AGP Executive Report

Senate Confirmations: The U.S. Senate confirmed dozens of Trump nominees, including picks to lead TSA and FEMA, as the administration pushes privatized airport security and reshapes federal agencies. Property Taxes: Florida’s Amendment 3 fight is heating up, with critics warning the tax cut could shift burdens onto renters even as judges rewrite ballot language. Fauci Clash: Senate Republicans escalated their COVID probe, voting to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth—sparking fresh debate over whether the push is political. Florida GOP Primary: Byron Donalds remains the frontrunner in the GOP governor race, while DOJ officials deny claims that an investigation is expanding to him amid a messy intraparty fight. Local Elections & Voting: Early voting is underway across parts of Florida ahead of the Aug. 18 primary, including key Tampa Bay-area contests. CD 20 Leadership: The Broward Democratic Black Caucus endorsed Dale Holness for CD 20, arguing Black representation is at stake after redistricting. TSA/Travel Security: David Cummins’ TSA confirmation signals more outsourcing at smaller airports, with Florida airports already moving in that direction. Disaster Response: Cameron Hamilton’s FEMA confirmation suggests a pivot from earlier threats to dismantle the agency, even as Democrats warn disaster aid could be politicized.

Florida Primary Countdown: Early voting is underway in multiple counties, including Highlands and Lake, with voters choosing party nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, and CFO plus key local races. Gubernatorial Race Watch: Gov. Ron DeSantis still won’t endorse anyone, but he singled out former House Speaker Paul Renner as “really good,” while the Donalds–Collins–Fishback fight tightens. Amendment 3 Property Tax Fight: A new survey finds strong support for the homestead tax cut at first glance, but opposition grows once voters hear it could reduce local services and hit renters. Courts & Culture Wars: A federal appeals court upheld Florida’s ban on minors attending certain drag shows, while another Florida case continues over a firefighter’s medical marijuana card and job suspension. Fauci Legal Pressure: Florida AG James Uthmeier has subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci as states join a broader push tied to COVID-era guidance and alleged self-dealing. Local Ballot Drama: Fernandina Beach voters will decide whether paid downtown parking stays, with the ordinance’s wording setting up a potential supermajority override. Federal/Legal Spotlight: A judge paused an order in Trump’s $10 billion BBC libel case, narrowing what financial records may be required.

Property Tax Fight: A judge says Florida’s Amendment 3 ballot title/summary is defective, and Gov. DeSantis says the state won’t appeal—so AG James Uthmeier must rewrite the language ahead of the November vote. Education & Schools: Gov. DeSantis kicked off the new school year in Lehigh Acres, touting Florida’s top education rankings and announcing a $3B school safety push. Gubernatorial Race: A new poll finds Byron Donalds leading the GOP primary for governor by 31 points, with David Jolly ahead among Democrats in the general-election matchup. Primary Politics: In Florida’s 7th District GOP race, embattled Rep. Cory Mills faced tough questions over his role in blocking censure of Ilhan Omar. Fauci Contempt Fallout: A Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt after he invoked the Fifth 111 times; Florida and other states are also moving to subpoena records. Trade & Tariffs: Sen. Rick Scott introduced a bill to expand USTR power to adjust tariffs tied to trade deficits. Immigration Policy: Florida bishops urged Sen. Rick Scott and Sen. Ashley Moody to back a bill extending Haiti TPS through 2029. Local Government & Housing: A St. Petersburg city-backed 3D-printed home project aims to speed affordable construction, while a housing authority employee faces charges tied to alleged rent voucher fraud.

Wildlife Policy Clash: A newly released federal Fisheries memo warns a Trump-backed bill could delay North Atlantic right whale protections until 2035, risking “functional extinction” for a species with fewer than 400 left. Public Health Leadership: The U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director after nearly a year-long vacancy, as the agency reels from political meddling and staffing losses. Florida Schools: Hillsborough County is kicking off the year with 74 “A” schools, zero “F” schools, and fewer teacher openings after a voter-backed millage helped fill hundreds of positions. Property Tax Ballot Fight: Leon County Judge David Frank ordered a rewrite of Amendment 3 ballot language, calling it misleading “political rhetoric,” while Brevard officials warn the measure could still disrupt core services and budgets. Primary Election Logistics: Early voting for Florida’s Aug. 18 primary runs Aug. 8-15, with county-by-county site lists and ID rules. Local Growth Pressure: Ormond Beach approved an 18-month moratorium on data centers as it updates its codes to restrict future development. Congressional GOP Drama: In Florida’s District 7 GOP primary debate, incumbent Cory Mills faced ethics and investigation questions from challengers.

Immigration Enforcement Costs: A new report estimates Trump-era deportation plans could cost $268.9B nationwide—money critics say could instead fund teachers and veterans’ care—while supporters argue it’s necessary to enforce immigration law. Florida Drag Shows: Florida scored another court win as a federal appeals court upheld the state ban on children attending drag shows, clearing the way for enforcement after earlier rulings were challenged. CDC Leadership: The Senate confirmed Dr. Erica Schwartz as CDC director, a rare staffing win after months of turmoil and turnover at the agency. LGBTQ Organizing: Equality Florida is reshuffling leadership—Brandon Wolf returns to communications strategy and Joe Saunders becomes executive director of Equality Florida Action PAC—aiming to expand political power ahead of 2026. Florida Elections Watch: Florida Democrats are weighing how progressive vs. establishment their Senate direction should be, with the Nixon–Vindman primary framed as a key signal. Florida GOP Primary Shakeup: Two Florida Republicans backed Cory Mills’ challenger, Ryan Elijah, highlighting growing fractures inside the state GOP. Property Tax Ballot Fight: Courts ordered a rewrite of Florida’s Amendment 3 property-tax ballot language after judges said it was misleading or unlawful. DeSantis Court Win Momentum: The drag-show rulings add to a broader pattern of DeSantis-era culture-war litigation landing in the state’s favor.

Florida Courts & Elections: A Florida judge ordered a rewrite of the state’s property-tax ballot language, keeping the fight over Amendment 3 alive heading into the Aug. 18 primary. Culture War in the Courts: The 11th Circuit upheld Florida’s ban on children attending sexualized drag shows, clearing the way for enforcement while the legal battle continues. Congressional Redistricting: DeSantis-backed congressional maps were upheld by the Florida Supreme Court, shifting Highlands County into a new district and setting up a fresh matchup between Darren Soto and a yet-to-be-named Republican. State Government & Courts: The Fifth Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission is seeking applicants for one circuit judgeship (Citrus County) and two county court vacancies (Lake and Marion), with an Aug. 17 deadline. Federal/Global Spillover: The Trump administration revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the U.S., escalating a diplomatic dispute tied to Brazil’s delay on approving Trump’s Florida ally, Daniel Perez, as ambassador.

AI Policy & Cybersecurity: The White House is set to meet with top AI firms on “advanced model” safety after OpenAI-linked hacks hit Hugging Face and other targets, while a 15-state AG coalition demands OpenAI preserve records from the incident. Florida Elections & Ballot Battles: A federal appeals court upheld Florida’s law restricting children from “sexually explicit” drag shows, clearing the way for the case to return to trial court; meanwhile, a Leon Circuit judge ordered Florida to rewrite Amendment 3 ballot title/summary, calling the current wording political and misleading. Property Tax Amendment Fallout: Florida Democrats formally oppose Amendment 3, warning it could cut police, fire, EMTs, and other local services even as the courts keep tightening the ballot language. State Government Appointments: Gov. DeSantis appointed John Mitten to the Hernando County Commission. Immigration: ICE released a South Florida detainee after pressure from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Education & AI: Sen. Rick Scott unveiled the Safeguard Kids Act to teach K-12 students about AI risks. Campaign Trail: Florida’s presumptive GOP top-ticket nominees, Sen. Ashley Moody and Rep. Byron Donalds, are uniting for joint appearances ahead of November.

ICE Oversight Fight: Sen. Dick Durbin is pressing Senate Judiciary Republicans for a hearing after staff documented harsh conditions at the Dilley family detention center, including medical neglect and barriers to legal access. Florida Elections & Governance: Cabinet primaries are trending toward incumbents, while early voting ramps up across counties as voters weigh property taxes, affordability, and immigration. Property Tax Fallout: A new Florida primary focus is property-tax reform, but local impact reports warn the proposed amendment could cost counties like Hernando and Brooksville tens of millions. Catholic Schools Clash: AG James Uthmeier is threatening Catholic scholarship funding over vaccine exemption rules, escalating a First Amendment fight. AI & Local Power/Water: Palm Beach County rejected an AI data center plan over water-demand concerns, signaling more battles ahead. SNAP Pressure: Florida faces a near-$1B federal fine risk tied to SNAP application errors. Tech Legal Scrutiny: 15 state AGs demand OpenAI preserve materials tied to the Hugging Face hack. Immigration & Families: Another wave of Venezuelans returned from the U.S., while activists renew calls for Miami to end its ICE agreement.

Florida Primary Pulse: Early voting is underway in Hendry County, with two sites open through Aug. 15 as voters weigh transparency and public safety ahead of the Aug. 18 primary. Medicare Fraud Fallout: A Jacksonville-based health firm, Complete Health, will pay about $14.1M to settle allegations it inflated Medicare Advantage diagnoses with bogus conditions to boost payouts. Courts & College Sports: A federal judge clarified that athletes who signed pro contracts can’t use a new eligibility ruling to return to college football. Amendment 3 Watch: Florida Sheriffs Association leaders say the proposed homestead-exemption boost could let Tallahassee control local budgets and harm public safety response times. Fauci Probe Escalation: Alabama and Louisiana have joined Florida in investigating Anthony Fauci after his Senate testimony and refusal to answer questions. Gubernatorial Politics: A new lawsuit claims James Fishback’s debate foundation failed to pay scholarship winnings, adding to mounting campaign legal trouble. Election Integrity & Access: Jefferson County voters got an early start Monday, with guidance on IDs, polling locations, and vote-by-mail deadlines. Space & Tourism: NASA’s Roman telescope and Florida space launches keep headlines moving, while a new study says Central Florida tourism hit a record $98.6B economic impact in 2025.

Banking Fight: Capital One says it closed more than 300 Trump Organization accounts after an anti-money laundering review, arguing the decision was driven by AML concerns—not politics—while the Trump Organization continues its Florida federal lawsuit. Florida Budget & Governance: Gov. DeSantis signed a $117.6 billion FY 2026-27 budget, touting four straight years of declining state spending alongside record investments in education, infrastructure, public safety, and reserves. Election Logistics: Brevard voters have until Aug. 6 at 5 p.m. to request a mail ballot for the Aug. 18 primary; the state remains a closed-primary system for partisan contests. Local School Board Races: Lee County’s District 4 and District 6 school board primaries are heating up, with candidate profiles spotlighting education priorities and local accountability. Public Safety vs. Tax Relief: Major police and fire unions oppose Amendment 3, warning property-tax cuts could destabilize funding for emergency services. Voting Rights & Redistricting: Maryland lawmakers begin a special session on a partisan redistricting push aimed at shifting congressional map power by 2028. Policy Battle Over Clocks: The Senate still hasn’t acted on permanent daylight saving, leaving the Nov. 1 clock change likely in place despite medical groups’ objections.

Fauci Fallout in Florida: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill says her state will join Alabama and Florida in investigating Dr. Anthony Fauci after his Senate hearing where he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times, arguing Fauci “lied” and that state courts could still pursue offenses despite a federal pardon. Banking Fight: Capital One asked a federal judge to toss the Trump Organization’s lawsuit over account closures, saying the shutdowns followed a months-long anti-money-laundering review, not retaliation. Florida Education & Free Speech: A South Florida State College English professor is suing, claiming she was fired after a college president objected to her assigning an award-winning “political” short story. Space Coast Push: Rep. Byron Donalds unveiled “Florida’s Space Race,” pitching a move of NASA headquarters to Brevard County. Local Elections: Pasco County School Board District 1 candidates are set for an Aug. 18 nonpartisan race as incumbents step down. Travel/Politics Mashup: Palm Beach International Airport’s code is set to change from PBI to DJT on Aug. 18 after the airport’s renaming.

Meta Lawsuit Fallout: A 15-year-old Florida boy has dropped his “social media addiction” lawsuit against Meta just days before a Los Angeles trial, leaving other similar suits (including ones targeting TikTok/Snap/YouTube) still in play. Fauci Probe Escalates: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill says her office will investigate Dr. Anthony Fauci after his Senate hearing where he invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times; Florida is already in the mix. Florida Voting Integrity Case: Florida AG James Uthmeier announced charges against a Canadian citizen accused of illegally voting seven times in Florida using a federal SAVE database. Trump Bank Fight: Capital One says it closed 300+ Trump Organization accounts in 2021 after an anti-money-laundering review, pushing back on claims of “debanking.” Solar Exception: Despite a national residential solar slump after federal tax-credit changes, Florida is seeing faster rooftop-solar growth thanks to new permitting rules. Local Politics: Orange County Democrats criticize DeSantis’ late appointment to a county commission seat as undermining voters ahead of the primary. Environment & Tourism: Seaweed sargassum is blanketing Caribbean and Gulf beaches, with USF research calling it “none of this is normal.”

Election Fight: Trump’s team asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let a nationwide executive order restrict vote-by-mail, arguing states should be overruled as midterms loom. GOP Politics: Sen. Rick Scott went after Dr. Anthony Fauci over his Senate testimony, while Florida’s AG James Uthmeier pushes a state probe tied to the hearing. Florida Courts & Ballots: A judge kept GOP gubernatorial candidate James Fishback on the ballot after a residency fight, even as Fishback claims a whistleblower has “direct evidence” against Byron Donalds. State Government: DeSantis filled multiple local seats, including a Charlotte County school board appointment. Primary Prep: Lake County posted early voting dates and secure ballot intake locations for the Aug. 18, 2026 primary. Public Integrity: Two South Florida men were sentenced in a $19M+ Medicare Advantage brace fraud scheme. Local Development: A Venice forum set for Aug. 11 will tackle the data center boom’s energy and environmental impacts. Opinion & Civics: Writers spar over property-tax relief, airport land use in Naples, and whether Florida’s political culture is sliding toward fear and censorship.

Coastal Crisis: Swaths of sargassum seaweed are blanketing Caribbean and Gulf beaches, with the University of South Florida reporting nearly 30 million tons and warning it’s “none of this is normal,” raising alarms for Florida tourism and marine life. Housing Pressure: Charlotte County evictions rose to about 41 per 1,000 households in 2025, and the trend is climbing in DeSoto and Sarasota too, as falling rents and shifting moves are blamed. Local Politics: Charlotte County Commission challenger John Fleming is attacking incumbent Chris Constance over Burnt Store corridor problems, including wildlife deaths and growth funding priorities. Courts & College Sports: A federal judge’s ruling could grant extra eligibility to athletes from the 2022 high school class under the NCAA’s “5-for-5” rule, with Florida programs watching closely. State Government Appointments: Gov. DeSantis filled and reappointed key county, school board, and commission seats, including a Florida Real Estate Commission reappointment. Public Safety & Energy: A Keys Energy Services utility board vice chair received a policymaker award for reliability and storm-reserve pole replacement work. Federal Legal Fight: Trump appealed a Florida judge’s order blocking his IRS tax-immunity deal, arguing the case was mishandled and the “anti-weaponization” fund is dead.

Venezuela Policy: Mauricio Claver-Carone, a Miami-based unofficial Trump adviser who helped shape post-Maduro Venezuela oil and debt deals, says he’s stepped away from the portfolio, though multiple sources say he was pushed out. Florida Public Safety: Lt. Gov. Jay Collins rolled out a “Florida Internal Shield” 12-point plan focused on intelligence sharing, anti-trafficking, cyber defenses, and tighter limits on H-1B use in state government. Elections & Courts: A judge rejected Lt. Gov. Jay Collins’ bid to remove GOP gubernatorial candidate James Fishback from the Aug. 18 ballot, keeping the race on track. School Board Fallout: Lee County’s District 4 contest spotlights a projected $92.4M shortfall, teacher cuts, and a push for a forensic audit. Water & Environment: Federal and state agencies hit milestones on the Indian River Lagoon-South restoration, including stormwater treatment work and an interim pump station start. Coastal Health: USF researchers report record sargassum levels blanketing Caribbean and Gulf beaches, with impacts on marine life and tourism. Consumer Protection: AG Tim Griffin urged the FCC to crack down on illegal robocalls by strengthening “Know Your Customer” rules. Homeland Security Tech: Flock surveillance cameras are being vandalized nationwide, including in Florida, as cities weigh deactivating or canceling contracts. Public Health: Florida reported its first 2026 death from Vibrio vulnificus, the “flesh-eating bacteria,” along the coast.

Florida Courts & Elections: A Leon County judge heard a challenge to the ballot title and language for Amendment 3, with opponents arguing the wording “excessive” is misleading and the summary doesn’t fairly explain impacts; no decision timeline was set. Immigration & Public Safety: ICE says it’s moving to denaturalize and deport a Miami-Dade Cuban-American convicted in nearly $900,000 Medicare fraud. State Politics & Accountability: Florida’s AG James Uthmeier is pushing a state investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci after his Senate Fifth Amendment refusal, while lawmakers and advocates keep pressing for answers. Education: A South Florida State College English professor is suing after being fired for assigning a “political” story. Local Governance: New College of Florida’s alumni group fight escalated as the foundation dissolved the alumni board and removed its chair, setting up possible legal action. Campaign Tactics: Political text messages and mobile polling requests are flooding phones, raising complaints about invasive campaign spam. National Politics: Senate Republicans are facing pressure over the SAVE America Act as states move ahead with election-integrity steps anyway.