Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.22.26 — Burnin’ today: Rodríguez & Uthmeier, Hope Florida, DeSantis, Donalds & Jolly, Amendment 3, AI & Maxwell Frost

Grab a cup of joe and take your morning front-row seat for all things Florida politics ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Good Thursday morning. Ed. Note: Florida Politics is experiencing continued technical issues with our images; please excuse today's Sunburn. Click any image placeholder to view it. Thanks for being a loyal Sunburn reader, and we will see you tomorrow. Stay safe! ___ Breaking overnight — “Florida Republicans drop lawsuit seeking to block Hope Florida attack ads” via Gary Fineout of POLITICO — The Republican Party of Florida abruptly withdrew its lawsuit seeking to block Democratic television ads criticizing Attorney General James Uthmeier over the Hope Florida scandal. The retreat followed a judge’s refusal to grant an emergency injunction and an appeals court’s rejection of Uthmeier’s separate attempt to stop the ads. Republicans declared victory, arguing the lawsuit was moot because the disputed commercial stopped airing. Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried accused Republicans of attempting to silence criticism and announced new digital ads targeting Uthmeier and Sen. Ashley Moody. The controversy centers on $10 million from a state settlement that flowed through the Hope Florida Foundation into political efforts opposing marijuana legalization, prompting investigations and escalating partisan accusations. ___ Sunrise Consulting Group has added Jorge Altuna as a government affairs coordinator. Altuna will support the firm’s legislative advocacy, client relations, strategic communications and government affairs operations. His portfolio includes policy research, tracking legislation and state budget developments, preparing briefing materials and helping clients follow activity in Tallahassee. Jorge Altuna brings fresh legislative experience to Sunrise Consulting Group. The Tallahassee learning curve just got shorter. He will also assist with appropriations requests and legislative initiatives while coordinating outreach, meetings and other operational needs for the firm’s government affairs team. Altuna comes to Sunrise after serving as Orange County Government’s UCF Legislative Scholar during the 2025 Legislative Session. In that role, he researched and tracked more than 50 bills each week, prepared policy reports for County leaders and supported the County’s intergovernmental affairs work. “He caught on to the process immediately, providing insightful analysis on the bills and issues we assigned to him and was a major contributor to the reports sent back to County personnel,” said Mark Jeffries, Orange County Government’s legislative administrator. “He was tireless and relentlessly helpful. He has impressive political instincts, and I think he’s going to be very successful in this business. Sunrise was smart to snap him up.” Rep. Robin Bartleman, under whom Altuna served as a legislative intern, said, “Jorge has always shown a genuine desire to make a difference. I could not be prouder to see him begin his career at Sunrise Consulting Group. I know this is just the beginning of a very bright future.” ___ Michael Worley, founder and CEO of MDW Communications, has launched a website that tracks the money in Florida's 2026 federal races. FECTracker.com, an MDW Research project, compiles campaign fundraising, super PAC spending for and against candidates, and coordinated party spending for all 29 General Election contests, the 28 U.S. House seats and the U.S. Senate race. It ranks the top fundraisers and the candidates facing the most opposition spending. A map shows each District's race. Worley founded the Fort Lauderdale firm in 2011. It handles digital and direct mail for Florida Democrats, including Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz. MDW won four Pollie Awards in 2026. ___ Broward County’s childcare gaps are straining family budgets and the workforce local businesses depend on, according to a new Florida Chamber Foundation report. Of the 2,449 parents and caregivers surveyed, 63% identified cost as the biggest barrier to finding care, while 39% cited limited availability or waitlists. Another 846 said childcare availability had affected their ability to work or attend school. The Chamber’s Broward County Early Learning Landscape Analysis and Roadmap, developed with Broward Workshop and the Early Learning Coalition of Broward County, makes an economic development case for addressing those problems. Broward childcare costs put family budgets and workforce plans through the same stress test. Nearly one-third of the 998 early educators surveyed said they seriously considered leaving the field in the past year, while 33% reported working a second job. “If we fix early learning, we fix 1,000 other things,” said Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson. “Strengthening childcare is an investment in today’s workforce and tomorrow’s talent pipeline.” Only 45% of Broward kindergartners met the readiness benchmark in 2025. Among public-school kindergartners, 58% completed Voluntary Pre-kindergarten, compared with 30% not found in state VPK records. Cost remains an obstacle. Full-time infant care runs roughly $10,000 to $15,600 a year; more than half of surveyed parents receive no financial assistance, and 40% were unaware help was available. The roadmap encourages employers to consider family-friendly scheduling and childcare benefits, support scholarships and explore the Florida Child Care Tax Credit. It also calls for increased School Readiness funding, higher provider reimbursement rates and investment in the early learning workforce.

Situational awareness   Tweet, tweet: —@JacobOgles: Just spoke with GOP pol who says entire ticket may be hurt by @FloridaGOP's losing suit against TV stations over Hope Fla ads. "Stupid. Self-centered. Self-destructive." Worries it hurts CFO and congressional candidates statewide. Even hurts Uthmeier, who the suit aimed to help. —@Fineout: After initially saying he would not campaign on the passage of Amendment 3, Gov. (Ron) DeSantis is now getting engaged on the prop tax overhaul. He held a telehall with GOP voters earlier this week. He's now doing a roundtable on it in Miami-Dade Tweet, tweet: —@KalshiPolitics: NEW ALL-TIME HIGH: Jared Moskowitz has an 89% chance to win the FL-25 House race

Days until   Mandatory General early voting begins — 2; Meta’s new political and issue ad freeze begins — 5; General Election — 12; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 15; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 15; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 20; 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' starring Johnny Depp premieres — 22; 'Paper Tiger' starring Adam Driver premieres — 22; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America’ is released — 26; New legislator training sessions — 26; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 26; ‘Madden’ premieres — 27; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 29; 'Blade Runner 2099' premieres on Prime Video — 34; ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres in IMAX — 34; Committee Week #1 — 39; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 57; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 57; 'Six Kings Slam 2026' begins — 66; Committee Week #2 — 74; Committee Week #3 — 81; 'Ahsoka' season 2 premieres — 90; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 95; Committee Week #4 — 102; The 2027 Florida State Fair begins — 105; 'Remain,' directed by M. Night Shyamalan, premieres — 106; Grammys — 108; Committee Week #5 — 109; Super Bowl LXI — 115; Committee Week #6 — 116; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 131; Tampa Mayoral Election — 131; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 134; Jacksonville First Election — 138; Oscars — 143; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 154; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 154; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 174; Jacksonville General Election — 208; 'Star Wars: Starfighter' premieres — 218; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 239; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 267; 'The Bluey Movie' premieres — 288; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 323; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 421; 2028 South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary — 457; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 459; 2028 Nevada Presidential Primary — 467; 2028 New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary — 474; 2028 New Mexico Democratic Presidential Primary — 481; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 484; 2028 Michigan Democratic Presidential Primary — 488; 2028 Virginia Democratic Presidential Primary — 495; Oscars — 500; 'X-Men' premieres — 561; ‘Miami Vice '85’ reboot premieres — 575; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 582; 'Days of Thunder' sequel with Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway premieres — 589; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 603; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 631; 'Ghost Rider' premieres — 645; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 747; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 785; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 823; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,156; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,884.

Top story   “José Javier Rodríguez edges James Uthmeier despite Republican turnout advantage” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Democrat Rodríguez holds a narrow lead over Republican Uthmeier in new campaign-commissioned polling, despite a turnout model favoring Republicans. SEA Polling & Strategic Design places Rodríguez ahead 35% to 34%, within the survey’s 3.5-point margin of error. The poll assumes a 10-point Republican turnout advantage, with Republicans at 44% of likely voters, Democrats at 34%, and others at 22%. Rodríguez leads 36% to 32% along the Interstate 4 corridor, where Trump prevailed by eight points in 2024. José Javier Rodríguez and James Uthmeier are in a tight race, with many undecided voters watching. Non-Cuban Latino voters favor Rodríguez by 57% to 18%. Democratic voters also report greater enthusiasm, with 77% describing themselves as substantially more motivated than in previous Midterms, compared with 57% of Republicans. Name recognition remains challenging for Uthmeier. Fifty-six percent of respondents do not recognize his name, while 16% view him unfavorably and 13% favorably. Rodríguez also commands stronger party support, 72% to Uthmeier’s 61%. The Democrat continues to emphasize crime, consumer costs and public corruption, particularly Uthmeier’s involvement in the Hope Florida controversy. Uthmeier maintains the arrangement was legal and calls the renewed scrutiny politically motivated. Other recent surveys also suggest a competitive contest. St. Pete Polls previously showed Uthmeier leading 45% to 43%, while Change Research found a tie. SEA surveyed 805 likely voters Oct. 11-14, underscoring uncertainty before the Nov. 3 General Election.

Nat'l mood   “Democrats have a wide lead in our new poll as Trump slides” via Nate Cohn of The New York Times — The final New York Times/Siena University national poll of the 2026 Midterm campaign finds Democrats leading nationally by 11 percentage points, 52% to 41%, when likely voters were asked about the specific candidates for the House in their District. Eleven is a big number. No party has won the national vote by such a large margin since the Democrats did so in 2008. The most ominous finding for Republicans is President Donald Trump’s approval rating. It’s extraordinarily low and still dropping. It fell by another 3 points since the September poll, to 34% among registered voters and 36% among likely voters. Donald Trump faces another round of polling numbers that give both parties plenty to discuss. “Four top pollsters on what the polls are really saying” via Riya Misra of POLITICO — Trump’s approval rating has hit a record low. Democratic enthusiasm levels are off the charts. The party holds a clear edge on the generic congressional ballot question. By most measures, the polls point to something like a blue wave this November. For many, the question is whether they can be trusted. New ways to reach people, and new ways to account for the most elusive voters, are changing the game. Those corrections seem to have paid off; you may not realize it, but the polls largely nailed the past two Midterms. To explore questions about Midterm Election polls — and claims they might be overestimating Democratic support — we convened a roundtable of top pollsters. "Scammers are using politicians' names to steal your money ahead of Midterms" via Gabriel O. Rodriguez Cruz of Money — With the Midterm just weeks away, scammers are looking to cash in on Americans' political enthusiasm by impersonating candidates and their campaigns. The FBI released an alert Thursday warning that fraudsters could exploit the upcoming elections to trick voters into making fraudulent campaign donations, purchasing merchandise they'll never receive or handing over sensitive personal information. The FBI recommends being skeptical of unsolicited calls, texts, emails and surveys claiming to represent political candidates or organizations, especially those requesting money or personal information.

From: Extensive Media Enterprises

2026   Happening today — Florida Democratic Party Chair Fried holds a virtual call with reporters ahead of Trump’s Friday visit to Florida, hitting his economic policies and rising costs for Florida families: 11 a.m. Florida Democrats roll out 'It Was Your Money' Hope Florida ad — The Florida Democratic Party is launching a new Hope Florida ad one day after a judge refused the Republican Party of Florida's request to pull the Democrats' Hope Florida ads off the air. The spot, titled "It Was Your Money," uses a flowchart to trace how Attorney General Uthmeier directed $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to his own political committees, with help from U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody. "Florida Republicans have tried everything to keep voters from hearing about Hope Florida, from late-night lawsuits to threatening TV stations with prosecution. It hasn't worked, and it won't," said Fried. "James Uthmeier and Ashley Moody took $10 million meant for sick kids and turned it into a political slush fund. We're going to make sure every Floridian knows it before they cast a ballot." The ad runs in English and Spanish on digital platforms in targeted congressional districts statewide. Florida Democrats put the Hope Florida money trail front and center in a new campaign ad. RPOF ad hits David Jolly over ‘socialism’ remark — The Republican Party of Florida is out with a new ad, “David Jolly: Don’t Care,” built around a line from Jolly: “Republicans might call that socialism, but I don’t care.” The spot says Jolly’s agenda would undo DeSantis' lower-tax record, raise property taxes on Florida homeowners, add a “$1,000 hurricane tax” on property insurance, and leave less money for families and seniors and more for government. It closes on the DeSantis-endorsed Byron Donalds “fighting for lower taxes, lower insurance costs, and a Florida you can afford.” “David Jolly has told Floridians exactly who he is. He doesn’t care if you call it socialism, and he doesn’t care what it costs your family,” said Donalds campaign Communications Director Gates McGavick. “Byron Donalds will continue Governor DeSantis’s policies, cut taxes, and bring insurance costs down. Florida has a clear choice — Byron Donalds will be elected Governor on November 3rd.” To watch the ad, please click the image below: David Jolly becomes the focus of a Republican attack ad, with tax policy taking center stage. Happening today — Donalds continues his Defending the Florida Dream bus tour Thursday, with three stops across Central and Southwest Florida. Donalds joins Uthmeier at 8:30 a.m. at Yoder’s Restaurant, 3434 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. At noon, Donalds appears with Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia at The Collective at Escape Brewing, 11495 Trinity Blvd., Trinity. The tour continues at 3:30 p.m. with Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd at the Old Polk County Courthouse, 100 E. Main St., Bartow, on the Central Avenue side. “Byron Donalds and Jolly campaigns make final South Florida voter appeals” via Faith Graham and Isabella Fernandez de Cueto of WSVN 7News — Florida’s gubernatorial campaigns made stops across South Florida as early voting began and Election Day approached. Republican Donalds’ running mate, Bryan Avila, appeared Wednesday at Islas Canarias in southwest Miami-Dade before heading to The Floridian in Fort Lauderdale on the campaign’s Defending the Florida Dream bus tour. Avila said the ticket is working to reach families, businesses, and communities statewide. Democrat Jolly also campaigned in the region, appearing Tuesday with former President Bill Clinton at a Pembroke Park gathering. The visits underscore both campaigns’ focus on South Florida voters in the final two weeks before the Nov. 3 General Election. The stops came as candidates and their surrogates increased public appearances and voter outreach. “Florida gubernatorial candidates embrace AI guardrails as voter concerns grow” via Austin Jenkins of State Affairs Florida — Artificial intelligence regulation is emerging as a bipartisan campaign issue, including in Florida’s Governor’s race. Donalds supports state oversight and wants to revive DeSantis’ proposed AI Bill of Rights. Jolly calls himself an AI optimist but favors safeguards for children, classroom protections and a moratorium on massive data centers. Nationally, a Reuters/Ipsos survey found 69% of adults favor stricter AI regulations, contrasting with Trump’s reliance on voluntary industry commitments. Attorney General candidates in several states also emphasize consumer protections and corporate accountability. Despite growing concern, voters still rank AI as a relatively low priority compared with other issues. “Ron DeSantis blasts Rodríguez over Hope Florida attack ad” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — DeSantis unleashed a blistering attack on Democratic Attorney General candidate Rodríguez, calling him a “major league dirtbag” and promising to ensure his defeat in November. The Governor objected to a Florida Democratic Party advertisement featuring First Lady Casey DeSantis holding a $10 million check tied to the Hope Florida Foundation. The money originated from a 2024 Medicaid settlement with Centene, and Democrats have made the controversy central to their campaign against Uthmeier, DeSantis’ former Chief of Staff. Speaking in Miami-Dade County, DeSantis also criticized Rodríguez’s service in the Biden administration and his past legislation targeting cash bail. He promised a “very stinging defeat” for Rodríguez. TO SEE MORE SUNBURN CLICK HERE

Giving Thanks October

 

 Each week we take one day and thank God for the blessings we have received during the week. 

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.

 Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture 

Pray: Our Father in heaven, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Lord hear Your words:  Psalm 107:1 Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind.   

Lord hear my praise and thanksgiving (Say your praise, and thankfulness for God's work in your life this week) - In Jesus name I pray - Amen

Some things to be thankful for: 

Life and Health: Thank God for the gift of life, breath, physical strength, and the ability to experience the world each day.

 Salvation and Grace: Give thanks for Jesus Christ—His forgiveness, mercy, and the hope of eternal life.

Love and Relationships: Be grateful for God’s unfailing love and the people He places in your life—family, friends, and mentors

Provision and Protection: Thank Him for daily needs: food, shelter, safety and for His peace in every situation.

Purpose and Growth: Praise Him for your calling, your growth through trials, and the chance to live with purpose and joy

To learn more about accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior click here: SALVATION CONNECTION

See your daily Prayer Pod at: His Moments

 

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22 de octubre Cápsula de oración

Click Here  http://dlvr.it/TW1B9b

October 22 Prayer Pod

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – NIV

We all want to pray but sometimes we find it difficult to begin our prayer.  Many Pastors and Ministers suggest you begin your prayer by praying back God’s words from Scripture.

These daily prayer PODs are constructed to help you in your prayer life.

October 22 
Pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom  come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Lord hear Your words: 1 John 1:19 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Lord hear my request: (Say your needs, wants, fears, thanksgivings) -  In Jesus name I pray – Amen. 

READ THE NEW TESTAMENT IN A YEAR….
Today’s Reading for October 22 Hebrews 6:1-20

To learn more about accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior click here: SALVATION CONNECTION

 

  

 

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Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 10.21.26 — Burnin’ today: Donalds & Jolly, Hope Florida, Clinton, Moody & Nixon, Amendment 3, Castor, Bloomberg & the Rays

Make Sunburn a part of your complete breakfast ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Good Wednesday morning. A new University of North Florida poll has the race for Governor inside the margin of error, with Republican Byron Donalds at 49% and Democrat David Jolly at 47%. Four percent are undecided. The Public Opinion Research Lab survey of 1,471 likely voters, conducted Oct. 12-19, shows the margin narrowing from July, when PORL had Donalds up five. Jolly leads among independents by 16 points, and 11% of registered Republicans say they will vote for him, compared with 5% of Democrats backing Donalds. Byron Donalds and David Jolly head toward Election Day in a Governor’s race too close for comfort. "Given the margin of error, a win by either candidate would be unsurprising," said Sean Freeder, PORL faculty director and political science professor. In the Senate race, Republican U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody leads Democrat Angie Nixon 49% to 45%, down from an eight-point lead in July. Independents prefer Nixon by 15 points. Democratic messaging on the Hope Florida grand jury report made 30% of respondents less likely to vote for Moody, while Republican messaging on Nixon's ties to the Democratic Socialists of America made 25% less likely to vote for her. "Like Donalds, Moody appears to be in a competitive race, though one that leans more decisively in her favor," Freeder said. Amendment 3 sits at 50% support, 10 points short of the 60% needed to pass, with 35% opposed and 14% undecided. Support is not cleanly partisan: 32% of Democrats say yes and 23% of Republicans say no. "Most of these voters would need to vote yes in order to put Amendment 3 above 60%, a challenging but possible outcome," Freeder said. The poll's margin of error is ±3 percentage points. —"Bill Clinton swing for David Jolly drives Fox News ratings change" via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics

Situational awareness   Tweet, tweet: —@Leonardkl: .@davidjollyfl, son of a pastor, gives passionate speech at interfaith service in Hollywood tonight, invoking various Scriptures. He's sticking to his appeal for unity, turning against brokenness. “We will never make America great again if we don’t first make America good again.” —@KKfla737: At the moment, the GOP early in-person advantage has grown to over 5k statewide. That has done little to diminish the Democrats' 50k+ VBM advantage. Again, GOP was assumed to offset D lead by this time YESTERDAY by me and MANY others. Still a long way from happening. Tweet, tweet: Tweet, tweet: —@JeffreyBrandes: Senate President Ben Albritton, who presided over the 30–9 vote to put Amendment 3 on the ballot, now says he’ll vote NO on Amendment 3. He warns rural counties could lose up to 30% of their resources, threatening law enforcement, emergency services, and infrastructure. I respect Ben and appreciate his willingness to speak candidly about the consequences. But perhaps this is exactly why the Legislature should have required comprehensive fiscal modeling and local impact analysis before putting it on the ballot. These questions deserved answers before the vote, not months afterward. —@Fineout: 2 weeks out before Election Day … a refresher for those new to state or who weren't here for previous recounts. Under Fla law there's an automatic recount if margin is 0.5% or less. If the margin is still 0.25% or less, there is a manual recount of undervotes/overvotes

Days until   FEC Pre-General Report due — 1; General Election ballot request deadline — 1; Mandatory General early voting begins — 3; Meta’s new political and issue ad freeze begins — 6; General Election — 13; ‘Godzilla Minus Zero’ premieres — 16; ‘Wild Horse Nine’ premieres — 16; Florida Automated Vehicles Summit — 21; 'Ebenezer: A Christmas Carol' starring Johnny Depp premieres — 23; 'Paper Tiger' starring Adam Driver premieres — 23; Joe Biden’s memoir, ‘Promise Me, America’ is released — 27; New legislator training sessions — 27; Senate convenes for general organization and selection of officers — 27; ‘Madden’ premieres — 28; ‘The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping’ premieres — 30; 'Blade Runner 2099' premieres on Prime Video — 35; ‘The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,’ with Brad Pitt, directed by David Fincher and written by Quentin Tarantino, premieres in IMAX — 35; Committee Week #1 — 40; ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ premieres — 58; ‘Dune: Part 3,’ directed by Denis Villeneuve, premieres — 58; 'Six Kings Slam 2026' begins — 67; Committee Week #2 — 75; Committee Week #3 — 82; 'Ahsoka' season 2 premieres — 91; College Football Playoff national championship game in Las Vegas — 96; Committee Week #4 — 103; The 2027 Florida State Fair begins — 106; 'Remain,' directed by M. Night Shyamalan, premieres — 107; Grammys — 109; Committee Week #5 — 110; Super Bowl LXI — 116; Committee Week #6 — 117; Opening day of the 2027 Regular Legislative Session — 132; Tampa Mayoral Election — 132; ‘The Thomas Crown Affair,’ directed by and starring Michael B. Jordan premieres — 135; Jacksonville First Election — 139; Oscars — 144; Miami Marlins Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. New York Mets — 155; Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day/Home Opener — vs. Baltimore Orioles — 155; Democratic Mayors Association 2027 annual summit in Miami begins — 175; Jacksonville General Election — 209; 'Star Wars: Starfighter' premieres — 219; ‘Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse’ premieres — 240; Citrus Series — Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins — 268; 'The Bluey Movie' premieres — 289; Citrus Series — Miami Marlins at Tampa Bay Rays — 324; ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ premieres — 422; 2028 South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary — 458; College Football Playoff national championship game in New Orleans — 460; 2028 Nevada Presidential Primary — 468; 2028 New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary — 475; 2028 New Mexico Democratic Presidential Primary — 482; ‘The Batman Part II’ premieres — 485; 2028 Michigan Democratic Presidential Primary — 489; 2028 Virginia Democratic Presidential Primary — 496; Oscars — 501; 'X-Men' premieres — 562; ‘Miami Vice '85’ reboot premieres — 576; ‘Lilo & Stitch 2’ premieres — 583; 'Days of Thunder' sequel with Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway premieres — 590; ‘Incredibles 3’ premieres — 604; 2028 Los Angeles Olympics Opening Ceremony — 632; 'Ghost Rider' premieres — 646; 2028 U.S. Presidential Election — 748; ‘Black Panther 3’ directed by Ryan Coogler premieres — 786; College Football Playoff national championship game in Tampa — 824; ‘Avatar 4’ premieres — 1,157; ‘Avatar 5’ premieres — 1,885.

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Jacksonville Bold for 10.2.1.26: Air traffic control

Jacksonville politics, campaigns, City Hall and community news shaping Northeast Florida. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

From: Extensive Media Enterprises Ed. Note: Florida Politics is experiencing technical issues with our images today, so please excuse this edition of Jacksonville Bold. Click any image placeholder to view it. Thanks for being a loyal reader, and we will see you next week. Stay safe! ___ Though the Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3 election isn’t until March, a political committee is knocking Council President Nick Howland for flying to a baseball game with donors. Earlier this year, Howland flew to a Tampa Bay Rays game with lobbyists and Rays co-owner Patrick Zalupski. While the trip was legal and political committees have long let elected leaders fly to fundraising events on someone else’s dime, the Progressive Youth PC argues otherwise. Nick Howland faces an early political brushback over a donor-funded trip to a Rays game. It’s not immediately clear at this writing who or what used the PC as a vehicle for an attack piece, though it likely serves the interests of Democrats hoping basketball legend Artis Gilmore can bodycheck Howland off the dais next year. The PC receives donations from other lefty, anonymous political committees and was technically insolvent as recently as Oct. 9, according to Florida Division of Elections records. Howland has a considerable financial advantage. His Florida Freedom PAC has almost $340,000 on hand. He also has roughly $105,000 in his campaign account. But a recent precedent shows a Democrat overcoming a seemingly well-positioned Republican favorite with PC help. Mone Holder flipped her at-large City Council seat blue in a Special Election this year, helped along by half a million dollars from Steve Pajcic, who seems committed to reversing Republican domination of local government one check at a time. It remains to be seen whether Pajcic was behind this mail or whether the public record will ultimately trace it.

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Not just Jax   Speaking of Pajcic, a federal campaign committee associated with him ran an ad last weekend during the Florida/Texas football game that took a shot at U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody and Attorney General James Uthmeier. The 30-second spot shows characters standing in for the two Republican incumbents stealing hospital equipment as the narrator accused them of stealing money from sick kids – an obvious allusion to the steering of $10M as part of a Medicaid Settlement to the Hope Florida Foundation, then to political committees looking to defeat a recreational marijuana amendment. The New Deal for All PAC is committing $3M to this buy. This ad differs from the one the Florida Democratic Party is currently challenging, but it covers much of the same ground. Moody, a state representative from Jacksonville, has taken aim at Moody, who served as Attorney General when the settlement was reached. A grand jury report on the issue ultimately found that no one could be charged because there was insufficient evidence of culpability. The report was leaked. It has since been expunged. To watch the ad, please click the image below: A Hope Florida attack ad puts Ashley Moody and James Uthmeier in the political spotlight.

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Work friends for Wyman   State Sen. Clay Yarborough and state Reps. Jessica Baker, Dean Black, and Kiyan Michael are backing House Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan in the Jacksonville mayoral race. The early endorsements further show establishment consolidation behind Duggan in a crowded field of 13 challengers, including five Republicans, against incumbent Mayor Donna Deegan, a Democrat running for her second term. Yarborough says Duggan “has been invaluable to Duval County throughout his entire tenure in the Florida House.” Donna Deegan and Wyman Duggan head toward a high-stakes contest for Jacksonville City Hall. “Together, we’ve secured hundreds of millions of dollars for our communities and passed major legislation that improves life for families and seniors. Tax relief, property insurance reform, utility‑rate protections against data centers: Wyman played a key role in all of it,” the Senator said. Baker says Duggan is “principled, hard-working, and deeply committed to Jacksonville’s future.” “He’s brought millions in state funding home and passed meaningful legislation to help families struggling with Florida’s high cost of living. Wyman won’t squander taxpayer money on vanity projects; he’ll focus on efficiency, accountability, and real results,” she added. Black said Duggan “has been tireless in fighting for the people he represents by passing legislation to protect children, reduce taxes, crack down on insurance fraud, balance the state budget, and bring home millions for Jacksonville.” “Right now, Jacksonville needs leadership that’s disciplined, serious, and focused,” he added. “With Wyman as Mayor, taxpayers won’t be footing the bill for waste or watching City Hall stumble from scandal to scandal. Jacksonville deserves better, and Wyman Duggan is ready to deliver.” Michael accused Deegan of failing to work with him to address city problems. “From the start of the current Mayor’s tenure until this very day, the Mayor’s failure to take time to meet with me as a member of the Duval Legislative Delegation speaks volumes. Sending her staff to meet with me instead of showing up herself is an alarming concern on several levels,” she argued. “As a citizen and as a legislator, my family has called for city services for debris from homeless encampments, downed fencing, overflowing business dumpsters, traffic enforcement and more, and those calls are left unresolved. Tickets are opened and immediately closed without resolution,” Michael continued. Duggan contextualized the endorsements. “These are the people who have worked beside me to pass property tax cuts, property insurance reform, balance the budget and secure millions in funding for Jacksonville. They have seen how I work when nobody is watching. They know I show up. They know I do the homework. They know I bring results home to Jacksonville. That is the kind of Mayor I will be. I’m grateful for their trust, and I’m proud to have them with us.” The endorsements come during a quiet fundraising period for Deegan and her likely May opponent. Deegan’s “Duval for All” committee raised nothing and spent $6,800 during the week ending Oct. 9. All but $50 went to “research” for Washington, D.C.’s Spiros Consulting. The committee still has nearly $2.2 million on hand. Deegan also has nearly $200,000 in her campaign account. Duggan’s “Better Jacksonville Committee” raised just $20,000 in the same week from Marc Padgett’s Summit Construction, suggesting he still struggles to get entities to put their names on donations and potentially cross the incumbent. The committee spent more than $10,000 on digital ads during the same period. It still has less than $1.5 million in cash on hand. Deegan and Duggan are the only viable candidates based on donor interest. The next leading candidate, Republican Ron Armstrong, has less than $13,000 on hand.

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House money   In a proposal that sounds uncannily like the executive compensation scheme that capsized last decade’s attempt to sell JEA, the Jacksonville Housing Authority Board rebuffed a proposal to give CEO Cheron Corbett 12% of any developer fee paid to the authority. Other leadership members would also have gotten bonuses, Jacksonville Today reports. Cheron Corbett Waller faces scrutiny after a proposed Jacksonville Housing Authority bonus plan gets rejected. “Corbett defended the package as necessary, as she expects to hustle to replace cut federal dollars usually supplied by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. To pay for tax cuts, the Trump administration has again proposed slashing nearly $11 billion from HUD’s budget, a 13% reduction from 2026. A similar proposal failed this Summer in Congress,” Elizabeth Caldwell writes.

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Safety last   Jacksonville is ranked among the least safe cities, according to a new study by personal finance company WalletHub. The Safest Cities in America analysis ranked the First Coast urban hub near the bottom. WalletHub researchers compared 182 cities nationwide, looking at key factors such as home and community safety, natural disaster risk, and financial safety. About 40 other factors helped determine a safety rating on a 100-point scale. Jacksonville scored low, with a safety score of 39.61, placing it as the 176th safest city in the country. That’s only six spots from the bottom. Jacksonville scored poorly on every key factor, ranking 170th for home and community risk, 177th for natural disaster risk, and 166th for financial safety. Jacksonville was also the lowest-ranked Florida city. Jacksonville lands near the bottom of a national city safety ranking. Not exactly a bragging right. No Sunshine State town cracked the top 20. Port St. Lucie ranked highest among Florida cities, coming in 25th with a safety score of 65.01. “When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immediately go to things like the crime rate, auto fatality rate or risk of natural disasters,” said Chip Lupo, an analyst for WalletHub. “The Safest Cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure people’s financial safety. Financial safety includes things like minimizing the risk of fraud and identity theft, keeping the population employed and insured, and combating homelessness.” Cape Coral and Pembroke Pines were the only other Florida communities to crack the top 50, coming in 33rd and 37th, respectively.

Israeli celebration   St. Johns County is setting aside a day to honor Jewish residents. St. Johns County Israel Friendship Day is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. at the St. Johns County Administration Building, 500 San Sebastián View in St. Augustine. It’ll be the sixth annual acknowledgment of the county's Jewish community. “St. Johns County is proud to recognize the generations of Jewish families who have helped shape the history and character of our community,” said Commissioner Clay Murphy, Chair of the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners. St. Johns County prepares to celebrate Israel Friendship Day and its Jewish community. “Israel Friendship Day honors that lasting legacy while celebrating the values of friendship, mutual respect and unity that continue to strengthen the bonds between St. Johns County, our Jewish community, and Israel.” The event at the County Administration Building will feature several participants, including Rabbis from several Synagogues in the area. U.S. Rep. Randy Fine will also be on hand along with other dignitaries, including St. Johns County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller Brandon J. Patty. “Israel Friendship Day is an opportunity to honor our Jewish friends and neighbors, stand against antisemitism, and reaffirm the friendship between St. Johns County and Israel,” Patty said. “I am grateful to Chair Murphy and the Board of County Commissioners for their unwavering leadership and commitment to fostering a welcoming and supportive community for all who call St. Johns County home.”

UNF STEM   The University of North Florida (UNF) is teaming up with the University of Florida (UF) to create an outdoor event for students studying science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The partnership, called STEM on the Lawn, will take place Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the UNF J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater in the northwest area of the campus on Jacksonville’s Southside. Visitors can enjoy displays and activities. UNF and UF bring science outdoors for a hands-on STEM experience in Jacksonville. Robotics and engineering demonstrations will be available, along with virtual reality displays, science activities, and interactive exhibits. UF’s Florida Semiconductor Institute will also have students and personnel on hand to help run some exhibits. STEM on the Lawn is designed to attract students from Kindergarten through 12th grade and families. It provides hands-on STEM experiences and inspires future scientists, engineers, inventors, and other technical professionals.

Flagler responding first   Palm Coast and Flagler County first responders combined forces during an exercise this month to enhance inter-agency cooperation. The Palm Coast Fire Department and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office met at the Flagler County Fairgrounds to conduct tactical medical operations exercises. The agencies simulated scenarios with victims and performed on-site triage and medical treatment. Palm Coast and Flagler County first responders practiced teamwork before a real emergency call. Then the agencies also participated in activities and procedures for transporting victims to local hospitals. "Multi-agency training is critical for ensuring our team is well prepared for complex and rapidly evolving emergency scenes," said Palm Coast Chief Kyle Berryhill. "Our ability to arrive on scene, coordinate directly with law enforcement and other fire rescue teams, and quickly stabilize and transport patients is the overarching goal when lives are on the line. This exercise proved that our joint capabilities are stronger than ever." Flagler County Emergency Management officials oversaw the exercise, which aimed to strengthen response capabilities. The event also aimed to improve interagency communication and support resource management planning across multiple jurisdictions. Flagler County Fire, Bunnell Police, Flagler Beach Police, and other agencies also took part in the emergency-preparedness event.

Jaguars’ bye week   The Jacksonville Jaguars missed a massive opportunity on Sunday, losing to the Houston Texans on a last-second field goal, 34-31. It was the first time this season that the Jaguars' defense failed to show up for an entire game. Now, with a bye week to reassess the season, the Jaguars (4-2) still lead the AFC South by two games over both the Texans and the Indianapolis Colts. Had the Jaguars beaten the Texans, the division would have become a two-horse race, with the Colts still trailing. Instead, Houston has a glimmer of hope, and the Jaguars must focus on the division rather than the broader conference race. The Jacksonville Jaguars enter their bye week with plenty to tackle after a loss to Houston. The Kansas City Chiefs are 5-0 after beating the winless Los Angeles Chargers. The Buffalo Bills also have five wins after a three-point victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Jaguars join the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Denver Broncos with four wins. It’s a crowded field. How much should we worry about the main cause of the Jaguars' loss at Wembley Stadium? The defense has been particularly good this season, particularly against the run. But the performance against the Texans is not good enough to make the playoffs, much less win in the postseason. It’s just one game, although a season-long concern remains: the pass rush. The Jaguars didn't sack C.J. Stroud on Sunday. Officially, the Jaguars were credited with two hits on Stroud, one by Josh Hines-Allen and another by Ventrell Miller. In the two London games, the Jaguars recorded only seven QB hits, including five against Jalen Hurts last week in a two-point win over the Eagles. No Jaguars player has more than two sacks this season, and the Jaguars have just 11 sacks as a team, tied for 19th out of 32 NFL teams. Those numbers must improve. When the Jaguars return home, they will face the Colts a week from Sunday. They will face the Colts. That game will again provide a chance to strike a major blow to a division rival. The Jaguars must continue their dominance over Indianapolis on the First Coast. The Jaguars have won the last 10 games against the Colts at EverBank Stadium. Another issue to manage is Brian Thomas Jr. The wide receiver regressed last season after a standout rookie campaign. This season, the regression has continued. Thomas is behind Parker Washington, Jakobi Meyers, and rookie Josh Cameron. If the Jaguars can gain value in a trade, the bye week is the time to do so.

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