Poll: Majorities oppose Ron DeSantis-backed ‘Stop WOKE’ and parental rights laws

A majority of Florida voters disapprove of two key pieces of legislation on social issues backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, according to a new survey.

Released Monday, the fresh Spectrum News/Siena College Poll shows 50% of respondents oppose the “Parental Rights in Education” measure, which critics have pejoratively called the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Just 44% of respondents approve of the legislation.

The Parental Rights law bans classroom “instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity” for students in kindergarten through third grade, or “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

The “Stop WOKE” Act, which is still being litigated in the courts, prohibits the teaching of so-called critical race theory in K-12 classrooms and workplaces. Similarly, it is a political loser, with 51% disapproval against just 34% approval.

Central to the unpopularity of both measures is a significant minority of Republicans. A full 28% of them disapprove of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, showing that the negative branding of the legislation left an impression on these respondents. Meanwhile, a staggering 38% of Republicans disapprove of “Stop WOKE,” against just 48% approval.

The overall opprobrium against both these pieces of legislation extends to all age groups, except in one case. A majority of respondents between the ages of 50 and 64 back the Parental Rights in Education legislation, with 52% approval against just 37% disapproval. But otherwise, the measure is underwater among people of all ages.

The measures are also underwater with both White voters and Black voters. However, the Parental Rights in Education law is backed by a plurality of Latino voters, with 49% support against 46% disapproval.

The Spectrum News/Siena College poll of 669 likely voters was taken before Hurricane Ian, between Sept. 18 and Sept. 25. Republicans made up 34% of respondents, Democrats 33%, and Independent/Other 28%. The poll had a 4.5-point margin of error.

The post Poll: Majorities oppose Ron DeSantis-backed ‘Stop WOKE’ and parental rights laws appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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Democrats bash Gov. DeSantis over Gadsden official who resigned amid KKK costume controversy

The Florida Democratic Party is hoping to keep the pressure on Gov. Ron DeSantis for appointing a Gadsden County Commissioner who later resigned amid a controversy over a Ku Klux Klan costume he purportedly once wore.

Last month, Commissioner Jeffery Moore resigned after photos emerged of someone local residents believe is him in a KKK costume, possibly at a Halloween party years earlier.

DeSantis appointed Moore, a fellow Republican, in late July to replace a retiring Democrat. But within two months, Moore had resigned from office and from the District 2 General Election ballot over the image.

“At this point, nobody should be surprised that this extreme Governor who wants total control over women’s reproductive health care decisions, even in cases of rape and incest — and who still refuses to condemn the neo-Nazis who follow him like groupies, and who promoted an antisemite in his campaign ads — would install a man who parades in a Klan uniform to a position of power in Florida’s Blackest county,” Florida Democratic Party spokesperson Kobie Christian said in a statement.

“Hate finds haven with Ron DeSantis, and it’s clear his moral compass is broken. Floridians deserve so much better.”

Gadsden County is Florida’s only majority-Black county.

According to the Tallahassee Democrat, local religious leaders demanded Moore come forward to address the allegations.

Democrats have repeatedly condemned DeSantis for associating with people who have been accused of antisemitism and racism. Most recently, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist criticized the DeSantis campaign for including in one TV ad a pastor who some say has made antisemitic comments.

Neither the Governor’s Office nor Moore have publicly commented on the photograph or the circumstances of his resignation. DeSantis’ Office and gubernatorial campaign did not immediately return Florida Politics’ request for comment.

Moore filled a seat vacated by Chairman Anthony Viegbesie, a Democrat. Viegbesie represented District 2, a Democratic-leaning seat that stretches from north Quincy to west Havana.

Moore, of Havana, was the only Republican running for District 2 in November and the only Republican currently serving the Board of County Commissioners.

He is the past Chairman of the Gadsden Soil and Water Conservation District, is a member of the National Association of Conservation District’s Board of Directors and is the immediate past President of the Association of Florida Conservation Districts.

The post Democrats bash Gov. DeSantis over Gadsden official who resigned amid KKK costume controversy appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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source https://floridapolitics.com/?p=561009

Poll: Majority of independents support Ron DeSantis’ migrant flights

Fresh statewide polling shows most independent voters back Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial decision to fly migrants to other states.

A Spectrum News/Siena College Poll released Monday shows 50% of independents support Florida sending migrants to other states, specifically naming Massachusetts and New York. Just 44% oppose the flights, which include a controversial charter flight of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard that took place last month.

Independent support essentially mirrors the overall poll, which shows 49% in favor and 44% opposed, with partisan splits in play.

Democratic politicians have called the transit “human trafficking.” And by an overwhelming margin, Democrats agree: 79% oppose it, while just 10% of Democrats back “Air DeSantis.” Meanwhile, 87% of Republicans back the migrant relocation scheme, while just 9% oppose it.

A gender gap is in play with the migrant transit program, with 55% of men supporting it against 39% opposition. But with women, it’s underwater, with 44% support against 49% disapproval.

White voters favor it, with 56% approval, compared to just 15% of Black voters who back the program. It’s underwater with Latino voters, meanwhile, with 42% support and 51% disapproval.

Regional splits are also in play. While migrant relocation has majority approval in North Florida and Tampa Bay, it is underwater in both Miami-Dade and Orlando metros.

With Hurricane Ian fostering disaster-driven cooperation between DeSantis and President Joe Biden, the migrant flights have been drastically downplayed in the re-election campaign messaging. Yet there was a sign the controversy was chafing DeSantis even before that, with a fundraising email last month blasting Biden’s immigration “crisis” but not mentioning the Martha’s Vineyard charter flight.

“As the crisis at our southern border worsens, DeSantis contended, “the Left seems to be up in arms and offended about everything except the crisis itself.”

Ahead of the hurricane, defiant DeSantis told friendly interviewer Sean Hannity that both travelers and those in Martha’s Vineyard “wanted” the plane to land.

“They said they wanted this; they said they were a sanctuary jurisdiction,” DeSantis claimed.

The undocumented immigrants had “all signed consent forms to go,” he added.

With Florida now dealing with a natural disaster that few imagined weeks ago, the migrant flights have receded from the headlines. But in at least one poll, they were a political winner.

This survey of 669 likely voters was taken before Hurricane Ian, between Sept. 18 and Sept. 25. Republicans made up 34% of respondents, Democrats 33%, and Independent/Other 28%. The poll had a 4.5-point margin of error.

The post Poll: Majority of independents support Ron DeSantis’ migrant flights appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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Marco Rubio, Val Demings tied, according to progressive pollsters

New polling suggests the U.S. Senate race on top of Florida ballots could be a dead heat.

Progressive outfits released a new poll showing 46% of Florida voters plan to vote for Democratic challenger Val Demings, the same percentage who intend to support Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s re-election. The survey results were published by the Florida Communications and Research Hub, a collective effort of Progress Florida and Florida Watch.

The poll was taken between Sept. 22 and 27 and includes responses from 2,860 registered voters. Pollsters report a slim 1.83 percentage point margin of error. That pegs the race as a genuine tie.

The organizations commissioning the poll suggest that means a divisive political environment has put the race in play, and that the same goes for the Governor’s race, where Democrat Charlie Crist is challenging Republican incumbent Ron DeSantis.

“While Gov. DeSantis has engaged in inhumane political stunts to get himself on Fox News, Democrats like Charlie Crist and Chief Val Demings have been putting forward policies that will better the lives of all Floridians,” said Florida Watch Executive Director Josh Weierbach.

“Florida remains a razor-thin, battleground state and Democrats are in position to win by focusing on how the political ambitions of Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio are helping drive the housing affordability crisis in our state with out-of-control property insurance rates and rent hikes and their support for extreme bans on abortion without exceptions for rape and incest.”

Demings’ team cheered the results.

“Chief Demings is running to represent all Floridians, while Marco Rubio continues to fail them every chance he gets,” said Demings Press Secretary Devon Cruz. “Floridians know this race is between a cop on the beat versus a career politician who doesn’t show up for work. Floridians want a leader in the United States Senate who will fight to lower costs, lower crime, and protect their constitutional rights. Chief Demings will be that Senator.”

Pollsters said in a memo they weighted the race for a Republican-leaning electorate, with 41% of respondents as registered Republicans and 37% registered Democrats.

The poll did find Rubio, a Cuban American Senator, polling better than his GOP compatriot DeSantis among Hispanic voters. The demographic favors Rubio by 5 percentage points, while DeSantis boasts just a 2-point edge.

As for Demings, the good and bad news is that a substantial number have no strong feelings about the Orlando Congresswoman. About 35% of voters ages 18 to 35 cannot identify Demings. Similarly, about 29% of Hispanic voters do not know anything about the Democrat.

That leaves an opportunity to overtake Rubio by educating voters about herself, though time is ticking with the Nov. 8 General Election just over a month away.

The post Marco Rubio, Val Demings tied, according to progressive pollsters appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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Memo outlines potential path for Aramis Ayala victory in Attorney General race

Democrat Aramis Ayala faces hurdles in her challenge to Attorney General Ashley Moody. However, new polling pushed by her campaign suggests abortion and other hot-button social issues could be an equalizer, if she can get the money to message them.

A Sept. 21 memo from 20-20 Insight provided to the Ayala campaign claims that polling they conducted, which shows Moody up by 2 points over Ayala, shows that “key voter blocs are receptive to Ayala suggesting that if she has the resources to communicate with voters, this is a winnable race.”

The poll says that when abortion is made central, Ayala is advantaged. Framing Moody as “pro-life” and Ayala as “pro-choice” brings the race to a dead heat, with each candidate garnering 47%. When so-called “negative messages” about both candidates are introduced to voters, Ayala takes the lead, 47% to 46%.

Majorities of undecided and independent voters take issue not just with Moody’s anti-abortion position, but also with what the memo calls “her endorsement of MAGA election conspiracy theories.”

“Two major targets for Ayala’s campaign are pro-choice independent women and lower-turnout Democratic base voters. In oversamples in the poll, she saw her lead grow by 6% and 10% respectively with those two groups after they were informed about her pro-choice stance. That compares to only a 2% movement with voters overall,” the memo contends.

An “upset” could be “well within reach in the race for Attorney General,” claims the pollster.

“Bottom line: If Ayala has the resources to communicate this contrast to the voters, she can win this race.”

The Ayala polling memo surfaced as a public Spectrum News/Siena College Poll shows Moody up by 7 points overall and ahead by 16 points with independent voters. Despite Moody’s lead, neither she nor Ayala is well known, according to the Spectrum survey, as 75% of respondents didn’t know who the AG was, while 83% didn’t know Ayala.

Whether Ayala has the time to get the resources to define Moody is also in question.

The incumbent has more than $5.5 million on hand in her Friends of Ashley Moody political committee, and more than $800,000 available in her campaign account.

Ayala has a little less than $22,000 in her campaign account.

The post Memo outlines potential path for Aramis Ayala victory in Attorney General race appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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source https://floridapolitics.com/?p=560984

President Joe Biden to visit Florida in response to Hurricane Ian

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are set to travel to Florida this Wednesday to survey the damage and ensuing recovery efforts caused by Hurricane Ian.

The White House has not yet disclosed details on the Bidens’ trip to Florida, including where they plan to visit. Before their stop in Florida, the pair will be visiting Puerto Rico on Monday after Hurricane Fiona slammed the island as a Category 1 storm on Sept. 18.

Ian made landfall Wednesday afternoon near Fort Myers at near-Category 5 strength, bringing with it torrential rain, tornadoes and massive storm surges that flooded a large swath of the Gulf Shore.

The hurricane became the fifth-most powerful to ever hit the U.S. after leveling areas in Fort Myers and Sarasota, leaving nearly 2.7 million people without power.

The hurricane has so far claimed 54 lives: 47 in Florida, four in North Carolina and three in Cuba. Search and rescue efforts are underway. As of Saturday morning, over 3,500 people and nearly 140 pets have been rescued by U. S. Coast Guard, federal, state and local search and rescue teams. The number of Federal teams supporting search and rescue operations has doubled.

On Thursday, Biden declared Hurricane Ian a major disaster and agreed the federal government will cover 100% of debris removal and emergency protective measures for the next 30 days in the state.

And, a new round of disaster declarations made Saturday evening adds Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns and Volusia counties to the list of counties now eligible to receive assistance from FEMA.

The post President Joe Biden to visit Florida in response to Hurricane Ian appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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FDOT: Section of I-75 remains closed in Southwest Florida due to rising water

Because of rising water, a section of Interstate 75 between Venice and North Port has been closed in both directions.

As of 8:00 a.m., the road remains closed. 

The closures affect I-75 and Florida State Road 93 in both directions, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) late Friday. FDOT is in contact with WAZE, Google and Apple Maps over the closures.

FDOT also says to expect major delays and for the detours to continue until the water recedes along the major west coast corridor.

Unfortunately, as of Saturday morning, the flood waters will not be receding any time soon:

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Along the Myakka River, there is currently NO expected change in impacts. The current forecast has the river reaching its crest now #flwx pic.twitter.com/tFi6bCGhUB

— NWS Tampa Bay (@NWSTampaBay) October 1, 2022

The closures come more than 48 hours after Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida near Cayo Costa in Lee County.

“Please be advised that the Myakka River under Interstate 75 (I-75) has risen and impacted the interstate, no longer making it safely passable for motorists. Due to the rising water, I-75 in both directions is now closed from mile marker 179 (North Port / Toledo Blade Blvd) to mile marker 191 (Englewood / Jacaranda Blvd),” according to the release.

For those traveling southbound, a detour istwitter at exit 257 for Brandon, rerouting motorists east on State Road 60 to U.S. 98. For those traveling northbound, a detour is established at exit 141 for Palm Beach Boulevard, rerouting motorists east on State Road 80/U.S. 27 to U.S. 98.

“As motorist safety is the top priority, the Florida Department of twitterrtation and Florida Highway Patrol will continue to monitor the river and bridge,” according to FDOT.

The Myakka River Watershed spans 594 square miles, covering parts of Manatee, Hardee, Sarasota, DeSoto and Charlotte counties. The river drains into Charlotte Harbor, which received the brunt of the storm and storm surge.

Speaking earlier in the day, Gov. Ron DeSantis said there appeared to be more standing water in parts of Central Florida than in parts of Southwest Florida. But with parts of the state’s west coast having received up to 18 feet of storm surge, travel remains precarious in areas.

The closures also come as residents hope to retwitterme after evacuating the region.

Major Traffic Alert: Both directions of I-75 are now closed from mile marker 179 (Toledo Blade Blvd) to mile marker 193 (Jacaranda Blvd) The Myakka River under I-75 has risen and impacted the interstate, no longer making it safely passable for motorists. https://t.co/M5ymHpo6cn pic.twitter.com/uS7jvVNO08

— FLORIDA DOT (@MyFDOT) October 1, 2022

Happening now I-75 North Bound is at a standstill near Toledo Blade Blvd @fox13news #northport #hurricaneian pic.twitter.com/bP6Hat9Tug

— Kim Kuizon FOX 13 (@kkuizon) October 1, 2022

The post FDOT: Section of I-75 remains closed in twitterst Florida due to rising water appeared first on Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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For Pensacola owners, trees are an important part of any landscape, but they also need to be maintained and trimmed properly to avoid becoming a hazard.

Neglecting to trim or remove trees can lead to dangerous situations, such as limbs falling on homes or people, or roots growing into the foundation of your home.

Pensacola Tree Service is the perfect solution for all your tree maintenance needs. We have experienced professionals who will take care of your trees quickly and safely.

source https://floridapolitics.com/?p=560566