Three-way governor's race ahead
The guessing game is over. State Sen. JASON PIZZO intends to run for governor of Florida as an independent.
Pizzo made his plans clear during an interview with CBS Miami's Jim DeFede on 'Facing South Florida' in a clip shared Friday evening. He told Playbook he'd even consider picking a Republican to join the ticket, adding, 'I'll pick the best person.'
But Pizzo won't make his candidacy official until September, he told POLITICO's Gary Fineout. And he intends to use his vast fortune to put $25 million toward his campaign, as POLITICO first reported. He told CBS Miami that friends and family will kick in another $30 million.
Even with the cash, Pizzo is taking a risk, given GOP strength in the state and that it has been more than a century since a third-party candidate won statewide in Florida. State Democrats — who have been hoping President DONALD TRUMP's policies might provide an opening in the 2026 governor's race — are worried Pizzo will merely split Democratic voters and ease Republicans' path to another victory.
'Sen. Pizzo is relatively new to elected office,' said Broward County Commissioner STEVE GELLER, a Democrat and former legislator. 'I think he underestimates the challenges in running as an independent. His chances of winning for governor were much better had he run in a statewide Democratic primary.'
A key question now is how Pizzo could form a coalition of those who haven't found a home in either major party. Prominent trial attorney JOHN MORGAN, who's been exploring the possibility of creating a third party and even mounting his own run for governor, told Playbook he hadn't discussed the race with Pizzo. Morgan will be in Tallahassee on Wednesday to speak to the Capital Tiger Bay Club, where he said he intends to talk about how he's thinking about the governor's race.
'It will have to be a perfect storm for him,' Morgan told Playbook about Pizzo's candidacy. 'I have never met him. But I understand his pain.'
Morgan, who is also a former Democrat, was referring to feeling out of place among liberals. Pizzo has cast himself as a centrist uninterested in debating culture war issues he said have distracted lawmakers from dealing with the real problems Floridians are concerned about. He has stressed the influence of Florida's 3.6 million voters not affiliated with either party in making the case for his 2026 bid. He also pointed out Trump won by around 3 points in his district, while he won by 16.
But Pizzo's opponent in the 2024 race was IMTIAZ MOHAMMAD, a former Democrat who'd become a Republican; the Miami-Dade GOP explicitly decided not to put him on its recommended slate of candidates due to comments he made about Jews, the U.S. and Israel.
The governor's race will be more complicated. Former Rep. DAVID JOLLY, who recently became a Democrat and has created a state political committee to fundraise, would occupy a similar centrist lane to the one Pizzo is staking out. And while the very earliest stages of the race show that Trump-endorsed candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS is the frontrunner for Republicans, a run by Florida first lady CASEY DESANTIS would certainly result in a brutal GOP primary.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget that Playbook should look at? Get in touch at: kleonard@politico.com.
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... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
SHUTDOWN THREAT — 'State Republican legislative leaders have torn up a proposed budget 'framework' amid finger-pointing and the fallout of Florida Gov. Ron. DeSantis' pledge to veto an ambitious sales tax plan pushed by House Speaker Daniel Perez,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout.
'Budget negotiations have broken down — and it's not clear when and how legislators will put together a new spending plan ahead of the July 1 deadline, raising the prospect of a potential state government shutdown. … Albritton has backed away from the tax cut deal. And Perez now says passage of the 'rural renaissance' legislation. designed to spread $200 million across several rural counties, is 'off the table.''
RPOF PLAYS PEACEMAKER — To bridge the rift, the Republican Party of Florida on Friday proposed DeSantis and legislative leaders get together for a budget and tax summit alongside senior staff.
'Our Republican leaders are deeply committed to this state and have bold ideas to keep Florida thriving,' said RPOF Chairman EVAN POWER. 'Bringing everyone to the table will help us focus on our shared priorities — fiscal responsibility, tax relief, and a balanced budget. Uniting us to deliver for the future of Florida.'
— 'Five big budget issues: Tense times ahead as feuding Florida lawmakers take on DeSantis,' by Gray Rohrer of USA Today Network — Florida.
— 'All eyes on Florida's new statewide Medicaid managed-care bill,' by Christine Sexton of the Florida Phoenix.
UTHMEIER'S IMMIGRATION PUSH — 'State Republicans rushed earlier this year to aid President Donald Trump's mass deportation push. And since then, Florida officials have adopted a hardline attitude that mirrors administration officials on immigration issues, highlighted by a fight between the state's attorney general and a federal judge,' reports POLITICO's Isa Domínguez.
'Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier — appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis earlier this year — filed a motion this week to appeal U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams' temporary block on a key provision of Florida's new immigration law, which bars people without legal residency in the U.S. from entering the state. It's the latest in a series of Uthmeier statements slamming Williams' ruling, doubling down on an April 23 letter to law enforcement saying he 'cannot prevent' officers from making arrests while litigation is ongoing.'
SPEED BUMPS FOR DIRECT-CAR SALES — 'The politically powerful auto dealerships in Florida have battled for years to protect their turf, seeking help from the Legislature and state courts in their quest to ensure consumers don't buy cars without them,' report Jeffrey Schweers and Steven Lemongello of the Orlando Sentinel.
'Now they have a new defender in their latest legal fight, attempting to quash a new Volkswagen subsidiary's plans to sell electric trucks directly to drivers: Attorney General James Uthmeier. Uthmeier says plans by Scout Motors to 'circumvent' auto dealers is 'harmful' to state businesses and consumers. … Dealerships – and their lobbyists – have donated close to $90,000 to his 2026 campaign.'
NEW DEATH WARRANT SIGNED — 'DeSantis on Friday signed a death warrant for Anthony Wainwright, who was convicted of kidnapping a woman in 1994 from a Winn-Dixie supermarket parking lot in Lake City and raping and murdering her in rural Hamilton County,' reports Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. 'Wainwright, who had escaped from a North Carolina prison days before killing 23-year-old Carmen Gayheart, is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection June 10 at Florida State Prison.'
AND THIS WEEK — 'The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday refused to halt [this] week's scheduled execution of Glen Rogers, who was sent to death row for the 1995 murder of a woman in a Tampa motel room,' reports Jim Saunders of News Service of Florida. 'Justices, in a 26-page unanimous opinion, rejected arguments including that 'newly discovered' evidence about sexual abuse and trafficking that Rogers suffered as a child should spare him from being executed Thursday.'
— 'Is measles spreading in Florida? Hard to know. State's disease-tracking data no longer available,' reports Cindy Krischer Goodman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
EXPOSURE CHARGES — 'Former New College of Florida spokesperson Frederick Piccolo Jr. could have three misdemeanor charges for exposure of sexual organs in Sarasota County elevated to third-degree felonies, according to state attorney Ed Brodsky,' reports Chris Anderson and Gabriela Szymanowska of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
POPE'S FLORIDIAN BRO SPEAKS — 'Louis Prevost, a Navy veteran, is equal parts excited, happy, mind blown and a little worried about how newfound papacy will impact his relationship with his youngest brother, Pope Leo XIV,' reports Melissa Pérez-Carrillo of the Sarasota Herald Tribune.
He said: 'We can only hope that we can maintain that closeness, and we don't do anything to embarrass him.'
WATER HAZARD — Health officials have warned of blue-green algae near Pahokee in Lake Okeechobee, reports Julius Whigham II of the Palm Beach Post. 'Residents and visitors are advised to avoid swimming, wading or using personal watercraft in areas where there is a visible bloom. Those who come into contact with the algae, or with water that is discolored or smells unpleasant, should wash their skin and clothing.'
— '10 migrants held with ICE detainers after coming ashore near Palm Beach's Breakers resort,' report Olivia DiVenti and Rubén Rosario of 7News.
— 'UF presidential pick's shifting stances offer a look at how he leads,' reports Ian Hodgson of the Tampa Bay Times.
— 'Broward schools to slash budget by $65 million. Here's what may be cut,' by Scott Travis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
— 'Orlando Dreamers eye county-owned land for potential MLB stadium. Will it work?' by Ryan Gillespie and Stephen Hudak of the Orlando Sentinel.
CAMPAIGN MODE
THIS AFTERNOON — Gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS is doing a meet and greet with Miami Young Republicans. (More details.)
DNC FIRESTORM OVER PRIMARIES — 'Speaking with DNC Chair Ken Martin, [David] Hogg proposed a so-called internal firewall in which he would stay on as vice chair but be barred from accessing any internal DNC information about congressional and state legislative races as long as he was supporting challengers, according to three people familiar with their conversations and granted anonymity to describe them,' reports POLITICO's Holly Otterbein.
'Martin shot down the idea, the people said, expressing confidence that he would win the votes at the DNC to pass a rule requiring party officials to remain neutral in primaries — essentially forcing Hogg to drop his primary project or step down.'
— ''On the road': Chris Murphy, Maxwell Frost, Nikki Fried rally Dems in Greg Steube's district,' reports A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics.
— 'Judicial watchdog files charges against Broward judge who promoted salacious rumors, AI recording in campaign,' reports Rafael Olmeda of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
RELATIONSHIP RESET — 'Florida-based lobbyist Brian Ballard is no longer in the White House dog house, after scoring a Friday sit-down with President Trump and his chief of staff,' reports Axios' Marc Caputo.
'Ballard, a longtime Trump fundraiser and adviser who once lobbied for the Trump Organization, earned the ire of the White House after his firm circumvented the regular channels for lobbying on behalf of a cryptocurrency client. … Ballard cut short a European vacation and scored a meeting with Trump and [Chief of Staff Susie] Wiles. 'They had a good conversation,' said an administration source familiar with the 'very cordial' meeting. 'The president spoke his piece. Brian spoke his, and apologized.''
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
BIRTHDAYS: Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson … Leslie Dughi with Metz, Husband & Daughton.
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NBC News
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Trump's tariff deadline is near. Here's a look at countries that have a deal — and those that don't
Come Friday, the world will have to contend with higher tariff rates from the Trump administration, raising the specter of even more economic uncertainty. For most countries, that can of worms has been kicked twice down the road, from 'Liberation Day' on April 2, to July 9, and now to Aug. 1. Back in April, President Donald Trump had claimed to have done 'over 200 deals' in an interview with Time Magazine, and trade adviser Peter Navarro had said that '90 deals in 90 days' was possible. The country has fallen far short of that, with only eight deals in 120 days, including one with the 27-member European Union. Here are where things stand in global trade. U.K. first to a deal The U.K. led the charge on trade agreements with the U.S., striking one as early as May. The framework includes a 10% baseline tariffs on U.K. goods, as well as various quotas and exemptions for products such as autos and aerospace goods. 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Trump called the agreement 'perhaps the largest Deal ever made,' while adding that Japan would invest $550 billion in the United States and the U.S. would 'receive 90% of the Profits.' The path to this agreement was fraught with uncertainty, with Trump saying days before the agreement that he did not expect the two countries to reach a deal. He described Japan on separate occasions as 'very tough' in trade talks and suggested the country was 'spoiled' for not accepting U.S. rice despite facing a domestic rice shortage. E.U.: some discontent remains The European Union's agreement with the U.S. was struck just days ago, after long negotiations. E.U. goods are now facing a 15% baseline tariff rate, half the 30% Trump had previously threatened the bloc with. Existing duties on autos will be reduced to 15%, and levies on some products like aircraft and certain drug generics will go back to pre-January levels. But the deal has been met with criticism, including from some European leaders. French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou went as far as saying it was an act of 'submission' and a 'dark day.' E.U. Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, however, called it 'the best deal we could get under very difficult circumstances.' South Korea: also at 15% South Korea is the latest country to reach an agreement, on Thursday, with the terms being somewhat similar to the ones Japan received. The country will see a blanket 15% tariff on its exports, while duties on its auto sector are also lowered to 15%. South Korea 'will give to the United States $350 Billion Dollars for Investments owned and controlled by the United States, and selected by myself, as President,' Trump said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said '90% of the profits' from that $350 billion investment will be 'going to the American people.' However, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said the $350 billion fund will play a role in facilitating the 'active entry' of Korean companies into the U.S. market into industries such as shipbuilding and semiconductors. China: talks still ongoing The Trump administration's trade talks with China have taken a different tack than those with the rest of the world. The world's second-largest economy was firmly in Trump's trade crosshairs from the moment he took office. Rather than a deal, China has reached a series of suspensions over its 'reciprocal' tariff rate. It was initially hit with a 34% tariff from 'Liberation Day,' before a series of back-and-forth measures between the two sides saw the duties skyrocket to 145% for Chinese imports to the U.S. and 125% for U.S. imports to China. However, both sides agreed to reduced tariffs in May, after their first trade meeting in Geneva, Switzerland. The truce was agreed to last until Aug. 12. China currently faces a 30% combined tariff rate, while the U.S. is looking at 10% duties. The countries' most recent meeting in Stockholm ended without a truce extension, but U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that any truce extension will not be agreed to until Trump signs off on the plan. For countries without a deal, it appears that a higher global baseline tariff of about 15%-20% will be slapped on them, according to Trump, higher than the 10% baseline announced on 'Liberation Day.' Countries with a trade surplus with the U.S. will most likely see a higher 'reciprocal' tariff rate. Here are some key trading partners that have not agreed to a deal with the U.S. India: tariffs and a penalty On Wednesday, Trump announced a 25% tariff on India, with an additional unspecified 'penalty' for what he views as unfair trade policies and for India's purchase of military equipment and energy from Russia. 'While India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The 25% tariff rate is modestly lower than what Trump imposed on India on ' Liberation Day,' when he announced a 26% rate on the key trading partner, but at the high end of the 20%-25% range that the U.S. president said he was considering. Canada: an 'intense phase' There has been frequent back-and-forth between Canada and the U.S. over tariffs in recent months, with the country being hit by duties even before Trump announced his so-called 'reciprocal' tariffs. Canada is now facing 35% tariffs on various goods starting Aug. 1, with Trump threatening to increase that rate in case of retaliation. The rate is separate from any sectoral tariffs. Trump has repeatedly cited drugs flowing from Canada to the U.S. as a reason for his move to impose tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this week that the partners were in an 'intense phase' of talks, noting that it would be unlikely for an agreement not to include any tariffs, Reuters reported. Mexico: no sign of progress Like Canada, Mexico has also long been a U.S. tariff target, with Trump citing drugs and illegal migration as factors in his decision to announce levies on the U.S.' southern neighbor. The president has said that Mexico has not done enough to secure the border. Mexico is set to be hit with a 30% tariff, with any retaliation set to be met with an even higher rate from the U.S. The Mexican government has stressed that it is important for the trading partners to resolve their issues ahead of Aug. 1, but there have not been many signs of progress toward an agreement in recent weeks. Australia: sticking to the baseline Australia currently faces the baseline 10% as it runs a trade deficit with the United States. However, the country could be facing a higher tariff rate if Trump decides to raise his baseline rate to 15%-20%. Canberra has not been publicly known to be in trade talks with Washington, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reportedly arguing that Australia's deficit with the U.S. and its free trade agreement mean there should be no tariff on Australian imports. reportedly said was not prompted by Trump.
NBC News
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- NBC News
China probes Nvidia over AI chip 'tracking' security risks
While Nvidia has been given assurances by Washington that it will be allowed to resume exports of its made-for-China H20 general processing units, the AI chips may be met with increased scrutiny from Beijing. According to the Cyberspace Administration of China, Nvidia met with Beijing officials on Thursday regarding potential national security concerns posed by its H20 chips, which recently saw restrictions on their export lifted following an effective ban in April. Nvidia was requested 'to clarify and submit relevant supporting documentation regarding security risks, including potential vulnerabilities and backdoors, associated with its H20 computing chips sold to China,' according to a CNBC translation of a statement from CAC. In a post, the regulator said that Nvidia's computing chips were reported to have serious security vulnerabilities, also noting calls from U.S. lawmakers for mandatory tracking features to be placed on advanced chips exported from the country. In its statement, CAC added that American AI experts had already revealed that Nvidia's computing chips pose mature 'tracking and positioning' and 'remote shutdown' technologies. The statement appears to be referencing a report from Reuters in May that said Bill Foster, a Democrat lawmaker from Illinois, was planning to introduce legislation that would require advanced AI chipmakers like Nvidia to include a built-in location reporting system. Forester, who once worked as a particle physicist, and independent technical experts reportedly agreed that the technology to track chips was readily available, with much of it already built into Nvidia's chips. Forester's bill would also seek to give U.S. authorities the power to remotely shut down chips being used without proper licenses, in a measure to fight chip smuggling and export loopholes. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC. In recent weeks, many American lawmakers have also taken issue with the reported rollback of restrictions on Nvidia's H20 chips, warning they will advance Beijing's AI capability. This week, Nvidia reportedly placed orders for 300,000 H20 chipsets with contract manufacturer TSMC as it seeks to meet Chinese demand.
