AGP Executive Report

Storm Response: Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Ashley Moody surveyed Hurricane Isaias recovery in the Panhandle as power restoration continued; about 122,000 customers were still without electricity in Florida. Governor’s Race: Democrat David Jolly and Republican Byron Donalds are divided over Amendment 3, which would sharply expand the homestead exemption and could eliminate property taxes for many homeowners. Donalds backs property-tax cuts but says lost local revenue must be replaced; Jolly has raised concerns about the measure’s impact on services. Gadsden County leaders warn it could cost the county $6 million. Election Oversight: Florida counties’ canvassing boards are preparing to help safeguard the midterms as public confidence in elections remains fragile. Hope Florida: After an appeals court ordered the grand jury report expunged, DeSantis called for an investigation into the leak.

Hurricane Recovery: More than 120,000 Florida customers remained without power Monday after Hurricane Isaias. Gov. Ron DeSantis said crews had restored service to over 70% of affected accounts as the state cleared roads and distributed supplies. Campaign Trail: Bernie Sanders, Chris Murphy and Ro Khanna are heading to Florida to campaign with U.S. Senate hopeful Angie Nixon, who faces Republican Ashley Moody. Murphy plans to appear with Nixon in Orlando on Oct. 14; Khanna is set to join her Oct. 20. Governor’s Race: Democrat David Jolly says undecided Black voters could help determine the contest against Republican Byron Donalds. Recent polls show a close race, with Republicans holding leads in some statewide surveys. Hope Florida Case: Florida’s appeals court ordered a grand jury report on the state’s Hope Florida program expunged. DeSantis called the ruling a victory and demanded accountability over the report’s leak.

Hurricane Recovery: More than 146,000 Florida households remained without power Monday after Hurricane Isaias struck near Destin. The storm killed two people in Florida and two in Alabama; the state has activated small-business loans and opened an insurance claims center. 2026 Campaigns: Florida’s governor and U.S. Senate races are tightening, with recent polling showing incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody and challenger Angie Nixon in a close contest. Republican David Jolly is also pitching immigration protections to Miami’s Haitian community. Hope Florida Case: An appeals court ordered the grand jury report on the $10 million Medicaid settlement controversy expunged. Gov. Ron DeSantis called the ruling a victory and demanded accountability over the leak. School Vaccines: Florida plans to end four vaccine requirements for schools and child care, drawing warnings from doctors about the health risks.

Hurricane Recovery: Gov. Ron DeSantis said more than 200,000 customers have had power restored after Hurricane Isaias, with utilities still working to reach thousands left in the dark. 2026 Races: Florida’s governor and Senate contests remain close, with Republicans leading in recent polls. The campaigns are taking different approaches to race and voter concerns; Ashley Moody faces Democrat Angie Nixon, while Byron Donalds is running against David Jolly. Ballot Measures: A Gainesville forum put Amendment 3’s proposed property-tax changes under debate, with supporters promising tax relief and opponents warning of risks to public services. School Governance: Hillsborough’s school board unanimously urged voters to reject a referendum that would make the superintendent an elected, partisan office. Hope Florida: An appeals court ordered the grand jury report on the state program expunged, a ruling DeSantis has called a victory.

Storm Response: Gov. Ron DeSantis mobilized about 5,000 National Guard members and 175 State Guard personnel for Hurricane Isaias recovery, with roughly 16,000 power workers ready to help. Two deaths were reported in Florida as outages and storm damage persisted. 2026 Races: New polling shows Republicans leading Florida’s governor and Senate contests, though both remain close with Election Day approaching. Hope Florida: An appeals court expunged the grand jury report on the state’s $10 million Medicaid settlement, rejecting its findings against DeSantis officials; State Attorney Monique Worrell is still reviewing the matter. Death Penalty: DeSantis withdrew the death warrant for William Lee Thompson, a 74-year-old inmate whose lawyers raised concerns about his health.

Hurricane Recovery: Isaias made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 hurricane before weakening inland. Two people died in Florida, and more than 420,000 utility customers remained without power Saturday. Flooding and tornado threats persisted as crews cleared roads and restored service. State Response: Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida activated thousands of Guard and State Guard personnel, with roughly 16,000 utility workers ready to help. Major roads and state-owned bridges reopened, and President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Florida. Florida Politics: A student-led FAMU town hall gave gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds a chance to answer students’ questions after David Jolly declined the debate invitation. Death Penalty: DeSantis withdrew the execution order for William Lee Thompson, 74, without explanation. His lawyers had argued that dementia left him unable to understand his execution.

Hurricane Isaias: The storm made landfall near Destin as a Category 2 hurricane, then weakened as it moved inland. Flooding, downed trees and dangerous roads remain concerns, with more than 430,000 Florida customers reported without power. Florida’s 2026 Races: Campaigns are heating up, with polls showing close contests for governor and U.S. Senate. Hope Florida: An appeals court ordered a grand jury report on the program expunged; Gov. Ron DeSantis called the ruling a victory and demanded accountability for the leak. Sarasota County: A report says political committees tied to lobbyist Dave Ramba paid $42,000 to a company run by Commissioner Teresa Mast’s husband, raising questions about potential conflicts as the commission considers projects backed by donors.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 3 storm is bearing down on the western Panhandle, with 115 mph winds, dangerous surge and flooding expected. Gov. Ron DeSantis urged residents to finish preparations and heed evacuation orders; outages are already affecting Tallahassee and surrounding areas. Senate Race: A new St. Pete Polls survey puts Republican Ashley Moody at 47% and Democrat Angie Nixon at 45%, within the margin of error with four weeks until Election Day. Hope Florida Case: An appeals court ordered the expungement of a grand jury report alleging $10 million from a Medicaid settlement was routed through the Hope Florida Foundation to political committees. DeSantis called the ruling a victory and demanded accountability over the report’s leak. Death Penalty: DeSantis withdrew the execution warrant for 74-year-old William Thompson, whose lawyers raised concerns about dementia. Property Taxes: Florida voters will decide Amendment 3 in November. It would sharply raise the homestead exemption, offering homeowners tax relief while critics warn of cuts to local services.

Hurricane Isaias: Florida’s Panhandle is bracing for the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, with life-threatening storm surge, damaging winds and flooding possible. DeSantis declared emergencies and urged evacuations as crews and supplies moved into place. Death Penalty: DeSantis withdrew the death warrant for 74-year-old William Lee Thompson, whose lawyers cited dementia and serious health problems. Hope Florida: An appeals court ordered a grand jury report on the DeSantis administration’s Hope Florida program expunged. DeSantis called it a victory, while State Attorney Monique Worrell is pursuing a criminal investigation. Vaccine Rules: A state health panel hearing over a proposal to repeal four school and child-care vaccine requirements drew a clash between activists and doctors. 2026 Races: Byron Donalds leads David Jolly by seven points in a new governor’s race poll, while Sen. Ashley Moody leads Angie Nixon 50% to 40%. South Florida: Trump backed a proposal for a presidential retreat at his West Palm Beach golf club, which would require county land for the Camp David-style project.

Hurricane Isaias: The Category 2 storm is headed for the Florida Panhandle, with landfall expected late Friday or early Saturday. Gov. Ron DeSantis expanded the state of emergency to 27 counties as officials warned of dangerous winds, flooding and storm surge; thousands of utility workers are on standby. Governor’s Race: Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly are neck and neck in one new poll, while another puts Donalds ahead. Sen. Rick Scott joined Donalds on the campaign trail as affordability looms over the contest. Hope Florida: A state appeals court ordered a grand jury report on the charity’s $10 million Medicaid settlement payment expunged. DeSantis called the ruling a victory, but questions about how the funds were used persist. School Funding: Osceola County schools, after eliminating 785 jobs and cutting $15.9 million in programs, are asking voters to approve a four-year tax increase to support salaries, safety and student services.**

Hurricane Isaias: DeSantis declared an emergency in 25 counties as the storm strengthened toward a potentially dangerous Gulf Coast landfall Friday. Mandatory evacuations are underway in parts of Okaloosa County; officials are urging residents to finish preparations and check evacuation zones. Hope Florida: A state appeals court ordered the expungement of a grand jury report critical of the DeSantis administration. State Attorney Monique Worrell is separately reviewing the matter for possible criminal investigation. November Ballot: Florida voters will decide on three constitutional amendments, including a proposed property-tax cut. More than half of voters surveyed support Amendment 3, though Sheriff Grady Judd warns the cut could threaten public safety. Governor’s Race: A new poll puts Republican Byron Donalds seven points ahead of Democrat David Jolly, with affordability among the campaign’s central issues.

Hurricane Preparations: Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 25 Florida counties as Tropical Storm Isaias strengthened in the Gulf, with forecasters warning it could become a hurricane and threaten the northern Gulf Coast. Utilities and emergency crews are preparing, and officials are urging residents to stock supplies and plan for power outages. Governor’s Race: A YouGov poll puts Republican Byron Donalds at 47% and Democrat David Jolly at 45% among likely voters, a gap within the margin of error. The close contest stands out in a state Republicans have carried comfortably in recent elections. Insurance Oversight: Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia called for greater transparency in payments between insurers and affiliated firms. A state-commissioned analysis found insurers reported $432 million in losses from 2017 to 2019 while paying $1.3 billion to affiliates.**

Tropical Storm Watch: Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 25 northern Florida counties as Tropical Depression Nine threatens the Gulf Coast, aiming to buy communities extra time and resources to prepare. Abortion Access: Florida’s abortion rules still require an ultrasound and a 24-hour wait before medication, and activists warn that could force more patients to travel out of state if federal telehealth limits tighten. Book Bans: A new PEN America report says nearly 12,000 books were removed from public schools in 2025-26, with Florida among the top states cited. AI and Politics: Florida Republicans are pushing back on AI’s risks even as national election agencies struggle—Reuters reports the FEC can’t enforce election rules without a quorum. Elections: A new NBC South Florida/Telemundo poll shows Byron Donalds leading David Jolly for governor and Ashley Moody up over Angie Nixon for Senate. Public Safety/Tech: A Florida man was arrested after investigators say he accessed a woman’s computer and posted private info in more than 100 TikTok videos.

Key West Local Government: Mayor Sam Kaufman named Spencer Krenke to the city attorney screening committee, saying Krenke has no business ties to the city and isn’t a lawyer—aiming to reduce conflicts of interest. Florida Politics & Elections: Byron Donalds says the governor’s race is “too close to call,” warning Republicans not to assume an easy win as Election Day nears; meanwhile, Democrats are pressing Black voters to stay with Angie Nixon and not back Donalds. Public Safety & Health: An Estero mother is urging lawmakers to strengthen kratom protections after her 2-year-old nearly died from a strawberry-flavored kratom tablet; separate federal action issued a public health alert for illegally imported canned chicken Vienna-style sausages from Jamaica. State Policy & Services: DeSantis highlighted Medicaid fraud crackdowns, citing referrals to the state’s Medicaid fraud unit and provider suspensions/terminations. Education & Community: UCF’s student senate approved a proclamation recognizing October as LGBTQ+ History Month. Sports: Bryan Eastman won reelection to Gainesville’s City Commission for a second term.

Death Penalty: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a warrant for Jesse Guardado, setting Florida’s 20th execution of 2026 for Nov. 5, with another pair of executions scheduled for Oct. 13. Elections & Voting: A Florida ballot explainer breaks down “amendment vs. referendum” for Nov. 3, as voters face a long list of state and local questions. Cost of Living & Energy: Trump signed an order easing limits on tax-free red-dyed diesel, aiming to cut fuel costs as midterm pressure mounts. Book Bans: PEN America reports nearly 12,000 book removals in U.S. public schools over the past year, with Florida among the states driving most cases. Local Governance: Manatee County’s impact fee lawsuit decision is expected soon, after a similar Palm Coast ruling favored developers. Public Safety/Privacy: A ransomware group claims it breached Trump Mobile and posted personal data on a dark web leak site. Climate/Infrastructure: Emera, ATCO and Canadian Utilities announced a major merger to build a Canadian utility and energy infrastructure powerhouse, including expansion into Florida.

Voter Deadline: Florida voters have until midnight to register for the Nov. 3 election, with options to sign up online, through tax collector offices, designated agencies, or by mail. Election Security & Access: Miami-Dade’s elections chief says ICE will not be at polling places and law enforcement won’t interfere with voting—urging residents not to be swayed by fear or misinformation. Campaign Politics: A Reuters-Ipsos poll finds Trump’s approval at a record low, with support among Hispanic voters sliding to 24% as midterms near. Governor Race & Messaging: Byron Donalds unveiled a “Florida’s Coastal Corridor” plan to coordinate protection of coastal waterways, pitching it as low-bureaucracy and non-restrictive for public fishing access. Local Governance & Infrastructure: DeSantis celebrated the new I-95/Oslo Road interchange in Indian River County, opening a year early and touting faster commutes and quicker emergency response. Environment & Enforcement: Florida officials announced arrests tied to an alleged sea-life poaching ring, including protected sea turtles, with racketeering and major prison exposure. Health Policy: Florida’s autism-treatment task force is nearing final recommendations, including possible licensing and oversight changes for ABA services. Business/Finance: Brightline’s debt and Chapter 11 restructuring continue to raise questions about rail’s future in Florida.