Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 11.4.26 — Burnin’ today: Donalds & Jolly, Trump, Senate shake-up, Amendment 1, Book, Crist, Democratic flips & Space Lasers

The first word in Florida politics — Sunburn ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Good Wednesday morning. Well, that escalated quickly. What began as a Midterm referendum on the cost of living became a reckoning for Republicans. Democrats captured the U.S. Senate, moved toward a House majority, and showed that even the reddest terrain isn't immune to an unhappy electorate. The Senate map tells the story. Democrats won in Texas, Kansas, Iowa and South Carolina, while Sherrod Brown reclaimed an Ohio seat and Roy Cooper prevailed in North Carolina. Those are not merely good Democratic nights. They are the kinds of results that redraw assumptions about politics. President Donald Trump spent weeks campaigning across the country, but his presence couldn't reverse the tide. Afterward, he said he wasn't on the ballot. Technically true. Politically, that argument ignores how he made this election about his presidency. Voters offered a simpler explanation: everything costs too much. The Associated Press found dissatisfaction with the economy, inflation and government corruption. Add the war in Iran, and Republicans were defending a Washington status quo that voters had little interest in defending. Voters have plenty to say about prices, and the ballot box delivers their message. Image via REUTERS/Jonathan Drake. Florida offered a more complicated picture. Byron Donalds won the Governor's Mansion; Ashley Moody kept her Senate seat, and Republicans retained statewide strength. Yet competitive congressional races and Democratic gains down-ballot challenged the idea that Florida's political map is permanently settled. That distinction matters. Florida did not turn blue. But the national backlash reached places Republicans had long considered theirs. A party can maintain statewide dominance while losing its grip on districts, suburban voters and the arguments that once carried it through difficult elections. Democrats should resist treating this as a blank check. Their favorability numbers remain unimpressive. Voters did not embrace every Democratic proposal; they demanded relief, accountability, and evidence that Washington understands what households face when bills arrive, and paychecks do not stretch far enough. The result is divided government and a much harder final two years for Trump. The lesson extends beyond Washington: political loyalty has limits, redistricting cannot solve every problem, and voters eventually demand results. Tuesday was not subtle. Whether either party listens is the next election story.

Situational awareness   —@MattGorman: It’s hard to explain to folks who haven’t worked in politics what a weird and boring day Election Day actually is … —@MerriamWebster: pole = 💈 poll = 🗳️ —@AlanMCole: I’ve seen enough. I don’t have an election call or anything. I’ve just seen enough. —@igorbobic: What I'm hearing: turnout high among memo writers for Interested Parties —@rachelmbaede: It's nights like tonight I really miss Tweetdeck! —@Jtuckermartin: Drove all the way to my local polling place and there was literally nowhere on my ballot to vote against a 24-team College Football Playoff and a 76-team NCAA Basketball Tournament. Had to write it all in —@BobMcClure: A very challenging national environment for Rs — a lot of self-inflicted wounds too — but the “Free State of Florida” defies the odds and shines brightly as a beacon of liberty. Sweeps the statewide Tweet, tweet: —@RonDeSantis: Florida sweeps again — congrats to the statewide ticket: Byron Donalds, Gov James Uthmeier, AG Blaise Ingoglia, CFO Wilton Simpson, Ag Comm. —@JamesUthmeier: Tonight, Florida voted to keep our state safe, strong, and free. Grateful for your trust. We’ll keep locking up child predators, backing law enforcement, and defending your God-given rights. The Free State of Florida stays free. Thank you. The work continues! —@RonDeSantis: Amendment 1 — a testament to our failed former Speaker of the House — is deservedly going down in flames. Good riddance. —@KathyCastor: THANK YOU, FL-14! This victory is proof that no amount of money, politics, or gerrymandering can replace the trust earned by showing up, listening, and delivering for the people we serve. Now, it's time to get back to work. —@JaneCastor: Congratulations, Mayor-elect @CharlieCrist! Your love for St. Pete shines bright, and I look forward to working together to make Tampa Bay even greater. —@CordByrd: I am so honored to lead an amazing elections team @FLSecofState and to work with our 67 Supervisors of Elections. Every election presents unique challenges, and this one was no different. From torrential rains to an alligator in a parking lot, we handle it all. We proved again today that no one does elections better than Florida! —@LennyCurry: If you are a local Florida elected official and not on this ballot and you were against property tax cuts — You are on notice.

Days until   ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 2; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 2; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 7; 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' starring Johnny Depp premieres — 9; 'Paper Tiger' starring Adam Driver premieres — 9; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America,’ is released — 13; New legislator training sessions — 13; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 13; ‘Madden’ premieres — 14; ‘I PLAY ROCKY’ premieres — 16; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 16; 'Blade Runner 2099' premieres on Prime Video — 21; ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres in IMAX — 21; Committee Week #1 — 26; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 44; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 44; 'Six Kings Slam 2026' begins — 53; Committee Week #2 — 61; Committee Week #3 — 68; 'Ahsoka' season 2 premieres — 77; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 82; Committee Week #4 — 89; The 2027 Florida State Fair begins — 92; 'Remain,' directed by M. Night Shyamalan, premieres — 93; Grammys — 95; Committee Week #5 — 96; Super Bowl LXI — 102; Committee Week #6 — 103; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 118; Tampa Mayoral Election — 118; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 121; Jacksonville First Election — 125; Oscars — 130; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 141; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 141; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 161; Jacksonville General Election — 195; 'Star Wars: Starfighter' premieres — 205; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 226; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 254; 'The Bluey Movie' premieres — 275; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 310; 2027 Florida-Georgia game in Tampa — 360; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 408; 2028 South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary — 444; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 446; 2028 Nevada Presidential Primary — 454; 2028 New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary — 461; 2028 New Mexico Democratic Presidential Primary — 468; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 471; 2028 Michigan Democratic Presidential Primary — 475; 2028 Virginia Democratic Presidential Primary — 482; Oscars — 487; 'X-Men' premieres — 548; ‘Miami Vice '85’ reboot premieres — 562; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 569; 'Days of Thunder' sequel with Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway premieres — 576; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 590; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 618; 'Ghost Rider' premieres — 632; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 734; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 772; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 810; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,143; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,871.

Top story   “Voters punish Donald Trump as Democrats sweep across the country and threaten Republican control of Congress” via Steve Peoples, Bill Barrow and Linley Sanders of The Associated Press — Voters delivered a sweeping rebuke of Trump, handing Democrats victories across battleground states and Republican strongholds while threatening GOP control of Congress. The results reflected widespread frustration with rising costs, Trump's leadership and the country's direction. Democrats captured major victories in Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. Keisha Lance Bottoms became Georgia's first Black woman Governor, while Gina Hinojosa became Texas' first Latina Governor. Democrats reached majorities in both chambers of Congress. Donald Trump finds the Midterm verdict considerably less flattering than the campaign trail. Image via The Associated Press. The AP Voter Poll revealed deep dissatisfaction: Roughly three-quarters of voters expressed anger or frustration with the country's direction. Six in 10 disapproved of Trump, while about 70% wanted Congress to impose stronger checks on the President. Trump's electoral coalition eroded significantly. Seven in 10 voters under 30 backed Democratic House candidates, while Hispanic voters shifted decisively away from Republicans. Economic concerns fueled the backlash, with most voters blaming administration policies for higher prices. Republican redistricting efforts also appeared to backfire. In Florida, Democrats Jared Moskowitz, Pia Dandiya and Kathy Castor prevailed in congressional districts Republicans had redrawn to favor GOP candidates. Democrat Angie Nixon lost her Senate contest despite exceeding expectations. Democrats nevertheless face significant challenges. Half of voters viewed their party unfavorably, exposing persistent ideological divisions. Tuesday's results strengthened moderates while raising fundamental questions about Trump's remaining influence and the political landscape heading toward 2028. ___ “Republicans lose Senate as Trump suffers devastating Midterm defeat” via Herb Scribner of Axios — Democrats seized control of the U.S. Senate after stunning victories across traditionally Republican states, delivering a devastating rebuke to Trump. Republican losses in Texas, Kansas and South Carolina highlighted a nationwide backlash that also placed Democratic control of the House within reach. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico defeated Trump-backed Ken Paxton, while Gina Hinojosa unseated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Kansas Democrat Adam Hamilton ended 94 years of Republican Senate dominance. South Carolina Democrat Annie Andrews defeated incumbent Darline Graham, another extraordinary upset. Democrats also flipped Senate seats in Iowa, Maine and Ohio. Josh Turek defeated Ashley Hinson in Iowa, Troy Jackson ousted Susan Collins in Maine, and Sherrod Brown defeated Jon Husted in Ohio. Democratic victories in North Carolina, Georgia and Minnesota further cemented the party's sweeping gains. Trump, who made himself central to Republican campaigns, responded with anger and recriminations. He attacked Fox News polling, criticized losing candidates and posted a red hat emblazoned with “VETO.” Nevertheless, Trump acknowledged the results and suggested cooperation with Democrats might be possible. The election also produced historic milestones. Chris Pappas became the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, while Juliana Stratton's Illinois victory ensured three Black women would serve simultaneously for the first time. Voters cited the cost of living and government corruption as top concerns. Democratic Senate control now threatens Trump's legislative agenda while opening the door to congressional investigations, subpoenas and intensified oversight during his remaining presidency.

Statewide   “Byron Donalds makes history as Florida’s first Black Governor, defeats David Jolly in closer-than-expected race” via Skyler Swisher of the Orlando Sentinel — Republican Donalds defeated Democrat Jolly to become Florida’s first Black Governor, extending Republicans’ three-decade grip on the Governor’s Mansion despite a surprisingly competitive contest. With 99% of votes counted, Donalds led by approximately 117,000 votes, and The Associated Press called the race at 9:09 p.m. Donalds credited Trump, whose early endorsement helped propel his candidacy, and promised to govern for Floridians regardless of their votes. The Republican raised more than $173 million, dwarfing Jolly’s approximately $27 million. Jolly, a former Republican Congressman who joined the Democratic Party in 2025, hoped to end Democrats’ gubernatorial losing streak dating to Lawton Chiles’ 1994 victory. He conceded but argued his campaign had assembled an emerging coalition. Donalds pledged to continue Gov. Ron DeSantis’ conservative agenda, including school choice, gun rights and immigration enforcement. The candidates clashed over property insurance, education, healthcare, and data centers but never met for a televised debate. Donalds supported the successful Amendment 3 property tax initiative. Republicans also swept Florida’s other statewide contests, although Moody faced a closer-than-expected challenge from Democrat Nixon. Byron Donalds made Florida history, even as the national tide ran the other way. “Ashley Moody defeats Angie Nixon to retain U.S. Senate seat” via Nina Moske of the Tampa Bay Times — Republican U.S. Sen. Moody defeated Democratic state Rep. Nixon, securing the seat DeSantis appointed her to in 2025 after Marco Rubio became Secretary of State. The Associated Press called the race at 8:36 p.m., with Moody leading 50.8% to 48.1%. A former Attorney General and Hillsborough County Judge, Moody emphasized conservative priorities and national security. Nixon, a Jacksonville progressive and former union organizer, campaigned on affordability and working-class concerns. Moody enjoyed a substantial financial advantage, raising approximately $20.6 million compared with Nixon’s $8.5 million through September. The victory preserves Republican control of the seat despite Nixon’s competitive showing and energized Democratic fundraising. TO SEEMORE SUNBURN CLICK HERE