Latest news with #FacingSouthFlorida
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jason Pizzo says he'll run for Florida governor as an independent
State Sen. Jason Pizzo, who's talked about running for Florida governor for much of the past year, is ready to move beyond talk. He says he will run for the job next year. The part that was unexpected, until just a few weeks ago, is the label that he'll be running under. On April 24, he denounced and quit the Democratic Party and changed his registration to no party affiliation. So he'll be running as a no party affiliation/independent candidate. 'Yes, I am,' Pizzo said in an interview that aired Sunday on WFOR-Ch.4's 'Facing South Florida.' Pizzo said he is equipped to handle the challenge of what he predicted would be a coming state budget deficit. He said he would focus on issues that matter to people, not 'the rhetoric that the Republicans want to push' and won't offer the 'visceral reaction that Democrats have to every little step or statement that the Republicans make.' 'We need somebody who can balance a checkbook, who understands finance, not just economic theory, who's concerned about infrastructure and resiliency and the environment and education and all of these things that are at the top of mind for people that are just trying to keep a roof over their head, keep their kids clothed and educated,' Pizzo said. 'They want people that say, 'Listen, how am I going to pay my taxes? How am I going to pay my mortgage or my rent? Is my environment, when I flush my toilet, will it work? When it rains, is it going to inundate me with flooding, and can I really even afford to live here with property insurance?'' he said. Pizzo, a longtime Miami-Dade County resident, is now registered to vote in Broward County. In April, when he announced his departure from the Democratic Party during a speech from the floor of the state Senate, he alluded to his move when he said he sent his registration change to Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott. The Elections Office confirmed Monday that he is a registered NPA in the county. Other details are exempt from public disclosure because of Pizzo's past work prosecuting dangerous criminals as an assistant Miami-Dade County state attorney. A statewide campaign in Florida, a large state with 10 media markets, is an expensive undertaking. Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allied political committee spent $100 million on his 2022 reelection. His unsuccessful Democratic challenger Charlie Crist spent about $31 million. Four years earlier, DeSantis and his Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum spent about $100 million total. Pizzo is in a position to self fund a large part of a campaign if he chooses. His latest financial disclosure filed as a state senator showed he estimated his net worth as of Dec. 31, 2023, was $59.1 million. When 'Facing South Florida' host Jim DeFede asked Pizzo if he planned on self-financing his campaign and would decline political action committee or other outside money, Pizzo said this: 'It'll be private. I'll raise it myself.' Florida Senate Democrats change course with new leader Lori Berman. 'She doesn't fly off the cuff.' Democrat Pizzo, edging closer to run for Florida governor, sees Republican Donalds candidacy as irrelevant Campaign cash flows to state Rep. Cassel after her switch to Republican Party Looking for relevance in Republican Florida, Democratic leader seeks distance from progressives Dissatisfied with his party's potential candidates, Democratic state senator may run for Florida governor David Jolly entices Florida Democrats with dream of winning 2026 governor's race In the past, Pizzo said, he has refused to accept campaign contributions from special interests seeking to influence his position on particular issues. 'I'm going to be on the right position, that I think is the right position based on the merit of the position, and not based on a donation, and it sucks that we're here, Jim, but that's the reality,' Pizzo said. Pizzo didn't immediately return a request for comment on Monday. Regardless of whether Pizzo wins or loses, his decision has an impact on Broward County. Since the 2022 election, Pizzo's district has been a mostly Broward district. He was elected last year to a four-year term, but under the state's resign-to-run law he would have to resign the Senate seat to run for governor. He would have to submit an irrevocable resignation at the end of May 2026, 10 days before candidates officially begin qualifying to get on the ballot. That would trigger an election in November 2026 to fill the remaining two years on Pizzo's Senate term. Former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, who left office because of term limits last year, has already filed paperwork to run for the Pizzo-held Senate seat, and has said she'd run in 2026 or 2028, whenever the seat opens. Another potential candidate is state Rep. Hillary Cassel, who represents much of the same territory that's in the state Senate district. In December, after last year's election, Cassel also quit the Democratic Party and registered as a Republican. She previously filed paperwork to run for reelection, but could switch. Cassel didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. The 37th state Senate district takes in most of Broward east of Interstate 95 from Davie Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale north to the Palm Beach County line. South of Davie Boulevard it takes in nearly all of Broward east of Florida's Turnpike. It includes the downtown Fort Lauderdale business district, wealthy enclaves along the coast, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades. It also includes a pocket of northeast Miami-Dade County, including Aventura. It may seem early for candidates to declare their plans for the 2026 governor's race, but it isn't. Candidates often file formal paperwork, or at least signal their intentions, during the first half of the year before a major statewide election. Republican Congressman Byron Donalds is already seeking his party's nomination, and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump. Casey DeSantis, wife of the governor, also may run in the Republican primary. Term limits prevent Ron DeSantis from running again. Former Congressman David Jolly, a former Republican and now a Democrat, has been traveling the state as he gears up for a run. And another much talked about potential no party affiliation/independent candidate for governor, the trial lawyer John Morgan, whose firm is ubiquitous on TV ads and on billboards, is set to deliver a major speech Wednesday in Tallahassee. Pizzo, 48, first elected to the Senate in 2018, is well known in political circles. A statewide poll conducted May 5-7 for the James Madison Institute, a conservative think tank, found Pizzo isn't well known. The poll found 35% said they weren't familiar with him and 21% said they had no opinion. He was viewed favorably by 22% and unfavorably by 23%. In a September 2024 interview, Pizzo described a scenario where 'somebody like me' could get elected. 'I think I would offer the best chance' for the Democrats, Pizzo said. 'When you go down the checklist of boxes, the pros and cons, yeah, I would like my chances.' He said at the time that the large number of no party affiliation voters — who make up more than a quarter of the state's registered voters — are looking for something different than what Democrats have offered up in recent elections. They would 'love to have an alternative, would like to dip their toe into something else,' he said last year, a message he leaned into during his WFOR-Ch. 4 appearance. 'NPAs decide who wins elections in this state.' As recently as February, he said he might be the Democratic nominee for governor. He spent much of his five months as Senate Democratic leader emphasizing a centrist message and seeking to distance the party from its progressive wing. It concluded with a late-April speech when he resigned his leadership position, declared the party 'dead,' and became an NPA. Anthony Man can be reached at aman@ and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
Politico
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Three-way governor's race ahead
Good morning and welcome to Monday. 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@ A NEW ERA FOR PLAYBOOK: Big news from POLITICO's flagship morning newsletter in Washington: Today we launch The Playbook Podcast, hosted by Author and Managing Editor Jack Blanchard and newly named Playbook Chief Correspondent Dasha Burns. Jack has already been skillfully decoding politics, policy and power in Washington, and now with Dasha, a proven force on the Trump beat, will deliver across platforms what makes Playbook essential: a clear, aggressively nonpartisan and deeply reported distillation of what matters now and why. Also joining the team: Adam Wren as Contributing Author for Playbook's Friday and Saturday editions, adding insight and sharp political reporting to your weekend reads. Sign up now to get Playbook delivered straight to your inbox. ... 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.
CBS News
04-05-2025
- CBS News
Social Security concerns
Jim DeFede joined CBS4 News in January 2006 and serves as an investigative reporter for the station, as well as host of its Sunday morning public affairs program "Facing South Florida."
CBS News
02-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
CBS News Miami documentary "Warehoused" pushes Florida Senate to introduce criminal justice reform bill
There has been a major development in the aftermath of our CBS News Miami documentary "Warehoused: The Life and Death of Tristin Murphy." The Florida Senate president is now pushing a bill to reform how mentally ill people are treated in the state's criminal justice system. State Senator Jennifer Bradley introduced the bill this past week, which will offer treatment rather than prison for people with mental illness like Tristin. "Facing South Florida" talks with Bradley about the details of the bill and what she is hoping to accomplish with this legislation.
CBS News
23-02-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
"Facing South Florida" takes up-close look at Trump's first month back in office
"Facing South Florida" devotes the entire half hour to taking an up-close look at President Donald Trump's first month in office. "Facing South Florida" and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz discuss, among other things—the pardoning of the January 6th rioters, the thousands of federal worker layoffs, the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico, Trump's plan to own Gaza, and the latest involving Russia and Ukraine.
