‘Alligator Alcatraz' swamps GOP merch stores
Gov. RON DESANTIS announced Sunday that Florida deployed rescue teams to help with the response.
Good morning and welcome to Monday.
Republicans in Florida and nationwide are capitalizing off 'Alligator Alcatraz.'
The buzzy official name for state Attorney General JAMES UTHMEIER's project to set up an immigration detention center in the middle of the Everglades is opening up a whole new line of swag, fundraising emails and texts.
The Republican Party of Florida appeared to be first to release merch, sending out a fundraising email on June 27, before the facility was open, that urged supporters to buy a T-shirt or hat to help 'keep Florida tough on crime and tougher on borders.' The state party painted a picture of the then-forthcoming center as 'gator guarded' and 'python-patrolled.'
The campaign for Uthmeier started offering T-shirts, koozies, pins, bumper stickers and ballcaps this month. Some read, 'Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.'
Over at the Restore Our Nation PAC, a political committee affiliated DeSantis, a text message urged supporters to 'get your very own 'Alligator Alcatraz' hat' signed by the governor to 'wear the mission' of detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants. The price? $35. They come in navy mesh or camo. The National Republican Congressional Committee is also selling $30 T-shirts taglined 'ICE with a bite.'
'I have a surprise for you,' read a fundraising text message from gubernatorial candidate Rep. BYRON DONALDS. 'President Trump and I toured Alligator Alcatraz.' An attached link then prompts supporters to donate, accusing Democrats of 'doing everything possible' to do away with the detention facility.
Though Donalds wasn't part of setting up the state-run facility, he's the Trump-endorsed candidate for governor and spoke briefly at a roundtable during the president's visit. His district also includes Collier County, and the runway where the state set up tents for detainees is on the Miami-Dade and Collier County line.
The act of imprisoning undocumented immigrants on the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades has horrified Democrats and environmentalists — as well as some Republicans who privately concede the whole thing is disturbing, given concerns around flooding, tropical storms and how difficult an evacuation might be if it's needed. A video of water from a typical South Florida summer rainstorm showed water seeping into the facilities just after Trump visited last week.
Though the state's emergency division insisted the problem has been fixed, it's difficult to verify. Democratic state lawmakers who tried to tour the facilities last week were turned away, despite state law allowing them to turn up at detention centers without notice (more on that below).
Fundraising figures from sales of 'Alligator Alcatraz' merchandise aren't likely to show up in campaign finance records that will become public in the next week or so; the cutoff for the quarter was June 30. So just how much this is resonating with the GOP base won't be immediately apparent unless candidates or political committees decide to release fundraising figures early.
But it's clear top GOP leaders think 'Alligator Alcatraz' is an idea they can literally sell to devoted Republicans to help fill campaign coffers. It's all happening as Democrats continue to struggle to find their footing when it comes to immigration messaging. And that's more good news for Uthmeier as he tries to raise his name ID for a push to keep his seat as state attorney general in 2026.
Campaign spokesperson KAYLA LITTLE said they'd seen 'record fundraising support out of the gate' and touted Uthmeier's accomplishments 'from cracking down on drug cartels and child predators, to rescuing over 40 missing kids, to spearheading the plans for the Alligator Alcatraz illegal immigration detention center.'
'AG Uthmeier has had one of the strongest of starts in office,' she said. 'And Floridians know the best is yet to come.'
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.
... DATELINE TALLAHASSEE ...
PERSONAL FINANCES NOW POSTED — The personal financial disclosure for state Sen. JAY COLLINS, a frontrunner candidate for lieutenant governor, published after Friday's newsletter went out. Collins filed his paperwork on time, but it was not immediately publicly available because certain portions were being redacted for security reasons. It showed a net worth of $1.9 million, mostly tied into two homes he owns. It also showed his salary for Operation BBQ Relief, an organization that feeds communities affected by disasters, was roughly $212,500.
Uthmeier posted his financial disclosure over the weekend, which showed he has a net worth of roughly $1.1 million. The filing also showed he had $38,000 in Bitcoin, as well as holdings in multiple stocks — despite the potential of publicly traded companies coming under the jurisdiction of a state attorney general's office.
The companies included Tesla, NVIDIA, AT&T, Palantir Technologies and Exxon Mobil. His office said they were longer-term investments and that Uthmeier had not made any stock trades since becoming state AG.
A Tallahassee condo he owns is being rented by state Reps. TAYLOR YARKOSKY of Clermont and CHASE TRAMONT of Port Orange.
AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND — 'In a surprising and possibly unlawful act, five state legislators were denied entry Thursday into a taxpayer-funded migrant detention center deep in the Everglades, raising questions about what will happen behind the razor-wire fences that are being erected surrounding the controversial facility the state has named Alligator Alcatraz,' report Antonio Maria Delgado of the Miami Herald.
'Armed only with state law and a growing list of humanitarian concerns, state Senators Shevrin Jones and Carlos Guillermo Smith, along with Representatives Anna V. Eskamani, Angie Nixon and Michele Rayner, arrived at the gates of the facility to conduct what they saw as a legally authorized inspection. What they encountered instead was silence, locked doors and a bureaucratic wall.'
Meanwhile … The first group of detained immigrants began arriving at the facility on Thursday, report Curt Anderson and Kate Payne of The Associated Press.
How's it all being funded? Court documents show that Florida hasn't yet received any federal dollars toward 'Alligator Alcatraz,' reports Matt Dixon of NBC News.
FEARS OF ENVIRONMENTAL RUIN — 'Environmentalists worry that the rapidly constructed facility — which they contend sidestepped all required environmental permitting — will be harmful to the animals and ecosystem that surround it,' reports Alex Harris of the Miami Herald.
'Contrary to Gov. Ron DeSantis' claims of 'zero' impact, they say parts of the property are already being covered in trucked-in dirt and rock — possibly damaging surrounding wetlands and robbing habitat from Florida panthers, bonneted bats and wading birds that normally frequent the site.'
And hazards of the location: Experts are worried about mosquito-borne illnesses affecting detainees, report Lori Rozsa and Rachel Hatzipanagos of the Washington Post.
— 'The U.S. military is sending 200 Marines to Florida to support ICE operations,' reports Churchill Ndonwie of the Miami Herald.
TOMATO, TOMAHTO — 'The U.S. Department of Commerce's announcement that it will withdraw from an agreement with Mexico controlling tomato imports is being applauded by Florida lawmakers, who say it will allow Florida and other U.S. farmers to catch up to what the agency has labeled 'unfairly produced Mexican imports,'' reports the Florida Phoenix's Mitch Perry.
'But the proposal is fiercely opposed by lawmakers in Arizona and Texas, who claim the tariff being placed on Mexican tomatoes will harm their own economies and provide consumers with less choice and higher prices.'
PENINSULA AND BEYOND
RUN AGAIN? 'A proposal to create lifetime term limits for elected officials was supposed to topple Miami's political dynasties, blocking establishment candidates from returning to elected office in City Hall,' reports Tess Riski of the Miami Herald.
'But recent changes to the proposal ahead of a key vote [this] week have created a loophole that could allow Commissioner Joe Carollo or former Mayor Xavier Suarez to return as mayor as early as November 2026.'
PARKLAND MEMORIAL TAKING SHAPE — 'The memorial to honor those who died in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland has broken ground and much of the first phase of landscaping is complete,' reports Lauren Brensel of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
'But the foundation is waiting for more donations before construction can proceed. Members of the Parkland 17 Memorial Foundation said they expect this to be a multimillion-dollar project, but costs have yet to be finalized. The proceeds will cover the price of construction and future maintenance.'
NYT SPOTLIGHT — Democratic Mayors DONNA DEGAN of Jacksonville and D.C. REEVES of Pensacola were among 16 mayors interviewed by The New York Times about what it was like to lead a city under President DONALD TRUMP.
— 'Reopening of St. Petersburg's Barack Obama Library delayed again,' by Mark Parker of the St. Pete Catalyst.
CAMPAIGN MODE
REPUBLICAN LAUNCHING CAMPAIGN — State Rep. TOBY OVERDORF of Palm City is announcing this morning that he's running for the Florida Senate to represent District 31, which consists of Martin County and parts of Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. The seat is held by GOP state Sen. GAYLE HARRELL of Stuart, who's term limited in 2028.
'Sen. Harrell has been a steady voice for our community, our environment and our way of life,' said Overdorf, a business owner and environmental consultant. 'I'm grateful for her leadership and look forward to building on the foundation she's established for the Treasure Coast.'
DEMOCRAT LAUNCHING CAMPAIGN — University of Central Florida lecturer and community leader JANE AMAN is running for the state House seat in District 37, which includes parts of Orange and Seminole counties. It's currently held by state Rep. SUSAN PLASENCIA, a Republican. In her launch statement, Aman described helping students who are facing hunger, healthcare and housing issues.
Aman has endorsements from Democratic Rep. MAXWELL FROST, state Sen. CARLOS GUILLERNO SMITH, state Rep. ANNA ESKAMANI and state Rep. RITA HARRIS.
TRUMPLANDIA AND THE SWAMP
RUSSIAN INTERFERENCE STORIES — 'Members of the board that hands out Pulitzer Prizes are trying to convince the Florida Supreme Court to halt a lawsuit President Donald Trump filed against them,' reports POLITICO's Gary Fineout.
'Lawyers for nearly two dozen board members asked the state Supreme Court this week to accept jurisdiction of the case. The Pulitzer board members took the action after two lower courts declined to stay the lawsuit and declined motions to dismiss the suit. In a Thursday court filing attorneys argued Trump's defamation lawsuit should be placed on hold until he is no longer president.'
— 'The advertisers spending big in West Palm Beach just to reach Trump,' by Maggie Severns and Anthony DeBarros of The Wall Street Journal.
DATELINE D.C.
OVER THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND — Trump signed the tax and spending cut bill into law during a Fourth of July event at the White House.
From The Associated Press: 'Against odds that at times seemed improbable, Trump achieved his goal of celebrating a historic — and divisive — legislative victory in time for the nation's birthday. Fighter jets and a stealth bomber streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic as Trump and first lady Melania Trump stepped out onto the White House balcony.'
ODDS, ENDS AND FLORIDA MEN
BIRTHDAYS: State Rep. Stan McClain … former state Sen. Janet Cruz.
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