daryl Parks 10-points back from the top two and Michael Foust sitting at around 3%.<\/p>\n Undecided ranks as the top pick for Tallahassee voters, with just over 31% of those polled saying they\u2019ve yet to make a pick in the race to succeed John Daily, who opted not to seek a third term leading the capital city.<\/p>\n With less than a month to go, the survey suggests no candidate is in position to clinch 50%-plus-one needed to win the nonpartisan seat outright in August and that the contest will instead determine who gets a slot on the November ballot.<\/p>\n Though Ausley served in the state Senate as a Democrat, the crosstabs show she performs best among Republicans, who back her 36% to Matlow\u2019s 7%, and among voters age 70 and older, where she posts a commanding 47% to 20% advantage.<\/p>\n Matlow, meanwhile, leads Ausley among Democratic voters, 33% to 28%, and among voters younger than 50.\u00a0 Parks\u2019 strongest support comes from Black voters, where he receives 33%, compared with 19% for Ausley and 13% for Matlow.<\/p>\n St. Pete Polls surveyed 345 likely Tallahassee voters July 19-20 using automated telephone calls and peer-to-peer text messages. The survey has a margin of error of +\/- 5.3%.<\/p>\n \u2014 SITUATIONAL AWARENESS \u2014<\/p>\n \u2014@AndrewTFloyd: Since Abraham Lincoln\u2019s assassination in 1865, every President has been alive at the same time as Herbert Hoover.<\/p>\n Tweet, Tweet:<\/p>\n \u2014@FBI: The 2026 @FIFAWorldCup<\/a> was the largest sporting event in the history\u2014and this FBI rose to the challenge in every way. With 11 U.S. host cities, 5 international host cities, 40 base camps, endless fan zones and celebrations, and 6.8 million visitors, this tournament shattered attendance record by double digits with zero major security incidents across the country.<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet:<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet:<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet:<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet:<\/p>\n Tweet, tweet:<\/p>\n \u2014 DAYS UNTIL \u2014<\/p>\n Tiger Bay Club of Central Florida hosts Orange County Mayor debate \u2014 10; \u2018Spider-Man: Brand New Day\u2019 premieres \u2014 10; Optional Primary early voting begins \u2014 13; \u2018Ted Lasso\u2019 season 4 premieres \u2014 15; Primary Election ballot request deadline \u2014 16; Mandatory Primary early voting begins \u2014 18; \u2018Lanterns\u2019 premieres on HBO \u2014 26; Primary Election Day \u2014 28; \u2018The Dog Stars,\u2019 directed by Ridley Scott, premieres \u2014 38; NFL regular season kicks off \u2014 50; Republican National Midterm Convention \u2014 50; San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in the first-ever NFL regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia \u2014 51; Yankees host the Mets for the 9\/11 anniversary \u2014 52; MLB Roberto Clemente Day \u2014 56; General Election UOCAVA ballot deadline \u2014 60; Tampa Bay Buccaneers home opener against the Cleveland Browns \u2014 61; General Election domestic ballot send window begins \u2014 65; General Election domestic ballot send deadline \u2014 72; \u2018Digger,\u2019 with Tom Cruise, directed by Alejandro G. I\u00f1\u00e1rritu, premieres \u2014 73; General Election voter registration deadline \u2014 76; \u2018The Social Network\u2019 sequel, with Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison, premieres \u2014 80; Optional General early voting begins \u2014 90; General Election ballot request deadline \u2014 93; Mandatory General early voting begins \u2014 95; General Election \u2014 105; \u2018Godzilla Minus Zero\u2019 premieres \u2014 108; \u2018Wild Horse Nine\u2019 premieres \u2014 108; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit \u2014 113; Joe Biden\u2019s memoir, \u2018Promise Me,\u2019 releases \u2014 119; \u2018The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping\u2019 premieres \u2014 122; \u2018The Adventures of Cliff Booth,\u2019 with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres \u2014 127; \u2018Madden\u2019 premieres \u2014 128; Untitled \u2018Star Wars\u2019 movie premieres \u2014 150; \u2018Avengers: Doomsday\u2019 premieres \u2014 150; \u2018Dune: Part 3,\u2019 directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres \u2014 150; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas \u2014 188; Grammys \u2014 201; Super Bowl LXI \u2014 208; Tampa Mayoral Election \u2014 224; Oscars \u2014 236; Jacksonville First Election \u2014 245; Jacksonville General Election \u2014 301; \u2018Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse\u2019 premieres \u2014 319; \u2018Bluey the Movie\u2019 premieres \u2014 381; \u2018Miami Vice\u2019 reboot premieres \u2014 381; \u2018The Batman Part II\u2019 premieres \u2014 437; \u2018Avengers: Secret Wars\u2019 premieres \u2014 514; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans \u2014 552; Oscars \u2014 593; \u2018Lilo & Stitch 2\u2019 premieres \u2014 675; \u2018Incredibles 3\u2019 premieres \u2014 696; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony \u2014 724; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election \u2014 840; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa \u2014 916; \u2018Avatar 4\u2019 premieres \u2014 1,240; College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami \u2014 1,280; \u2018Avatar 5\u2019 premieres \u2014 1,971.<\/p>\n \u201cByron Donalds challenges David Jolly to 3 Governor debates<\/a>\u201d via Kimberly Leonard of POLITICO \u2014\u00a0Donalds posted his challenge over a video on social media, saying, \u201cThe only debate that truly matters is the one against radical Democrats.\u201d Donalds, who was endorsed by President Trump last year, said voters would be able to contrast their visions for the state in a debate.<\/p>\n He accused Jolly \u2014 a former one-term Republican House member \u2014 of supporting \u201chigh taxes, bloated government, boys in girls\u2019 sports and taking that authority away from parents and giving it to bureaucrats.\u201d<\/p>\n Jolly was noncommittal about the possibility of debating Donalds, saying in a text to POLITICO, \u201cLet him get through his Primary and we\u2019ll talk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014\u201cBusiness groups line up behind Donalds\u2019 governor bid<\/a>\u201d via Jim Saunders of State Affairs <\/p>\n \u2014 2026 \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cJolly, 4 other statewide candidates get nearly $2.5M in Florida public money<\/a>\u201d via Gary Fineout of POLITICO \u2014 Florida turned over $2.46 million to five statewide candidates who are accepting money under the state\u2019s public campaign finance program. This marks the first release of money this cycle under the program, which has been sharply criticized by many Republicans who have tried unsuccessfully to eliminate it. Jolly \u2026 got the largest infusion of cash with nearly $1.3 million, followed by more than $662,000 to Donalds and more than $118,000 to Collins. The public money will be a definite boost for Jolly since he has only raised about $4 million for his main campaign account and just under $4 million for his political committee.<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida Democrats slam \u2018scam\u2019 property tax amendment as \u2018just plain bad for Florida\u2019<\/a>\u201d via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics \u2014 The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) is formally opposing Amendment 3, the homestead-exemption expansion the Legislature placed on November\u2019s ballot \u2014 a measure even some of its Republican supporters are second-guessing. \u201cAmendment 3 is bad for our cities and towns, bad for our rural counties, and just plain bad for Florida,\u201d FDP Chair Nikki Fried said. Fried said the proposal to increase homestead exemptions \u201cwould hurt our local communities and cut local services while giving huge tax breaks to billionaires and corporations.\u201d \u201cThis is a scam that would either raise other taxes on working families or rob their communities of essential services like public hospitals, EMTs, fire rescue, disaster preparedness, road maintenance, children services, libraries, and parks,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cPete Buttigieg tells Florida Democrats campaigns should use AI in \u2018smart but ethical ways\u2019<\/a>\u201d via Gabrielle Russon for FloridAI \u2014 Buttigieg dived into how effective political campaigns should be using artificial intelligence in \u201csmart but ethical ways\u201d to connect with voters at the Florida Democratic Party\u2019s Leadership Blue conference in Disney World. Buttigieg\u2019s No. 1 rule? Don\u2019t use AI to lie. \u201cI think that AI can be and has been used to deceive people. We saw that in images from the White House manipulating photos to try to make somebody look worse. That is not a good direction for how technology and campaigns should go,\u201d said Buttigieg, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation under President Joe Biden.<\/p>\n \u2014 MORE ELECTIONS \u2014<\/p>\n Watch the ad here<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cDown 30, under $300K, and 30 days out: Michael Kirwan is underwater in CD 4<\/a>\u201d via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics \u2014 Kirwan is telling Northeast Florida that the incumbent is in over his head. Thirty points down, under $300,000, and 30 days out, Kirwan is the one underwater. Start with the new Tyson Group survey of Florida\u2019s 4th Congressional District, which put L.J. Holloway at 41%, Kirwan at 11% and Brit Robinson at 4% among likely Primary voters. Kirwan is down 30. Then there\u2019s the money, which the poll coverage didn\u2019t capture. Kirwan is sitting on less than $300,000 with 30 days to go \u2014 and less than $250,000 of it is even eligible to spend in the Primary, because nearly $50,000 can only be spent in a General Election.<\/p>\n \u201cCory Mills challenger appeals ruling keeping congressman on ballot<\/a>\u201d via Gray Rohrer of The News Service of Florida \u2014\u00a0A Republican challenging U.S. Rep. Mills in a primary is appealing a Leon Circuit Court ruling denying his attempt to knock the incumbent off the ballot. Michael Johnson\u2019s attorney, Anthony Sabatini, filed notice he would appeal the decision from Judge J. Lee Marsh to dismiss his suit. The original lawsuit contended Mills didn\u2019t properly take and notarize his candidate oath as part of the required paperwork for qualifying for the ballot. But Marsh found Johnson couldn\u2019t sue under the state law requiring a candidate oath because it doesn\u2019t give him an avenue to push him from the ballot. The law \u201cdoes not provide Plaintiff with a cause of action to seek the disqualification of another candidate based upon that candidate\u2019s satisfaction of the qualifications process,\u201d Marsh wrote. The appeal comes as voters are returning mail ballots. The original lawsuit was filed June 19, one week after the qualifying period for candidates ended, but a hearing didn\u2019t take place until Friday.<\/p>\n Mike Chitwood endorses Ryan Elijah in CD 7 \u2014 Volusia County Sheriff Chitwood is backing Elijah in the Republican Primary for Florida\u2019s 7th Congressional District. \u201cFor many years, Ryan Elijah has stood strongly with our local law enforcement officers, earning their trust and respect. I am proud to offer him my full endorsement to represent our community in Washington. Ryan is a trusted leader who knows this area well and will fight tirelessly for our families and the men and women in law enforcement who protect them. His steady leadership is exactly what our district needs,\u201d Chitwood said. Elijah is challenging embattled incumbent U.S. Rep. Cory Mills in the Primary for the Central Florida seat, which is also a top target for Democrats this cycle.<\/p>\n Watch Chitwood\u2019s endorsement video here:<\/p>\n \u2014\u201dTom Wright backs Elijah over Mills in CD 7 primary<\/a>\u201d via Fabrizio Gowdy of Florida Politics\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cJim Jordan becomes latest prominent conservative to back \u2018problem solver\u2019 Joe Strada in CD 11<\/a>\u201d via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics \u2014 Strada has landed the endorsement of House Freedom Caucus co-founder Jordan, adding another prominent conservative to his corner in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dan Webster in Florida\u2019s 11th Congressional District. Jordan, an Ohio Republican, cast Strada\u2019s private-sector success as evidence he can deliver results in Washington. \u201cJoe Strada has built the American Dream for countless families in Florida and across this great nation,\u201d Jordan said. \u201cHe\u2019s tackled the skilled worker shortage by building his own training program and graduating students directly into the workforce. Now, more than ever, we need leaders like Joe Strada in Congress, because he is a problem solver who will stand up for our shared Conservative values and with President Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam Cervera backs Michael Carbonara for CD 22 \u2014 Carbonara\u2019s bid for Florida\u2019s 22nd Congressional District has picked up an endorsement from Broward County School Board Member Cervera. \u201cBroward families deserve leaders in Washington who respect parents and put students first,\u201d said Cervera. \u201cMichael Carbonara built businesses from the ground up, is raising his family in our community, and believes decisions about children belong with their parents. He will fight for safe schools, quality education, and an affordable South Florida. I am proud to endorse him.\u201d Carbonara is running in a crowded Primary for the seat, which following redistricting runs nearly coast to coast from Marco Island in Southwest Florida to western portions of Palm Beach and Broward counties. It has no incumbent after Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz opted to instead run in the nearby Florida\u2019s 20th Congressional District.<\/p>\n \u2014\u201cWho\u2019s raising the most money? Search congressional fundraising data for South Florida candidates<\/a>\u201d via David Schutz of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel<\/p>\n \u2014 EVEN MORE ELECTIONS \u2014<\/p>\n Rick Kriseman backs Fentrice Driskell \u2014 Former St. Petersburg Mayor Kriseman is endorsing Driskell, the House Democratic Leader, in her bid for Senate District 16. Kriseman said the current legislative climate makes it critical to back a candidate who can move St. Petersburg, Tampa, and the broader Tampa Bay area forward. \u201cHaving known Fentrice Driskell for many years, I am convinced that she would be the most impactful in the position as our Senator. It is for that reason that I am proud to endorse and support Fentrice Driskell for Senator,\u201d Kriseman said. Driskell also holds the backing of every Democratic Senator to previously hold the seat \u2014 Arthenia L. Joyner, Les Miller, and James Hargrett.<\/p>\n Ashley Gantt touts wave of local endorsements \u2014 Rep. Gantt\u2019s campaign is announcing a fleet of endorsements from mayors and commissioners across Senate District 34 who are joining Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava in backing her campaign. The announcement listed North Miami Mayor Alix Desulme, Miami Gardens Mayor Rodney Harris, Miami Gardens Vice Mayor Robert L. Stephens III, Mayor of North Bay Village Rachel Streitfeld, Opa-locka Mayor John H. Taylor Jr., and Miami Gardens Councilwoman Katrina Wilson. \u201cThe strongest results come when state and local leaders work together, and I\u2019ve always believed in being a responsive, collaborative partner for our cities. In the Florida Senate, I\u2019ll continue working hand in hand with our local governments to expand opportunity, strengthen our neighborhoods, and ensure South Florida gets the resources and representation it deserves,\u201d Gantt said.<\/p>\n Save the date:<\/p>\n \u2014 STATEWIDE \u2014<\/p>\n \u2014@Fineout: Inbox: @GovRonDeSantis<\/a> is in the United Kingdom today for the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. Both this event and the Paris Air Show have been routinely visited by the last two govern<\/p>\n \u201cDeSantis admin offers court proof that \u2018Alligator Alcatraz\u2019 is really closed<\/a>\u201d via Kylie Williams of POLITICO \u2014 DeSantis\u2019 administration filed evidence that the immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as \u201cAlligator Alcatraz\u201d is closed, after a federal Judge required proof that the facility had really shut down. The state offered two declarations, from state employees \u201cintimately familiar\u201d with the status of the facility, who said Alligator Alcatraz no longer exists. One of those testimonies included photographs of the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, which showed a nearly empty airstrip absent of the hastily constructed detention center that was used to hold thousands of people. \u201cAs is readily apparent from the images, the Facility no longer exists, and there are no detainees on site,\u201d wrote Edward Vincent, a supervisor with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.<\/p>\n \u201cHuge jump in new unemployment claims<\/a>\u201d via Drew Dixon of Florida Politics \u2014 After about a month of falling first-time unemployment claims, Florida saw a wild spike in filings for the week ending July 11. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) figures show there were 7,133 first-time jobless claims in the Sunshine State in the second week of July. That figure is up by 2,598 over the 4,535 claims for the week ending July 4. While first-time claims appear to be rising in July, the general unemployment rate for June dropped in Florida. FloridaCommerce, the state\u2019s business development bureau, released the unemployment rate for June on Friday, showing it fell to 4.7%, down from 4.8% in May. While the latest unemployment rate is positive for Florida, the 4.7% state figure is still higher than the national unemployment rate.<\/p>\n \u2014 D.C. MATTERS \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cTrump loomed over the World Cup, up until the awkward trophy ceremony<\/a>\u201d via Dan Merica, Rick Maese and Cat Zakrzewski of The Washington Post \u2014 Trump\u2019s World Cup ended with something he likely loved: being showered in gold. Trump appeared to shake off FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he lingered onstage after presenting Spain their second World Cup trophy ever. Trump was loudly booed as he entered the field after the match, waving to people as he made his way to the stage. Trump had long viewed the tournament as one of the signature events of his term: a chance to showcase his version of the United States to the world, in the middle of a summer that also included America\u2019s 250th anniversary celebrations. Trump appeared to enjoy interacting with the players as he presented them each with medals. \u201cWe have to do this again, and we have to do it while I\u2019m around,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n \u201cAir Force One to be \u2018maxed out\u2019 following questions about security, Trump says<\/a>\u201d via Sammy Westfall of The Washington Post \u2014 Trump said Sunday that the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One will be sent to be \u201cmaxed out\u201d in about a month, amid questions about the jet\u2019s security technology. The FBI opened an investigation of the New York Times, issuing subpoenas to several reporters, after the outlet published reporting citing sources who said the aircraft lacked some of the defensive countermeasures previous planes had, including advanced antimissile capabilities. The Qatari jet is meant to serve as a \u201cbridge\u201d between the older, roughly 35-year-old Air Force One planes and two new Boeing 747s that the company is retrofitting for $3.9 billion. \u201cIt has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they\u2019re going to send it to have it be maxed out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cTrump adds Thomas Jefferson statue to overhaul of White House grounds<\/a>\u201d via Dan Diamond and Olivia George of The Washington Post \u2014 Trump installed a statue of Jefferson in the Rose Garden last week. The bronze, life-size statue depicts the nation\u2019s third president seated with a draft of the Declaration of Independence. The piece brings to five the number of sculptures Trump has installed in the Rose Garden, joining George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton, as well as a sculpture called \u201cFreedom\u2019s Charge,\u201d which honors Revolutionary War soldiers. The White House has not previously disclosed where the statues originated, saying only that they were on loan from \u201cgenerous private American patriots.\u201d It was sculpted by George Lundeen, who said he received a congratulatory call from Trump this month. \u201cWhen you\u2019re a farm boy from the middle of Nebraska, it\u2019s kind of neat to get a call from the president,\u201d said Lundeen.<\/p>\n \u201cAs Jewish Republicans sour on JD Vance, many are rallying behind Marco Rubio for 2028<\/a>\u201d via Joseph Strauss of JTA \u2014 It\u2019s no secret that Vance has lost the confidence of many Jewish Republicans, who have taken issue with the Vice President\u2019s reprimanding of Israeli officials, indulgence of anti-Israel conspiracy theories and silence on Tucker Carlson, the prominent pundit who has turned against Israel. But Vance is still thought by many to be Trump\u2019s likeliest successor at the top of the party\u2019s ticket in 2028, leaving the GOP\u2019s Jewish supporters with the question of whom to back when Trump\u2019s second term ends. \u201cThe overwhelming majority of American Jewish MAGA voters, donors, and policymakers are enthusiastically supporting a Marco Rubio presidential run,\u201d Shabbos Kestenbaum told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. \u201cI look forward to voting for him as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDCCC targets Anna Paulina Luna over WSJ report on political betting<\/a>\u201d via Jesse Mendoza of Florida Politics \u2014 The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is attacking U.S. Rep. Luna following a report that federal regulators are investigating allegations involving advance knowledge of Trump\u2019s 2024 running-mate selection. The Journal reported that Luna told associates during Summer 2024 that she knew Trump would select JD Vance as Vice President. Luna passed the information to conservative influencer Rogan O\u2019Handley so he could place a winning wager on the prediction market Polymarket. The situation is a part of a larger Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) investigation into prediction market betting among Washington insiders, not Luna specifically. \u201cI am honored the WSJ thinks I am telepathic but unfortunately I am not,\u201d Luna said, adding that she would continue advocating against insider trading.<\/p>\n \u2014 LOCAL: S. FL \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cEileen Higgins takes Commission Chair for herself, pushes out Christine King<\/a>\u201d via Tess Riski of Miami Herald \u2014 Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins has designated herself as Chair of the Miami City Commission, effectively removing longtime Chairwoman King from the position. \u201cAs we move into this next chapter, my focus remains squarely on the people of Miami,\u201d Higgins said in a memo. \u201cEvery decision made from this chair will be guided by a simple question: does it make life better, easier, and fairer for the residents we serve?\u201d King had been Chair since 2021, when former Mayor Francis Suarez named her Chair, making her the first woman to hold the position in the city. Then in December, shortly after Higgins was sworn in as the city\u2019s first woman Mayor, Higgins reappointed King to the role. <\/p>\n \u201cThe end of Haitian TPS will create a humanitarian storm in South Florida<\/a>\u201d via Miriam Singer of the Tampa Bay Times \u2014\u00a0While hurricane season has been kind to us so far, we are about to be impacted by a \u201cmajor hurricane\u201d in the form of a humanitarian and healthcare crisis. The Supreme Court\u2019s decision allowing termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian nationals has created immediate uncertainty for tens of thousands of hardworking residents who have built their lives here while caring for some of our most vulnerable seniors and frail residents of all ages. Unless Congress acts quickly, Haitians with TPS status will lose the ability to keep working in jobs our community desperately needs them to fill \u2014 and for organizations like Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) and numerous others, the consequences are immediate, personal and heartbreaking.<\/p>\n \u2014 LOCAL: C. FL \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cLow-income apartments in Orange County bring relief to struggling renters<\/a>\u201d via Michael Cuglietta of the Orlando Sentinel \u2014 The new complex off Orange Blossom Trail offers rent as low as $400 a month for qualified residents but also bright clean apartments with plenty of amenities. It is part of the county\u2019s 10-year plan to create more affordable housing. The need for such units is acute. The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Central Florida is now $1,600, according to Apartments.com, far more than many can afford. The median wage in the Orlando metro area is $48,000, and residents earning that should pay no more than $1,200 a month for housing, according to the Florida Housing Data Clearinghouse at the University of Florida\u2019s Shimberg Center for Housing Studies.<\/p>\n \u201cEx-Titusville police chief John\u00a0Lau cited in June vehicle crash, FHP says<\/a>\u201d via J.D. Gallop of Florida Today \u2014\u00a0Lau, who was fired June 24, was not injured in the late-night crash on the winding road but was taken to a hospital. He also refused to take a drug and alcohol test as mandated by city policy. A partially full bottle of vodka was found in the wreckage as Titusville officers arrived at the site, located along Barna Avenue. The traffic crash, along with Lau\u2019s subsequent firing for failing to follow city policy regarding submitting to a drug test coupled with the ensuing investigation, drew comments from residents and city councilmembers during a July 14 meeting. Some residents questioned why criminal charges were not filed in the case.<\/p>\n \u201cDeveloper asks to remove Pappy\u2019s Patch land from Seminole\u2019s rural boundary<\/a>\u201d via Martin E. Comas of the Orlando Sentinel \u2014 Developer Chris Dorworth has submitted a new request with the county under his group Strawberry Lane LLC to carve out the 67-acre site from the protected area to allow him to move forward with a community of up to 136 single-family homes. Dorworth acknowledges he faces an uphill battle with his latest proposal. \u201cThe applicant files this petition with the candid recognition that the board \u2026 .has rendered the practical likelihood of approval functionally zero,\u201d Dorworth said in his application. Four out of five County Commissioners would have to agree to remove the property out of the rural boundary, an area that covers nearly one third of Seminole\u2019s east side where development is restricted to one home per five acres or one home per 10 acres.<\/p>\n \u2014 LOCAL: TB \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cTSA security to be privatized at Tampa International Airport under new federal program<\/a>\u201d via Alexandra Skores and Tami Luhby of CNN \u2014 In a statement to CNN on Monday, Tampa International Airport said it \u201copted in\u201d to the TSA Gold+ program, a new public\/private partnership screening program. TSA will still have regulatory oversight of the airport\u2019s screening operations, and the checkpoints will have to follow TSA rules, but the employees will be hired and security equipment managed by a company instead of the federal government. Participation in the new program is voluntary and requires airports to apply. The change is targeted for May 31, 2027, a TSA employee in Tampa said they were told during a town hall Monday led by Adam Stahl, acting TSA deputy administrator.<\/p>\n \u201cLakeland is latest Bay area city to consider data center moratorium<\/a>\u201d via Spectrum Bay News 9 \u2014 Members of the Lakeland City Commission heard from residents on Monday about a proposed data center moratorium. If the ordinance passes next month, Lakeland would be the latest local city to ban development for a year. The proposed ordinance would pause approvals for data centers of all sizes. Monday\u2019s meeting followed weeks of pushback after a data center was proposed in Lakeland called Project Swan. It is a planned 600,000-square-foot data center that would use 100 megawatts of power. City leaders have questioned whether Lakeland\u2019s electric grid could support something that big.<\/p>\n \u2014 LOCAL: N. FL \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cMexican man killed by truck as he ran from ICE in St. Augustine identified as tourist<\/a>\u201d via Claire Healy and Syra Ortiz Blanes of the Miami Herald \u2014\u00a0The Mexican man who officials say was killed by a truck last week in St. Augustine while running from immigration officers was identified by a farmworkers\u2019 advocacy group as a father of two on vacation with a valid tourist visa. Juan Jairo Coronilla Duran, 28, was visiting from his hometown of San Luis de La Paz, a small city in the central state of Guanajuato. Officials have yet to confirm his identity.<\/p>\n \u201cDonna Deegan to host town hall series for community input on $2.03B proposed budget<\/a>\u201d via Jonathan Lundy of News4Jax \u2014 Deegan on Monday presented a proposed $2.03 billion budget and announced a citywide series of budget town halls so residents can review priorities and ask questions. \u201cJacksonville is a city on the rise, and our proposed budget continues that momentum,\u201d Deegan said. \u201cEvery spending decision we make is geared to deliver a positive return for our citizens and make Jacksonville more affordable.\u201d The town hall schedule begins 6 p.m. Aug. 5 at Jean Ribault High School followed by Aug. 13 at Julia Landon College Preparatory & Leadership Development School, also at 6 p.m. The Mayor\u2019s office says the town halls are intended to \u201ccontinue the conversation with citizens\u201d about the budget and how it will fund public safety, infrastructure, health and housing programs.<\/p>\n \u201cLaura Dotson can\u2019t have it both ways on beach driving<\/a>\u201d via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics \u2014 Dotson says she is \u201c100%\u201d for beach driving. That is not what she told Nassau County voters a few weeks ago. In audio recorded at a candidate appearance in Callahan, Dotson said the county should \u201cput it back to where it was\u201d so that vehicles are \u201cnot in front of anyone\u2019s home.\u201d Moving them back would re-close close to a mile of beach that the county reopened to drivers last year, after acknowledging in a legal settlement that the old \u201cNo Motor Vehicle\u201d markers had been posted a mile north of the line drawn under state law for roughly 21 years. Then, apparently, the mood of the district caught up with her.<\/p>\n \u201cMan sentenced in shooting that outraged Jacksonville LGBTQ community<\/a>\u201d via Scott Butler of The Florida Times-Union \u2014 A Jacksonville man who shot and partially paralyzed his neighbor in what LGBTQ+ members called a hate crime has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Tyler Getchell, 30, pleaded guilty May 4 to a reduced charge of attempted manslaughter after initially being charged with attempted murder of 24-year-old Kyle McFarlane, court records show. His attorneys filed a 119-page memorandum requesting a downward departure for his sentence, citing he had no prior felony convictions, served in the Navy five years, showed remorse and remained at the scene. McFarlane posted on his Facebook that Getchell will see more time if he doesn\u2019t compensate his medical bills and care. The sentence also included additional measures upon release such as mental health follow-up and no contact with the victim or victim\u2019s family.<\/p>\n \u2014 LOCAL: SW. FL \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cA list nobody wants to top. Southwest Florida now leads foreclosures<\/a>\u201d via Phil Fernandez of the Fort Myers News-Press \u2014 A new midyear report Thursday from ATTOM real estate analytics found Charlotte County posted the highest foreclosure rate of any metropolitan area in the United States during the first six months of 2026, with Lee County sixth. A separate study this month, using slightly different methodology, actually rated Lee worse than Charlotte for the same time period. The ATTOM research come as Southwest Florida continues adjusting to a dramatically different housing environment than the one seen during the pandemic boom.<\/p>\n \u201cSheriff\u2019s election opponent\u2019s son fired from deputy post, appealing<\/a>\u201d via Tomas Rodriguez of the Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News \u2014 Deputy First Class Gabriel Hollow was terminated July 8 after an internal affairs probe found him guilty of insubordination, improper conduct after officials say he falsified documents and improper conduct for careless handling or unintentional abuse of equipment. He began as a Lee County sheriff\u2019s deputy Sept. 8, 2020. Gabriel Hollow is the son of Michael Hollow, one of Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno\u2019s staunchest critics.<\/p>\n \u2014 TOP OPINION \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cTrust local elections officials over Trump and state leaders<\/a>\u201d via the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial boards \u2014 Thursday night, Trump leveled bombshell allegations against a wide array of nations, groups and people he claims are conspiring to undermine the integrity of American elections.<\/p>\n Many of those claims dissolved almost immediately as fact-checkers got to work. But what remained was clear: The factions doing the most to undermine federal, state and local elections are Trump himself and the hyperpartisan state leaders who rushed to redraw congressional district lines and undermine laws meant to protect the sacred principle of one person, one vote.<\/p>\n Most notably, a handful of states focused on redrawing congressional maps to gain partisan advantage, with GOP lawmakers scheming in Florida and Texas, and Democrats pushing through new partisan lines in California.<\/p>\n Some of Florida\u2019s most respected Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Dan Webster (who has represented Central Florida for decades) protested the GOP\u2019s nakedly aggressive new lines.<\/p>\n The real defenders are close to home. Floridians can be proud of the way the state\u2019s 67 county elections supervisors have locked arms in defense of elections security and voter access \u2014 a solidarity that was on splendid display last week as elections leaders from Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties roundtable hosted by the News Collaborative of Central Florida.<\/p>\n Four are Republicans and two are Democrats. Each has a track record of putting vote integrity above partisanship.<\/p>\n \u2014 MORE OPINIONS \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cAn evolving David Jolly on stage in Delray<\/a>\u201d via Steve Bousquet of South Florida Sun-Sentinel \u2014 Fran Eisenberg of Boynton Beach stepped to the microphone and told Jolly: \u201cYou\u2019re on fire!\u201d He had just delivered a long, lively talk to about 400 Palm Beach County voters. The Andre Fladell Civic Center in Delray Beach was packed with enthusiastic people, many in their 60s and 70s. He began an hour-long talk with: \u201cI\u2019m afraid we\u2019re going to win this race!\u201d In Delray, Jolly was more animated, poking fun at himself and talking about missing his two young kids back in Tampa Bay. \u201cIt\u2019s slipping away,\u201d Jolly said. \u201cThis is a state that\u2019s careening toward outright corruption.\u201d The longer Jolly talked in Delray, the louder his voice got and the angrier he sounded. The crowd ate it up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe data center yield: How one project can boost a community<\/a>\u201d via Julio Fuentes for the Tallahassee Democrat \u2014 What would an additional $50 million in annual tax revenue mean for your community? Could it help build a new school? Expand public safety services? Improve roads and bridges? Lower the tax burden on residents? Across the country, communities are answering those questions with revenue generated by data centers. Data centers are no longer an unfamiliar concept. We know they are the infrastructure that powers modern life. From online banking and telehealth to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and remote work, nearly every aspect of the digital world depends on data centers. The question is not whether society will need them. The question is where they will be built and who will benefit from the investment.<\/p>\n \u201cTime for common sense on pesticide liability protections<\/a>\u201d via Anna Paulina Luna for the Tampa Bay Times \u2014 The fastest way to find out who Washington really serves is to threaten the corporate interests it protects. The fight over pesticide liability protections in the Farm Bill was never just about one amendment, but whether Congress would stand with American families and our right to justice, or quietly protect chemical corporations from the consequences of their products (for the right price, of course). I introduced this amendment to the Farm Bill because the provision at issue was indefensible. Pesticide manufacturers were on the verge of receiving liability protections that would have made it harder for Americans to sue them when their products cause harm. Families would have been left with weaker warning labels, fewer safeguards for drinking water, and fewer tools to hold chemical companies accountable.<\/p>\n \u2014 INSTAGRAM OF THE DAY \u2014<\/p>\n \u2014 ALOE \u2014<\/p>\n \u201cTaxWatch\u2019s Dominic Calabro wins top honor<\/a>\u201d via the Tallahassee Democrat \u2014 TaxWatch and its longtime president and CEO, Calabro, who\u2019s now retired, have been selected to receive the Governmental Research Association\u2019s highest honor, the Frederick P. Greenberg Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented July 21 at the association\u2019s national conference in Chicago. Calabro and the organization are the first recipients from Florida to receive the recognition. The Governmental Research Association, founded more than a century ago, is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization of public policy researchers focused on improving government effectiveness, accountability and efficiency through independent research.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/20-MHD-Florida-Politics-V1_1-728x90-1.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/salt-shaker-Large-640x480.jpeg\")
<\/a>The verdict: UNF PORL\u2019s poll passes the salt shaker test.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/tgh_42212_01_PoliticsSponsor_Banner_728x90_L4.jpg\")
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<\/a>Byron Donalds is running 40 points ahead of his closest Primary rival.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/The_Workmans_Alex_Workman_Charlie_Crist_Feb_2026_0290-640x427.jpeg\")
<\/a>Charlie Crist\u2019s lead over incumbent Ken Welch is growing.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Screen-Shot-2026-04-21-at-1.36.59-PM-640x426.png\")
<\/a>Ola Hawatmeh\u2019s internal poll is lacking on sample size, but shows a tight race in CD 19.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ausley-copy-640x360.jpg\")
<\/a>Loranne Ausley is leading but polling suggests the Mayor race will go to the November ballot.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Unknown-e1784493853775.png\")
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<\/a>\u2014 TOP STORY \u2014<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/JOLLY-DONALDS-BLUE-640x360.jpg\")
<\/a>Byron Donalds wants three debates against David Jolly .<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Hurricane-Season-FL-Politics-600x400-2.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/unnamed-640x480.jpg\")
<\/a>David Jolly\u2019s campaign received $1.3 million in the first round of public campaign funding. Image via Gabrielle Russon.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/realtors_ad.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Democratic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Michael-Kirwan-image-via-campaign-640x360.jpg\")
<\/a>Michael Kirwan faces long odds in CD 4.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ad-for-sunburn-margaritaville.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/6.16.25-SINE-DIE-2025-10-Large-640x427.jpg\")
<\/a>Fentrice Driskell landed Rick Kriseman\u2019s endorsement in the contested Primary for SD 16. Image via Colin Hackley<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/IMG_6806-1280x1656.png\")
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<\/a>The DeSantis administration responded to the court\u2019s request for evidence the detention center is shuttered.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Ad-FAV-CFX-Host-Agency.jpg\")
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<\/a>From the first kick to the trophy ceremony, Donald Trump loomed over the World Cup.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/FHA_Innovation_FP-Ads-copy600x400-community.png\")
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<\/a>Eileen Higgins sidelined Christine King and named herself Chair of the Commission.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784621314_809_Jake-Ad-July-2026-600-x-400-px.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/millage-rates-Large-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>A new low-income housing development has brought relief to some Orlando renters.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/300X250RS1.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Tampa-International-Airport-640x360.jpeg\")
<\/a>Tampa International has opted into the \u2018TSA Gold+\u2019 program.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ad-DiCeglie-Delivering-Results_2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Donna-Deegan-640x480.jpg\")
<\/a>Donna Deegan announced a series of town halls to receive public input on the proposed city budget.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Graphic-Abbott-Delivering-Results-600x400jpg.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/foreclosrue333-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a>There are few bright spots in the latest Southwest Florida housing data.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ad-for-sunburn-mdw.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Voting-booth-Large-640x359.jpeg\")
<\/a>Election integrity claims are flaring ahead of the 2026 Midterms.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/600x400.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/large-data-center-640x366.jpeg\")
<\/a>Could data centers have their upsides?<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Cavalry-Florida-Politics-Ad.png\")
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/calabro-e1656718850921-640x496.png\")
<\/a>Dominic Calabro has been selected for the Frederick P. Greenberg Lifetime Achievement Award.<\/p>\n