Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.5.26 — Burnin’ today: Ella, Thiele, Donalds & Jolly, Amendment 3, ICE, Cammack, AI & the Rays

Sunburn — the news you need to succeed in Florida politics. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Good Monday morning. For the first time in the 14 years I have been publishing these birthday messages about our daughter, Ella Joyce, I want to say that she has two full-time working parents. The moment Ella was placed in Michelle's arms, my wife knew her No. 1 job would be raising this very special young lady. She left her career in campaigns and public affairs to be a full-time mother. This year Michelle went back to work. She is running Charlie Crist's campaign for St. Petersburg Mayor. I don't know how that campaign will turn out. With two parents going full bore on the campaign trail, Ella has somehow blossomed even more this past year. Ella Joyce Schorsch turns 14, growing into her own voice while politics remains the family business. She is a strong-willed, deep-thinking, creative, kind, and emotional teenager. She used to be shy and reluctant to speak in public. Now she is often at her mother's side at campaign events. Sometimes she speaks to the crowd. She is still our little girl. She still enjoys playing in her room, riding her horse, laughing, listening to music, and screaming at the top of her lungs about some heartthrob she's obsessed with. Thank you for allowing us to share a part of our daughter with you. Many of you have watched her grow up. This past year, she has been at Crist campaign events, at the White House Christmas party, and in the St. Pete Pride Parade. She is rightly embarrassed that her parents have Charlie's face on a 10-foot banner in front of her home. She knows politics is the family business. She will never admit it, but she is destined to do great, great things, probably in the public sphere. We could not be prouder of her. ___ Here’s some more news we are particularly happy to share: Our good friend Herbie Thiele is betting on himself. After years as a partner at Sachs Media — and nearly two decades working at the intersection of communications, politics and public policy — Herbie is launching Herbie Thiele Consulting, his own government affairs and strategic advisory shop. “I have worked in and around the legislative process for my entire career, closely observing how issues move and how lobbyists build support for their clients,” he says. Herbie Thiele bets on himself, launching a government affairs and strategic advisory firm bearing his name. If you know Herbie, the move makes perfect sense. “Along the way, I have embraced what I’m genuinely good at, and love doing — connecting communications strategy with policy outcomes,” he says. There are plenty of good lobbyists in Tallahassee. There are plenty of good communicators, too. What has always made Herbie valuable is that he understands both sides of the equation. Herbie will lobby before the Legislature, bringing 18 years of experience on financial, water and local government issues to the new venture. And he isn’t exactly leaving the family: He’ll remain affiliated with Sachs Media, co-locating there and serving as of counsel. Senate Majority Leader Jim Boyd calls Herbie “a person of integrity who knows how to navigate the process and build support for issues.” Sunburn loves a good personnel note, but we like this one a little more than most. Ron Sachs, his former employer and longtime mentor, put it well: “This next step is a natural one for him.” We agree. Herbie has the relationships, instincts and chops to make this work. Congratulations, our friend. Go crush it. ___ Brian Clark, Budget Chief of the Florida House Health Care Budget Subcommittee for the past eight years, is joining PinPoint Results, the Tallahassee lobbying and grants consulting firm, to handle appropriations advocacy for its clients. Clark has spent 30 years in public service, most of it in healthcare financing and Medicaid funding. He worked in the Medicaid office at the Agency for Health Care Administration before PinPoint President and Partner Robert Beck, then the Governor's Budget Director, brought him into the Office of Policy and Budget two decades ago. Brian Clark takes three decades of public service and budget expertise to PinPoint Results. "Brian is a budget unicorn, incredibly knowledgeable across all areas of Florida's budget, and importantly, a genuinely good and decent human being, making him a perfect fit with our firm," Managing Partner Tanya Jackson said. Speaker-designate Sam Garrison has worked with Clark for years. "Brian Clark has been a great friend and an incredible asset to the Florida House, and I congratulate him in his new role with the PinPoint Team," Garrison said. Clark joins a team that includes Beck, Jackson, Jason Maine, Bryan Cherry, former House Speaker Pro Tempore Marti Coley, Andrea Gheen, and Vance Coley.

Situational awareness   —@RealDonaldTrump: Following the Historic White House Accord on Super Intelligence, where the World's most important Technology Companies came together and confirmed their responsibilities to the American People, I am announcing the formation of the Super Intelligence Force (SIF). The Super Intelligence Force is tasked with coordinating the effort of the Federal Government to ensure that America continues to lead the World in Super Intelligence, which many say is bigger than the Industrial Revolution and the Internet, and will protect the interests and improve the lives of all Americans. The Super Intelligence Force will coordinate the Federal Government's engagement with Consumers, Public Interest Groups, Religious Organizations, Critical Infrastructure Providers, and Super Intelligence Companies, and will be led by Director of National Intelligence, Jay Clayton, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Ferguson, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, and Chief Technology Officer, Emil Michael, and Director of the Office of Personnel Management, Scott Kupor, and will report to the President of the United States (ME!) and the Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles. —@SenTomCotton: No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Saving Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the Winter. Arkansans don’t want their kids going to school in the pitch dark, and I’ll always put Arkansas first Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet:

Days until   ‘The Social Reckoning,' with Jeremy Strong, Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison, premieres — 4; Associated Industries of Florida one-on-one conversations with five top-of-ticket Republicans — 7; 'VisionQuest' premieres — 9; 'The Diplomat' season 4 premieres — 10; Optional General early voting begins — 14; 'Six Kings Slam' on Netflix — 16; Florida TaxWatch Fiscal Accountability Leadership Summit begins — 16; General Election ballot request deadline — 17; Mandatory General early voting begins — 19; General Election — 29; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 32; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 32; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 37; 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' starring Johnny Depp premieres — 39; 'Paper Tiger' starring Adam Driver premieres — 39; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America’ is released — 43; New legislator training sessions — 43; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 43; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 46; ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres — 51; ‘Madden’ premieres — 52; Committee Week #1 — 56; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 74; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 74; Committee Week #2 — 91; Committee Week #3 — 98; 'Ahsoka' season 2 premieres — 107; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 112; Committee Week #4 — 119; Grammys — 125; Committee Week #5 — 126; 'Remain,' directed by M. Night Shyamalan, premieres — 132; Super Bowl LXI — 132; Committee Week #6 — 133; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 148; Tampa Mayoral Election — 148; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 151; Oscars — 160; Jacksonville First Election — 169; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 171; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 171; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 191; Jacksonville General Election — 225; 'Star Wars: Starfighter' premieres — 235; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 243; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 284; 'The Bluey Movie' premieres — 305; ‘Miami Vice’ reboot premieres — 305; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 340; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 438; 2028 South Carolina Presidential Primary — 474; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 476; 2028 Nevada Presidential Primary — 484; 2028 New Hampshire Presidential Primary — 491; 2028 New Mexico Presidential Primary — 498; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 501; 2028 Michigan Presidential Primary — 505; 2028 Virginia Presidential Primary — 512; Oscars — 517; 'X-Men' premieres — 578; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 599; 'Days of Thunder' sequel with Cruise and Anne Hathaway premieres — 606; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 620; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 648; 'Ghost Rider' premieres — 662; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 764; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 802; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 840; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,164; College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami — 1,204; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,895.

Top story   "Democrats dream of putting Florida back in play. Are they squandering their chance?" via Steve Contorno of CNN — The money has not followed the enthusiasm. Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds and an aligned political committee had raised more than $134 million as of Sept. 25, dwarfing Democratic opponent David Jolly's $16.6 million. The various arms of the Democratic Party have largely remained on the sidelines in both statewide contests. Liberal donors have also skipped the state so far. Jolly and Democrats have purchased just $3 million of airtime, according to the campaign tracking firm AdImpact. "We're not going to be able to scale up the way he has," Jolly said. "It's a function of money. He has a lot of money." David Jolly and Byron Donalds enter the homestretch with a sizable fundraising gap separating their campaigns. With limited resources, Democrats have prioritized other battlegrounds, including a costly fight over a Texas Senate seat. "Florida is dessert," said Orlando megadonor John Morgan. "Texas is meat." Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has offered the most tangible assistance, giving Jolly's political committee $50,000 last month, a fraction of the $65 million he has funneled into his own re-election. Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohue said the organization is "ready to capitalize on any opportunity to make a real difference in this race in the final stretch" but stopped short of committing real dollars. Steve Schale, the veteran Democratic strategist behind Barack Obama's Florida campaigns, called his party's approach short-sighted, saying a failure to invest this November makes it harder to compete in the 2028 Presidential race. "We've had success in Florida more often than anywhere else in the Sun Belt," Schale said. As of mid-September, Jolly's political committee had received 18 donations of six figures or more. Donalds' committee reported more than 300. "I worry about an environment where he skates through with no scrutiny," Jolly said. "But we can only control what we can control."

2026   “David Jolly’s ‘Ted Lasso’ pitch collides with Byron Donalds’ cash advantage” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Jolly is pitching himself as Florida politics’ “Ted Lasso,” promising a less coarse approach while sharpening attacks on Donalds. But fundraising remains the Democrat’s biggest obstacle. Jolly raised more than $1.05 million during the week ending Sept. 25, including state matching funds and $100,000 donations from two law firms. Donalds, meanwhile, has raised more than $135 million between his campaign and political committee — roughly eight times Jolly’s total — including a recent $1 million contribution from healthcare executive Brian Colleran. Jolly insists his campaign will remain on television through Election Day, while Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried says national donors are taking a closer look. Without additional resources, however, Jolly faces an increasingly difficult paid-media battle. David Jolly is gaining momentum, but Byron Donalds still has the much bigger campaign checkbook. “Donalds’ donors hear warning: Florida race is a battle” via Alex Leary of The Wall Street Journal — Donalds’ campaign is privately confronting a tighter Governor’s race than once expected, with donors getting a candid assessment at a retreat at Miami Beach’s Fontainebleau. Donalds told supporters over a steak dinner the contest against Jolly had become a battle, while pollster Tony Fabrizio cautioned against expecting a blowout. The campaign has discussed creating modest distance from President Donald Trump to reach General Election voters, and Trump reportedly became concerned after prominent references to him disappeared from Donalds’ website. Aides reassured Trump by showing him a Donalds social media post from the Oval Office. Donalds is now emphasizing Gov. Ron DeSantis’ endorsement while planning appearances with Trump during the campaign’s closing stretch. “Jolly calls for ‘public education renaissance’ in Sarasota” via Kerry Sheridan of WUSF — Jolly used a Sarasota campaign stop to promise a “renaissance” in public education, proposing a 30% teacher pay raise and a decade of reinvestment in schools. Jolly said Florida should reconsider how roughly $1 billion in tourist development taxes are spent, arguing education faces a greater crisis than convention centers. The former Republican also pledged to restore books and fuller history instruction and reduce political influence over higher education leadership. His appearance came after Sarasota voters flipped their School Board by electing Megan Tennimon and Beth Mayberry, while Jimmy Glover heads to a runoff for the remaining seat. Jolly said changing political affiliations reflects growth, not weakness, as he campaigns against Republican Donalds for Governor in November. “Donalds, Jolly bring Governor’s race to Suncoast” via Ellie Davis of WWSB — Florida’s Governor’s race is intensifying on the Suncoast, with Donalds and Jolly sharpening contrasting messages as Election Day approaches. Donalds is touring Florida on his “Defending the Florida Dream” campaign, emphasizing low taxes, limited regulation and tough-on-crime policies while arguing Republican leadership has fueled the state’s growth. Jolly, meanwhile, used a Sarasota appearance to emphasize public education, affordability and state spending priorities, including redirecting some tourism tax revenue toward schools. Donalds is scheduled to bring his tour to Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch, while Jolly campaigns statewide. The race gives Southwest Florida voters an unusually close look at both nominees as they compete over Florida’s economic direction, education system and the affordability pressures confronting families. "Angie Nixon slams JD Vance after he says she doesn't 'belong in America'" via Ana Goni Lessan of The News Service of Florida — Vance told a Lakeland crowd that state Rep. Nixon doesn't "belong in America," drawing a sharp rebuke from the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate. "The most ordinary man imaginable came to my home state to tell me to 'get out of America' while he & Absent Ashley enjoyed the comfort of buildings my ancestors helped build," Nixon wrote. "Imagine standing on the shoulders of the people who built this country & then telling their descendants they don't belong here." JD Vance brings the Midterm campaign trail to Lakeland. Image via Reuters. “$1.5M hurricane campaign puts Blaise Ingoglia in election-season spotlight” via Greg Fox of WESH 2 — CFO Ingoglia is facing accusations that a nearly $1.5 million taxpayer-funded hurricane preparedness campaign doubles as election-year promotion. Democratic challenger Annette Taddeo says the television PSAs, which began airing shortly after the August Primary Election, amount to taxpayer-funded political advertising. Department of Financial Services records show Strategic Digital Services received $1,499,860 for the campaign, while the ads direct viewers to a state website featuring Ingoglia’s photo. Integrity Florida’s Ben Wilcox questioned using public money in ways that could benefit an incumbent, and UCF political scientist Aubrey Jewett said the spots skirt the line between public service and campaigning. Ingoglia’s office says the ads provide hurricane information intended to protect Floridians. “Democrats target insurers’ hidden profits in Cabinet races” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — Democratic CFO candidate Annette Taddeo and Attorney General candidate José Javier Rodríguez are making insurance transparency a campaign issue after reporting uncovered a secret state-funded study of insurer finances. The 2022 analysis found that property insurers reported $432 million in losses from 2017 through 2019 while paying $1.3 billion to affiliated companies, with 20 insurers flagged for payments presumed not to be fair and reasonable. Taddeo wants insurer report cards showing claims performance and how premiums flow to affiliates. Rodríguez promises aggressive enforcement and recovery of money unfairly or illegally taken from policyholders. Republican CFO Ingoglia and Attorney General James Uthmeier counter that their records already demonstrate efforts to increase transparency and protect insurance consumers .

More elections   “Leela Gray gains ground, but Anna Paulina Luna has seen this movie before” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — Democrat Gray is turning Florida’s 13th Congressional District into a race worth watching, with four ratings shifts toward Democrats in nine days and a $1.4 million third-quarter fundraising haul. Inside Elections now rates Luna’s seat Lean Republican, joining other forecasters seeing a tighter contest. But history offers a warning for Democrats: Luna’s previous opponents Eric Lynn and Whitney Fox posted encouraging polls and fundraising numbers before losing by roughly 9 points. Gray has one Democratic-aligned poll showing her ahead, while Luna’s internal polling gives the incumbent an 8-point advantage. Redistricting also strengthened Republicans, with Trump carrying the new District by 13 points in 2024. Leela Gray is making Anna Paulina Luna work for a seat Republicans once considered theirs safely. "Kathy Castor raises $2.5M in Q3, more than her first six quarters combined" via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — U.S. Rep. Castor raised more than $2.5 million in the third quarter. That is more than she collected in the first six quarters of the cycle combined. The quarter pushes her total past $4.5 million from 11,901 donors. None of it is her own money. The Republican nominee is Mike Beltran, a Riverview lawyer who served three terms in the Florida House. "This quarter's fundraising sends a clear message: Tampa voters want Kathy Castor to keep fighting for them to lower costs, crack down on corruption, and stand up to the powerful interests making life more expensive for working families," said Castor Campaign Manager Sarah Green. “Castor, Mike Beltran clash as CD 14 becomes battleground” via Shauna Muckle of the Tampa Bay Times — Castor and Beltran offered voters sharply different choices during a heated radio debate in one of the nation’s few congressional toss-ups. Castor attacked Florida’s mid-decade redistricting as illegal and criticized the state’s six-week abortion ban, while Beltran defended the new map and challenged Castor’s record on abortion. The candidates also sparred over socialism, immigration and Israel, repeatedly portraying each other as outside the District’s mainstream. The stakes are unusually high for Castor, a 20-year incumbent whose once-safe Democratic seat was redrawn into a District Trump carried by more than 10 points in 2024. Beltran, a former state Representative, emerged from a crowded Republican Primary and now has a genuine opportunity to flip the Tampa-area seat. "Pia Dandiya stresses her background as an educator, but more recently worked as lobbyist for Apple" via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — CD 21 Democratic candidate Dandiya's official biography describes her first as a "teacher, high school principal, and mom," and a campaign video labels a school library as "this educator's kind of data center." But critics say that story belongs in the fiction section. "Pia is proud of her career in both public service and the private sector — from educator and principal to her work at Apple helping schools, hospitals, and government use technology to better serve people. Trying to tie that work to data centers simply doesn't match the facts," said Madison Palmer, Dandiya's Campaign Manager. "How a provocative ad on Donald Trump and immigration stirred a House race" via Patricia Mazzei of The New York Times — To hear U.S. Rep. María Elvira Salazar explain it, few should have been surprised to see her in a television ad telling Trump that his immigration crackdown had "gone too far." She had been saying much of the same for months. But the ad struck a nerve, angering Trump and his allies and perhaps emboldening other Republicans hoping to distance themselves from the crackdown. Salazar won re-election to Florida's 27th Congressional District by about 20 percentage points in 2024, and Trump carried it with around 57% of the vote. Few had considered it competitive this year. The ad also boosted interest in Eliott Rodriguez, her Democratic rival, a fellow Cuban American former broadcast journalist. House Majority PAC has reserved about $4.2 million in ad spending to try to flip the seat. Former U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala, who lost to Salazar in 2020, said the cumulation of problems means Salazar is "in trouble." TO SEE MORE SUNBURN CLICK HERE