Delegation for 10.16.26: Guard shortage — Trump returns — diesel diplomacy — party lines — AI deception

From Florida to Capitol Hill ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Guard allotment   After another powerful hurricane hit the state, members of Florida’s congressional delegation say the need for more National Guardsmen in Florida is clearer than ever. Sen. Ashley Moody and Rep. Vern Buchanan led a bicameral letter to War Secretary Pete Hegseth urging a full review of the Florida National Guard’s authorized force structure and total allocation of troops, noting the state’s contingent “carries one of the heaviest operational burdens in the nation with one of the smallest per-capita allocations.” Hurricane Isaias leaves its mark on Pensacola Beach, renewing calls for more National Guard troops. Image via The New York Times. “In the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias, we saw once again just how critical the Florida National Guard is to keep our communities safe — but while Florida’s population has grown in recent years, the size of our National Guard has not kept pace,” said Moody, a Plant City Republican. “That’s why I’m leading an effort to increase the number of Guardsmen allocated to our state. Florida’s National Guard is always there when we need them. We need to make sure they have the personnel and resources to continue answering the call.” An inequitable spread of Guardsmen positions has long been a complaint of Florida officials from both sides of the aisle. About 5,000 members of the Florida National Guard were activated to respond after Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Destin last week, out of a total allotment of around 12,000. An Adjutant General told the Florida Legislature in 2021 that Florida’s population should have 20,000. Buchanan, the Republican co-chair of the delegation, said a reallotment is overdue, pointing to estimates that put Florida’s per-capita allotment 53rd out of 54 states and territories. That’s despite the state's greater need as a disaster-exposed state. “Floridians have seen time and time again the importance of our National Guard in stepping up for our families and communities,” said Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican. “As an Air National Guard veteran, I have witnessed firsthand how our Guardsmen answer the call every time disaster strikes, but Florida’s Guard has not grown to keep pace with our growing population. They deserve the personnel and resources to match the mission, and I urge the Department of War to give Florida the force structure it needs to continue keeping our communities safe. Reps. Aaron Bean, Gus Bilirakis, Mario Diaz-Balart, Neal Dunn, Randy Fine, Scott Franklin, Carlos Giménez, Mike Haridopolos, Laurel Lee, Cory Mills, Jimmy Patronis and John Rutherford, all Republicans, also signed onto the letter. “Florida’s strategic value to the Department of War is unmatched. It plays a critical role in allowing the Joint Force to achieve the administration’s goals set forth in the National Defense Strategy,” the letter reads. “This is especially true when it comes to homeland defense and ensuring American dominance across the Western Hemisphere. As such, Florida’s impact on executing the objectives of the administration’s priorities is both real and tangible.” Plus, lawmakers said it would not be a challenge to fill positions in Florida given the chance. “Florida also offers the Department something that cannot be found in many other states: a deep, willing recruiting base and a demonstrated propensity to serve,” the letter states. “State military leadership has publicly stated that Florida draws from a recruitable population larger than that of twenty-eight states and can fill the ranks if given the authorization.”

Financial recovery   Patronis, during a briefing in Okaloosa County, spoke to residents who evacuated the region about how to deal with the storm's effects on their property. He said it’s important to start conversations with insurance early, before signing any deals with contractors and potentially unlicensed scammers. The Fort Walton Beach Republican appeared alongside Sen. Rick Scott in Destin after both had toured damage areas earlier this week. Patronis, a former Florida Chief Financial Officer, represents the area that took the brunt of Hurricane Isaias damage. Rick Scott surveys Hurricane Isaias damage, where recovery comes with a warning about insurance scams. “Your insurance carriers have been very good about doing pre-event emails. I got emails from my carrier saying, ‘Hey, a storm has hit.” Can we help you file a claim?’ So, look for those emails,” the Fort Walton Beach Republican said. “They will hold your hand and walk you through the process. My carrier even has a smart app where you can take photos of the damage and upload it, where you're kind of your own adjuster.” He also reiterated that individuals shouldn’t sign anything, and that doing so could create financial issues on top of the burdens already created by property damage. “Friends, please err on the side of caution and do not sign anything. I can't state that enough. There is not a single signature ever required to get a single dollar from your insurance company. Do not sign anything. As long as you're doing that, you allow your insurance company to assess the damage, get you your money, and you start the rebuilding process,” Patronis said. “These predators know that there's poor communication right now. They know that power is down. And you know what? They know you're vulnerable. And it's sad because they're going to come, and they're going to be so courteous and nice. They're going to be carrying gas cans. They're going to have cases of water. They're going to try to get you to drop your guard. Do not take the bait. They're nice people, but they are not truly true to their word. They're just trying to make a living, and they're trying to do it off of your naivety and your own generosity because they feel like, you know, we all need help. But understand, as you'll see, what are called insurance villages that'll pop up in the region.”

Homecoming   President Donald Trump will rally voters in his home state ahead of the Midterm elections. The commander in chief will hold an event in Fort Myers on Oct. 23. A venue will be announced later, and tickets will be available online through the Republican National Committee. Doors will open for the rally at 10:30 a.m., with programming beginning around 12:30 p.m. Trump is expected to take the stage and address the crowd at 2 p.m. Donald Trump returns to Florida, hoping to give Republicans a Midterm boost. Image via AP. Florida, Trump’s official state of residency, has a considerable number of competitive federal elections this year. That includes a Senate race in which Moody faces Democratic challenger Angie Nixon, as well as a nationally watched race for Governor between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly. The event will be in Donalds’ current Congressional District. Polls show both races within the margin of error, despite Republicans holding a large voter registration edge. While Southwest Florida is reliably Republican, higher turnout would help the top-of-ticket contests and GOP candidates in three other statewide races. There are also two open congressional races in the immediate area around Fort Myers. In one, Republican Jim Schwartzel is heavily favored to beat Democrat Victor Arias for Florida’s 19th Congressional District, currently represented by Donalds. Meanwhile, there’s a heated race for the open seat representing Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, Republican Casey Askar or Democrat Pia Dandiya, and both parties are heavily backing their respective nominees. Besides that, Republicans, emboldened by a new congressional map, have targeted three Democratic House incumbents. Republicans would love Trump’s visit to drive support for challengers Mike Beltran against U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Dan Green against Rep. Darren Soto and Scott Singer against Rep. Jared Moskowitz. But they’d also like the rally to bolster some at-risk incumbents, with House Democrats targeting Reps. Bilirakis, Anna Paulina Luna and María Elvira Salazar, and to help retain open seats in Florida’s 7th and 16th Congressional Districts.

Democrats mobilizing   A few days before the presidential visit, Rep. Maxwell Frost will be among the headliners for a Students in Solidarity at the University of Florida in Orlando, where he will share the stage with Nixon, whom he endorsed in a Primary, and with Rep. Ro Khanna of California and state Rep. Anna Eskamani. The event aims to mobilize young voters around progressive causes and to participate in the Midterms. “A handful of billionaires and corporate special interests have rigged our economy and our politics. Young people are paying the price, but this generation also has the power to change it,” reads the mobilize page where individuals can RSVP for the event. Maxwell Frost rallies young voters, bringing progressive politics to the college crowd. “A Future Without War. Medicare for All of Us. Jobs for Us, Not AI. An Education, Not a Debt Sentence. Our Democracy, Not Their Corruption. This stop is part of a "Students for Solidarity" swing, bringing the fight against the oligarchy to campuses across the country. Come ask your questions, hear from progressive leaders, and join the movement.” That evening event starts at 7:30 p.m. at the university’s student union. TO SEE MORE OF THE DELEGATION CLICK HERE