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1 week ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
Kimberly Leonard is a politics reporter and author of Florida Playbook, based in Miami. Her coverage focuses on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former President Donald Trump and the future of the conservative movement in the state. She has extensive experience covering financial disclosures, spending projections, and health care policy. Kimberly previously worked as a senior Florida politics correspondent for Insider.
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1 week ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Arek Sarkissian |Isa Dominguez
Arek Sarkissian came to POLITICO Florida in December 2017 to cover regulated industries in one of the fastest growing states in the country. Sarkissian served as the bureau chief for the Naples Daily News for more than two years. During his tenure, his investigative reporting on VISIT FLORIDA prompted the Legislature to pass tougher contract restrictions.
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1 week ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Gary Fineout |Isa Dominguez
The latest batch of state campaign finance reports that were due on Thursday before midnight show the Florida Freedom Fund raised $1.6 million. | Joe Raedle/Getty Images Good morning and happy Friday. Gov. RON DESANTIS is still raising money from the political committee he used to successfully defeat amendments on pot and abortion.
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2 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Gary Fineout |Isa Dominguez
The governor will eventually have to sign off on the budget and the tax cut plan. | Rebecca Blackwell/AP Good morning and welcome to Thursday. One could say this year’s legislative session has been a bumpy ride for Gov. RON DESANTIS so far — a far cry from recent years, in which the governor’s agenda usually sailed through with minimal opposition.
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2 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
MORE HOUSE SUPPORT — Seven more Republicans from the Florida delegation are endorsing their colleague Rep. BYRON DONALDS for governor, reports POLITICO’s Dasha Burns. They are: Reps. BRIAN MAST, SCOTT FRANKLIN, MARIO DIAZ-BALART, MARÍA ELVIRA SALAZAR, DANIEL WEBSTER and JOHN RUTHERFORD. They also include LAUREL LEE, the former Florida secretary of state and the only member of the Florida delegation who’d endorsed Gov. RON DESANTIS over DONALD TRUMP in the 2024 presidential primary.
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2 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
GATORS WIN! Congrats to the men’s basketball national champions, the University of Florida Gators, who defeated the Houston Cougars 65-63 in San Antonio on Monday night. Assuming we’ll probably see a little more gator chomping than usual around the Capitol today. (At least a lot more than is usual in Tallahassee!)Something that caught our eye off the court: Gov. RON DESANTIS and state Sen. BLAISE INGOGLIA, a DeSantis ally who hopes to be Florida’s next CFO, snapping a photo from the game.
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2 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
Three people in Trump’s orbit told Playbook that DeSantis has been able to ingratiate himself to the president through talks about the presidential library Trump wants to build in Florida. | Alex Brandon/AP Good morning and happy Friday. President DONALD TRUMP is back in Florida. And visiting him, once again: Gov. RON DESANTIS and Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS.
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3 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
JUST IN — House Speaker MIKE JOHNSON is endorsing Rep. BYRON DONALDS in his campaign for Florida governor. “Byron Donalds is a principled conservative leader who Floridians can trust as their next governor,” Johnson said in a statement. “In Congress, Byron has been tenacious in standing up for Florida and President Trump’s America First agenda. I have no doubt he will bring that same fighting spirit with him as governor, working every day to improve the lives of Florida families.
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3 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
Republicans said the only thing that mattered was winning, especially in the face of massive cash opposition. | Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP Good morning and welcome to Wednesday. Republicans won their pair of special elections for the House last night as expected. But there was still a surprise in the results.
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3 weeks ago | 
politico.com | Kimberly Leonard |Isa Dominguez
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS’ (R-Fla.) hometown kickoff rally is happening in Bonita Springs tonight — with a lineup that includes two House colleagues. Republican Reps. KAT CAMMACK and CORY MILLS will be joining Donalds onstage, as will conservative commentator BENNY JOHNSON, who has already endorsed him. Cammack and Mills likewise endorsed Donalds in a statement to Playbook.
