Gary Fineout
@gfineout.bsky.social
Reporter born in 20th Century still kicking in the 21st Century. Florida man. Tallahassee is built in the red clay hills of North Florida but it has a reputation from some for being swampy.
DeSantis' hand-picked choice for chief financial officer is getting a GOP challenger who is already been endorsed by Sen. Rick Scott www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Battle for Florida CFO heats up after GOP legislator backed by Scott jumps in
The announcement by Steele is sure to foster speculation that he might win the backing of President Donald Trump, setting up a potential proxy battle between the president and DeSantis.
www.politico.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 PM
DeSantis' hand-picked choice for chief financial officer is getting a GOP challenger who is already been endorsed by Sen. Rick Scott www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
"In Birmingham they love the governor." In Tallahassee, by and large, they don't. A look at a brawl in DeSantis' backyard www.politico.com/newsletters/...
DeSantis’ backyard brawl
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
"In Birmingham they love the governor." In Tallahassee, by and large, they don't. A look at a brawl in DeSantis' backyard www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Should Fla Dems have open primaries? ... It's being debated internally. More here ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
The voting fight roiling Florida Dems
www.politico.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Should Fla Dems have open primaries? ... It's being debated internally. More here ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Fla may spend up to $20m on renovations to the governor's mansion ... "It really is falling apart," said state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, who was among legislative leaders who approved planning $ for the project subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Florida may spend millions to renovate governor's mansion
“It really is falling apart,” said state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, who while she was Senate president back in 2024 supported setting aside money to plan for the renovations.
subscriber.politicopro.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Fla may spend up to $20m on renovations to the governor's mansion ... "It really is falling apart," said state Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, who was among legislative leaders who approved planning $ for the project subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
ICYMI .... Organizers behind a new recreational pot measure have sued after top state election officials pushed to throw out 200,000 signatures ... www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
New Florida push for legalized pot runs into a familiar foe
Smart & Safe Florida filed a lawsuit this week challenging a push by Florida’s top election officials to throw out as many as 200,000 signatures.
www.politico.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
ICYMI .... Organizers behind a new recreational pot measure have sued after top state election officials pushed to throw out 200,000 signatures ... www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Work on Alligator Alcatraz and the Trump library in Miami ... www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Inside Uthmeier’s path to a critical Trump endorsement in Florida
The president’s endorsement lowers the possibility of a contentious Republican primary next year and lessens the chance of a full-blown Trump-DeSantis proxy war across the ballot.
www.politico.com
October 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Work on Alligator Alcatraz and the Trump library in Miami ... www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Fla's new attorney general explains his decision to break with former AG Ashley Moody and not defend Fla gun laws ... which allowed open carry to become the law in the state ... More here ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Uthmeier addresses firearm policy
www.politico.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Fla's new attorney general explains his decision to break with former AG Ashley Moody and not defend Fla gun laws ... which allowed open carry to become the law in the state ... More here ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
ICYMI ... www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Trump-endorsed Donalds may soon have a new ‘26 rival: Florida’s LG
Jay Collins said that if he runs for governor, he would be willing to consider first lady Casey DeSantis — whom he called “brilliant” and “hard working” — as a possible running mate.
www.politico.com
September 18, 2025 at 10:21 PM
ICYMI ... www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
A new academic study on the "Free State of Florida" looked at the growing GOP edge in voter registration .. Researchers looked at voters aged 25 and up who moved in during the DeSantis years. They found a majority registered GOP ... More here ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Explaining Florida’s red wave
www.politico.com
September 12, 2025 at 11:52 AM
A new academic study on the "Free State of Florida" looked at the growing GOP edge in voter registration .. Researchers looked at voters aged 25 and up who moved in during the DeSantis years. They found a majority registered GOP ... More here ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Earlier today there was a hearing in Lake City regarding Rep. Cory Mills www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Rep. Cory Mills faces ex-girlfriend in Florida hearing over restraining order request
A Republican state committeewoman from Columbia County is seeking a restraining order against Mills, who has denied any wrongdoing.
www.politico.com
September 6, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Earlier today there was a hearing in Lake City regarding Rep. Cory Mills www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
ICYMI ...
Florida now may scrap all vaccine and immunization requirements — most notably including those for students.
Florida moves to scrap state school vaccine requirements
During the height of Covid-19, the state championed a “medical freedom” agenda that included scrapping mask mandates and prohibiting employers from requiring Covid-19 vaccines for employment.
www.politico.com
September 3, 2025 at 11:35 PM
ICYMI ...
Meanwhile in Atlanta www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Trump's Florida man for RNC chair officially takes the role
The elevation of the GOP state senator who once chaired the Republican Party of Florida was never in doubt after Trump hand-picked him for the job.
www.politico.com
August 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Meanwhile in Atlanta www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Helped with this morning's Fla Playbook ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Mapping out the future of redistricting
www.politico.com
August 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Helped with this morning's Fla Playbook ... www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Gary Fineout
Rep. Cory Mills is facing accusations that he benefited from federal contracts while in office, assaulted a past girlfriend and threatened another ex with the release of nude videos.
So far, the allegations have not translated into any effort to sideline the two-term Florida Republican.
So far, the allegations have not translated into any effort to sideline the two-term Florida Republican.
Republicans quietly fret about ‘disturbing’ Cory Mills allegations
So long as national party operatives view the Florida lawmaker’s seat as safe, there is little incentive for GOP leaders to engage.
www.politico.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Rep. Cory Mills is facing accusations that he benefited from federal contracts while in office, assaulted a past girlfriend and threatened another ex with the release of nude videos.
So far, the allegations have not translated into any effort to sideline the two-term Florida Republican.
So far, the allegations have not translated into any effort to sideline the two-term Florida Republican.
For your radar ... subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Judge blocks Citizens from steering claims disputes away from court
subscriber.politicopro.com
August 1, 2025 at 11:22 PM
For your radar ... subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Regarding DeSantis redistricting push www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
DeSantis says a census redo could be in works amid state redistricting wars
The Republican governor said the last U.S. census was "flawed" and a new one would benefit Florida.
www.politico.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Regarding DeSantis redistricting push www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Gary Fineout
Federal judge in 'Alligator Alcatraz' lawsuit pushes back against state arguments for moving case.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
POLITICO Pro: Federal judge in 'Alligator Alcatraz' lawsuit pushes back against state arguments for moving case
Judge Kathleen Williams didn't make a ruling on arguments about where the environmental lawsuit on the immigration detention center in the Everglades should be heard.
subscriber.politicopro.com
July 30, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Federal judge in 'Alligator Alcatraz' lawsuit pushes back against state arguments for moving case.
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Gary Fineout
The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state’s congressional map, delivering a win to DeSantis, who pushed through the changes that helped Republicans flip and maintain the House majority.
In boon for House GOP, Florida Supreme Court sides with DeSantis, upholds congressional map
DeSantis, in a social media post, said that "this was always the constitutionally correct map — and now both the federal courts and the FL Supreme Court have upheld it."
www.politico.com
July 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state’s congressional map, delivering a win to DeSantis, who pushed through the changes that helped Republicans flip and maintain the House majority.
Reposted by Gary Fineout
DeSantis has appointed one of his loyalists to a Florida Cabinet position rather than select a Trump-endorsed candidate, lighting a fuse in the MAGA World.
New Trump-DeSantis proxy war launches over key Florida job
The governor declined to pick a Trump ally for a Cabinet job in Florida, setting up a GOP primary showdown.
www.politico.com
July 16, 2025 at 7:18 PM
DeSantis has appointed one of his loyalists to a Florida Cabinet position rather than select a Trump-endorsed candidate, lighting a fuse in the MAGA World.