FROM WGCU NEWS.

THIS IS A SPECIAL JOINT ADDITION.

WGCU HAVE FANS IN GULF COAST LIFE AND WGCUTV SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CAN FOCUS.

I'M JOHN DAVIS.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THE RESULTS OF TUESDAY'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

HAROLD, SOME BIG CHANGES COMING TO THE POLITICAL ARENA, BOTH AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND HERE IN FLORIDA, DEMOCRATS HAVE WON THE U.S.

HOUSE AND SENATE RETURNING.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TOOK FULL CONTROL OF CONGRESS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2023.

AND AN HISTORIC VICTORY HERE IN FLORIDA.

REPUBLICAN BYRON DONALDS NARROWLY DEFEATED DEMOCRAT DAVID JOLLY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

DONALD WILL BECOME THE STATE'S FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR AND THE NATION'S FIRST ELECTED BLACK REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT ASHLEY MOODY, NARROWLY DEFEATED DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER ANGIE NIXON TO RETAIN HER U.S.

SENATE SEAT, OTHER STATEWIDE RACES FOR FLORIDA CABINET POSITIONS ALSO PRODUCED VERY NARROW VICTORIES FOR REPUBLICAN INCUMBENTS WITH AT LEAST ONE RACE TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

IT APPEARS THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE'S MID-DECADE CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING INDEED FAVORING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DID NOT GO EXACTLY AS PLANNED.

AND THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE REPUBLICANS HAVE LOST THEIR SUPERMAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE AND THE GOP SUPERMAJORITY IN THE SENATE STATE SENATE IS IN JEOPARDY.

AND OF COURSE, ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL RESULTS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT HERE IN FLORIDA IS THE PASSAGE OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

3 WHICH WILL FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE STATE'S PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM.

JOINING ME NOW IN THE STUDIO FOR A CLOSER EXAMINATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS FROM THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS IS FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DOCTOR SANDRA PAVELKA.

SHE'S THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE FOR YOUTH AND JUSTICE STUDIES HERE AT FGCU DR PROVOKE A FULL COMEBACK.

THANK YOU.

AND WE'RE JOINED REMOTELY BY FELLOW POLITICAL SCIENTIST AND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOL OF POLITICS, SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, DR PROPERTY TO A DOCTOR DREW IT.

THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE TODAY.

>> AND I KNOW ALL THE BIG NATIONAL SHOWS ARE COVERING THIS, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T SPEND A LITTLE MOMENT MENTIONING THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE NOW ONE OF THE FULL U.S.

HOUSE AND SENATE, WHICH WILL PLACE THE PARTY IN CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

WHAT WILL THIS MEAN FOR THE FINAL 2 YEARS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TERM?

SHOULD WE EXPECT?

CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS INTO THINGS LIKE THE TRUMPS FAMILY'S BUSINESS INTERESTS, THE INDEPENDENCE OF AGENCIES LIKE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DR.

DO IT.

>> YES, WE SHOULD EXPECT A LOT ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS AND HEARINGS AND OVERSIGHT HEARINGS ON AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT.

PETE HEGSETH, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND KENNEDY AND INCLUDING ON LOTS OF FAMILY MEMBERS WHO SEEM TO BE POLICE OF BEING ACCUSED OF THAT SORT OF ENRICHING THEMSELVES OFF OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PRESIDENCY.

SO PROBABLY ALL THOSE THINGS ARE ON THE AGENDA.

BUT I ALSO EXPECT THAT THE DEMOCRATICALLY CONTROLLED CONGRESS WILL ALSO TRY TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE SPECIFIC ISSUES OF VOTERS SAID THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT.

SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE WAR IN IRAN.

THAT WOULD BE CAST PRICES.

DIESEL PRICES, FOOD PRICES AND TRYING TO PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE MEDICAL CARE, PARTICULARLY MEDICAL INSURANCE.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE A SORT OF A 2 PRONGED STRATEGY TO ONE TRYING TO FURTHER IN ADVANCE A POSITIVE AGENDA.

BUT TO TO PROVIDE A CHECK AND A BALANCE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO REALLY HAS HAD VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF CHECK OR A BALANCE IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO LEGISLATION AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, DOCTOR, JARED, SHOULD DEMOCRATS PERHAPS CELEBRATING LAST NIGHT'S VICTORIES, TEMPER THEIR EXPECTATIONS?

I MEAN, YES, THE SENATE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO HOLD THE STREAMLINING OF TRUMP NOMINATED JUDGES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TRUMP RECENTLY SAID ON THE POD FORCE ONE PODCAST.

BUT IF DEMOCRATS TAKE CONTROL OF CONGRESS, WHICH OF COURSE THEY DID, QUOTE, ALL BECOME MISTER VETO.

>> THAT AND I'M SURE YOU WELL, I'M SURE TO THE DEGREE THAT THE DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE CAN PASS LEGISLATION.

AND THAT IS CONTROVERSIAL OR MORE PROGRESSIVE OR TRUMP DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT.

YEAH, I'M SURE HE WILL VETO IT.

AND I MIGHT ADD EVEN JUST PASSING LEGISLATION STILL MIGHT NOT BE EASY BECAUSE ALTHOUGH IT'S LOOKING LIKE DEMOCRATS MAY HAVE 54 55 56 SEATS IN THE SENATE.

NOT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO 60 AND THE WAY THE RULES WORK AT THEIR IS ON MOST BASIC OF REGULAR LEGISLATION.

IF SOMEBODY IN THE SENATE, ONE PARTICULAR SENATOR, MULTIPLE SAY THAT THEY ARE GOING STRUCKED.

THEN YOU HAVE TO HAVE 60 TO OVERCOME THAT.

AND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE IT.

HAVING SAID THAT, JUST LIKE THE REPUBLICANS TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE BEEN FACED WITH GETTING THINGS DONE THE LAST 2 YEARS.

THERE ARE SOME BUDGETARY THINGS THEY CAN DO WITHOUT HAVING TO GET TO 60 VOTES AND SAID THEY'LL TRY TO NOT ONLY PAST REGULAR BUDGET, BUT THEY'LL TRY TO ATTACH A LOT OF POLICY STUFF TO THE BUDGET SO THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO HAVE 60 WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT YES, I FIRMLY EXPECT THAT WHATEVER THEY CAN PASS IN MANY INSTANCES, IF IT'S LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE OR EVEN IF IT'S JUST FROM LABELS, THAT IS SOMETHING HE DOESN'T LIKE YOU.

THEY'LL BE TAUGHT AND WE'LL SEE A LOT MORE OF THAT THAN NORMAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELCOME BACK TO CONGRESSIONAL RACES HERE IN FLORIDA.

IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST, DOCTOR PROVOKE A I WANTED TO ADDRESS BYRON DONALDS VICTORY OVER DAVID JOLLY IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

ACCORDING TO UNOFFICIAL RESULTS FROM THE STATE DIVISION OF ELECTIONS.

THIS HAS BEEN A VERY CLOSE RACE.

HE WON BY A MARGIN OF JUST 1.0 3, 1%.

ARE YOU SURPRISED IT WAS THAT CLOSE?

>> I REALLY WASN'T.

THIS WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE THING FROM THE BEGINNING IN TERMS OF HAVING BOTH CANDIDATES KIND OF VYING FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP WHERE WE WERE.

WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR INCUMBENT IN PLACE.

OBVIOUSLY DESANTIS.

IT TURNED OUT SO IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO SEE THAT IT WAS KIND OF BACK AND FORTH AND JOLLY ACTUALLY LOST BY ABOUT 100,000 VOTES.

SO THAT WAS THAT WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HISTORY WAS MADE LAST NIGHT AND AND THAT THE VOTERS TURNED OUT.

WE HAD A HISTORIC NIGHT IN TERMS OF HAVING I THINK THERE ARE 62% VOTER TURNOUT IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, WHICH WAS INCREDIBLE.

>> DO YOU DONALD TERM IS GOING TO FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS SEEM LIKE A CONTINUATION OF THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION >> WELL, I YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK FIRST OF DONALD HAS A HIS PLATFORM WAS TO KILLING WITH A FORD ABILITY ISSUE RIGHT?

THAT WAS THE TOP THAT'S ON THE TOP OF VOTERS MINDS.

THAT WAS REALLY SOMETHING HE TALKED ABOUT.

SO I REALLY HOPE AND THINK THAT HE WILL BE FORGING FORWARD AND DEALING WITH THE AFFORDABILITY ISSUE SIMILAR TO WHAT CONGRESS HAS TO DO.

>> DR TO IT.

IN TERMS OF APPROACHING, YOU KNOW, HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, ARE WE LIKELY TO SEE FROM THE DONALDS CAMPAIGN MORE, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE CUTTING TAXES AND THAT APPROACH AS OPPOSED TO WORKING TO REDUCE THE COST OF PROPERTY INSURANCE OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, MORE TAX DOLLARS BEING FUNNELED AWAY FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOWARDS PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE HAS ADVOCATED, HE IS TALKED ABOUT SUPPORTING THE DESANTIS AGENDA.

AND TYPICALLY WITH THE REPUBLICANS PICKED WITH THAT, THE MAGA MOVEMENT AND REPUBLICANS CUTTING TAXES IS TRADITIONALLY THE TOP WAY THAT THEY HAVE SAID LET'S TRY TO HELP THE AMERICAN CONSUMER WITH AFFORDABILITY.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE ARGUMENT WITH THAT.

AND THEN 3 PROPERTY TAX CUT.

AND DONALD SAYS DEFINITELY SAID HE SUPPORTS THE CHOICE IN EDUCATION PROGRAM AND OF COURSE, HIS WIFE HAS MADE A LOT OF MONEY OFF OF THAT BECAUSE IT'S A PRIVATE, YOU KNOW, COMPANY THAT WORKS WITH CHARTER SCHOOLS AND IT HAS MANY CONTRACTS WITH THEM.

SO I'M SURE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THE VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE HERE IN FLORIDA AS WELL.

>> AND PIPER SCOW AI DATA CENTERS.

DONALD AND HIS OPPONENT JOLLY HAVE VERY DIFFERENT IDEAS ON THAT.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE PERHAPS BECOME MORE FAVORABLE AND FLORIDA?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WILL BE.

I THINK THEY'LL HAVE AN EASIER PATH.

WITH BYRON DONALDS AS GOVERNOR THAN THEY WOULD HAVE HAD WITH DAVID JOLLY'S GOVERNOR, BECAUSE DAVID JOLLY BASICALLY SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM WHAT I WHAT I THINK THAT I'VE HEARD BYRON DONALDS SAFE DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

WAS THAT HE HAD SOME CONCERNS ARE RESERVATIONS, BUT HE WAS GOING TO LET LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FIGURE OUT AND DECIDE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO AND IF THEY WANT TO HAVE THEM SO THAT LEAVES THE DOOR OPEN FOR SOME MORE DATA CENTERS TO BE BUILT IN FLORIDA.

AND CERTAINLY THEY WERE THEY WERE BANKING.

THE DATA CENTER INDUSTRY WAS BANKING ON BYRON DONALDS BEING MORE FAVORABLE TO THEIR INTEREST BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVING HIM MANY, MANY, MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO HIS CAMPAIGN INTO HIS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE OF OUR ELECTION COVERAGE.

WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL EDITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS WITH OUR ANALYSIS OF THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS.

>> ALL DOCTOR PAVELKA, I WANT TO PIVOT TO THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL MOODY'S VICTORY OVER DEMOCRAT ANGI.

NEXT TIME SHE'S GOING TO RETAIN FLORIDA'S U.S.

SENATE SEAT.

AGAIN.

THIS WAS A VERY TIGHT RACE.

SHE WON BY A MARGIN OF UNDER 3%.

WHAT'S YOUR TAKEAWAY FROM THIS MAN?

>> WELL, I THINK THIS IS THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS IS JUST TO THE REMAINDER OF THE TERM.

SO THIS IS A SHORT TERM TERM IF YOU GO AHEAD.

AND SO MOODY IS ONLY GOING TO BE IN THE POSITION OF THINK 2 YEARS.

AND THEN SO WE MAY BE LOOKING FOR A REMATCH MORE THAN LIKELY.

WE WILL.

NIXON CAME FROM FROM BEHIND IN THE PRIMARIES AND FORGED AHEAD AND AND REALLY WAS A VIABLE CANDIDATE.

AND I THINK SHE, YOU KNOW, DEFINITELY HELD THEIR OWN IN.

IT LOOKED LIKE SHE MAY WIN OR MAY HAVE ONE LAST NIGHT, BUT OBVIOUSLY SHE DIDN'T, BUT BY A VERY SMALL MARGIN.

SO I THINK WE WILL DEFINITELY SEE A REMATCH.

AND IN A FEW YEARS AGO, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE LAST OF ANTI NIXON FOR SURE.

>> IT WAS EXACTLY HOW SHE CHARACTERIZED THIS FROM HER CONCESSION SPEECH LAST NIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE GOVERNOR AND SENATE RACES WEREN'T THE ONLY STATEWIDE BALLOT CONTEST WON BY REPUBLICANS BY THESE VERY NARROW MARGINS.

JAMES UTHMEIER IS GOING TO RETAIN HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL POSITION AND HE WON BY JUST 1.0, 8, 6%.

STATE CFO BLAISE INGOGLIA ANOTHER DESANTIS APPOINTEE WON HIS RACE BY JUST 1.0, 8, 8%, AND COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE AND COMPANY WILL BE SOME SUN.

HE STAVED OFF DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER BY A MARGIN OF JUST 2.1 6%.

I'M ALREADY.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY MAYBE NOT SO MUCH THE RESULTS, BUT THE MARGINS OF VICTORY BEING SO CLOSE?

>> ON ONE LEVEL, A LITTLE SURPRISED.

BUT ON ANOTHER LEVEL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH FOR FOR MUCH OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WHEN NOT TALK TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE ELECTION.

AND THEY SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT HAVE YOU FRAME THIS ELECTION?

AND I SUPPOSE TO MAJOR OPPOSING FORCES ARE CLASHING HERE IN FLORIDA.

AND ONE IS THAT WE HAVE BECOME A RED STATE.

IT'S JUST HAPPENED IN THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS.

REPUBLICANS HAVE GONE FROM BEING DOWN IN VOTER REGISTRATION TO HAVING THE 1.5 MILLION WE EVEN REGISTRATION.

AND OF COURSE, AN 2022 DESANTIS WON BY 1920.

24 TRUMP WON FLORIDA BY 13.

SO EASY DOUBLE DIGIT WINDS.

CLEARLY WE BECOME A REPUBLICAN STATE.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WE KNOW THAT IN MIDTERM ELECTIONS, THE PRESIDENT'S PARTY LOSES SEATS AND THEN AN UNPOPULAR PRESIDENT USUALLY LOSES A LOT OF SEATS.

AND SO WHEN YOU PUT THOSE 2 THINGS TOGETHER, I MOST OFTEN 7 PEOPLE THE WAY OF THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I SAID.

IT'LL PROBABLY BE CLOSE.

BUT IF HISTORY IS ANY GUIDE, THE REPUBLICANS WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY IN FLORIDA TO WIN A CLOSE RACE BECAUSE THEY HAVE DONE SO SO MANY TIMES BEFORE.

>> YEAH, I'M SHIFTING FOCUS BACK TO U.S.

HOUSE RACES HERE IN FLORIDA.

THE GOP CONTROLLED STATE LEGISLATURE AS WE NOW APPROVED A NEW MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING MAP THIS PAST SUMMER EXPLICITLY INTENDED TO PREP FOR OF FLORIDA'S 8 DEMOCRATIC HELD SEATS TO FAVOR REPUBLICANS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9 RACES STILL CLUE.

STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

BUT EVEN STILL THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

OPERATE SENSE.

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 9 IS MORE IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS THAN OURS.

CAN YOU TELL US THE LATEST ON THAT AS THEY CALL IT OUT?

>> THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T CALLED IT.

BUT THE LAST I LOOKED AT AND JUST CREPT ABOVE A 0.5% VICTORY.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT.

IF IT STAYS LIKE THAT, BECAUSE THEN THERE WOULDN'T BE AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IT THAT, YOU KNOW, MAINTAINS THAT ARE THAT LEAD SHRINKS, BUT THERE AND SO DOES SEEM TO BE AHEAD.

AND I WOULD SAY IT WOULD A REAL SURPRISE AT THIS POINT IF THERE IS ENOUGH BALLOTS TO OVERTURN AN UNUSUALLY RECOUNT, MAY HAVE AUTOMATIC RECOUNTS IN FLORIDA, THEY REALLY OVERTURN THE RESULTS.

YEAH, THAT ONE.

IT IS DEFINITELY ONE EXAMPLE OF THE 4 WERE REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY COULD TAKE 4 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS AWAY FROM DEMOCRATS AND INCREASE THE REPUBLICAN MARGIN TO 24 TO JUST FOR DEMOCRATS.

BUT INSTEAD, IT APPEARS THAT WILL BE JUST LIKE IT WAS GOING INTO THIS ELECTION, WHICH BE 20 REPUBLICANS AND 8 DEMOCRATS.

AND SO DEMOCRATS, EVEN THOUGH THEY LOST THAT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL.

TURNOUT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD FOR DEMOCRATS.

IN FACT, IT WAS HIGHER THAN REPUBLICANS FOR ONE OF THE FIRST BY SOME RECENT FLORIDA ELECTION HISTORY.

AND THAT SEEMED TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN THESE 4 CONGRESSIONAL RACES IN, INCLUDING IN DISTRICT 9.

>> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SWITCH FOCUS TO CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

22, YOU'RE DOWN HERE IN OUR NECK OF THE WOODS, PARTICULARLY INTERESTING BECAUSE REPUBLICANS DIDN'T REALLY MAKE AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT TO DISTRICT HARDER TO RETAIN IN THAT CASE.

THEY REDREW IT INTO AN OPEN REPUBLICAN LEANINGS FEET AND EFFECTIVELY DISPLAYS DEMOCRAT LOIS FRANKEL TO THE POINT THAT SHE DIDN'T EVEN ATTEMPT TO REELECTION IN THAT DISTRICT.

SHE MOVED INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

23 WASTE WHICH HE WON.

AND NOW WE HAVE APPEARED.

AND WHO WAS THE DEMOCRAT WHO STEPPED INTO THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

22 RACE.

I CHARACTERIZE THIS FROM OUR ELECTION COVERAGE LAST NIGHT AS A SURPRISE UPSET KIND OF RETHINKING THAT BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE ONE.

APPARENTLY REPUBLICANS DIDN'T GERRYMANDER THE DISTRICT ENOUGH.

SHE HAD A SUBSTANTIAL FUNDRAISING AND ORGANIZATIONAL ADVANTAGE AND SHE MADE AFFORDABILITY THE CENTERPIECE OF HER CAMPAIGN >> SHE SHE REALLY SPOKE TO VOTERS.

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY WE'VE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS AND IN PAST INTERVIEWS, AFFORDABILITY WAS THE THEME OF THIS ELECTION, BOTH AT THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL.

AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT SPECIFIC DISTRICT RACE, SHE AFFORDABILITY WAS THE KEY ISSUE AND SHE SPOKE TO VOTERS IN.

SHE WAS REALLY OUT THERE CAMPAIGNING HARD AND SO THE THE THE REDRAWN DISTRICT REALLY IN THIS CASE.

DID OR WHAT WAS IT WAS AN IN HER FAVOR, BUT IT OBVIOUSLY WAS IN HER FAVOR.

BUT IT REALLY WASN'T NECESSARILY SOMETHING.

I THINK THAT THAT THE REPUBLICANS EXPECTED.

>> AND SHE'S NOT GONNA MAKE HISTORY AS THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN ELECTED TO A FLORIDA U.S.

HOUSE SEAT.

WE CANNOT GET AWAY FROM THIS CONVERSATION WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT THE PASSAGE OF AMENDMENT 3.

THAT'S THE AMENDMENT TO INCREASE FLORIDA'S CURRENT $50,000 NON-SCHOOL HOMESTEAD PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION TO $150,000 NEXT YEAR.

AND THEN THE $250,000 IN 2028.

THAT ACCOUNT FOR THE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, THESE PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.

THIS WAS GOING TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE TAX STRUCTURE IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE WE'RE WITH YOU ALL.

START WITH YOUR DOG TO PROVOKE OR ARE YOU SURPRISED THIS PAST?

WELL, IT.

>> IF WE GO AND WE CAN'T ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, LOOK TO POLLS.

BUT POLLS REALLY EARLY POLLS WERE SHOWING THAT THAT VOTERS WERE IN FAVOR OF THIS, OK?

SO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE IN FAVOR FOR EARLY ON AND CONTINUE TO BE.

BUT THE BUT THE KEY ISSUE WAS HAVING IT PASSED IT WITH A SUPER MAJORITY OF 60% OR MORE BECAUSE IT WAS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND HAD A FUNDING MECHANISM.

SO SO IN THAT CASE, IT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS IMPORTANT VOTERS AGAIN, GOING TO THAT KIND OF CONSERVATIVE FISCAL APPROACH THAT OUR VOTERS HERE IN AND RESIDENTS HERE IN FLORIDA HAVE AS WELL AS GOING BACK TO AFFORDABILITY AND REALLY DEALING WITH SOME OF THESE ISSUES.

SO I THINK THAT IT WAS IT WASN'T NECESSARILY A SURPRISE TO ME.

BUT A 62% IS A SOLID, SOLID WIN FOR FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUPPORTED THIS AMENDMENT.

>> DOCTOR, DREW, WHAT CAN YOU COMMENT ON WHAT THE PASSAGE OF THIS AMENDMENT IS GOING TO END UP, MEANING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO FUND ESSENTIAL SERVICES BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE AMENDMENT THAT PROVIDES AN ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES LIKE POLICE, EMS, AND THEN THE NOT SO ESSENTIAL THINGS THAT THESE LOCAL TAX DOLLARS PAY FOR, LIKE LIBRARIES, PARKS, ROADWAY, MAINTENANCE.

I MEAN, IT'S PRETTY BROAD SPECTRUM.

>> INDEED.

>> YEAH, IT IS GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.

THE COUNTY'S AND CITY'S AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS LIKE HOSPITAL DISTRICTS AND WATER MANAGEMENT.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE TO PROVIDE SERVICES THAT PEOPLE HAVE COME TO EXPECT.

AND SO THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SEVERAL THINGS.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY FAT IN THERE.

THERE'S NOT MUCH THERE.

CERTAINLY NOT AS MUCH FAT AS SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS WERE CHARGING THAT THERE WERE AND THEN THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GET MONEY TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS ARE GOING TO STILL BE DEMANDING.

AND I THINK THAT THAT'S GOING TO COME FROM 2 DIFFERENT WAYS.

WHAT ONE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PASS SOME ADDITIONAL TAXES AND FEES TO FUND GOVERNMENT.

I MEAN, THAT'S ALMOST A GUARANTEE THAT MOST COUNTIES IN CITIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS, AT LEAST A SPECIAL DISTRICT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO IT.

WE'LL HAVE TO PASS A PIECE SO UP THERE WHERE I LIVE, WE'VE HEARD TALK OF, YOU KNOW, PASSING A PUBLIC SAFETY FEET, RIGHT?

SO RIGHT NOW PEOPLE WILL HAVE A MILLAGE RATE AND IT WOULD PAY PERCENTAGE OF THE PROPERTY TAXES TO THEIR COUNTY OR CITY AND THEN THEY WOULD TAKE THAT USE OF PUBLIC SAFETY WILL INSTEAD MAYBE NOW EVERY HOUSEHOLD JUST GETS ASSESSED WITH THE $500 PUBLIC SAFETY FEE EVERY YEAR.

JUST AS AN EXAMPLE.

AND THEN IN ADDITION TO RAISING PACK TO DO WELL IN TAXES AND FEES.

THE OTHER THING, OF COURSE, IS THEY MAKE IT AND THEY MIGHT RAISE MILEAGE RATES.

AND SO SOME PEOPLE WON'T HAVE TO PAY THEM.

IF YOU HAVE THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION IN YOUR HOME IS WORTH LESS THAN $250,000.

BUT I TELL YOU WHO WILL HAVE TO PAY THEM.

OUR BUSINESSES, INCLUDING APARTMENT COMPLEXES, AND THAT MEANS THAT RENTS ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO GO UP AND THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY GOING TO HAVE TO GO HAT IN HAND TO TALLAHASSEE AND SAY STATE LEGISLATURE, PLEASE SAVE US.

AND GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS ALREADY MENTION THAT HE WAS GOING TO CALL A SPECIAL SESSION BEFORE HE HAS TO LEAVE OFFICE TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO START COMING TOGETHER TO SAY, OKAY, HOW CAN WE UNDERWRITE THE RURAL COUNTIES THAT ARE GOING TO GO BANKRUPT, SMALLER CITY CENTRE GOING TO GO BANKRUPT AND EVEN THE MIDSIZE CITIES AND COUNTIES THAT HAVE MOSTLY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND THAT THERE'S NO WAY THEY CAN AFFORD TO RAISE ENOUGH TAXES ON THE ROAD.

SO THIS IS THE LEGISLATURE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS AS WELL.

AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE IF THE LEGISLATURE AND THINKING ALL THESE THINGS OUT BEFORE THE FIGHT ON.

THANKFULLY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

IT'S PASSED AND NOW IT'S GOING TO BE DROPPED IN.

THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE IS LEFT AND THEN THE NEW LEGISLATURE GETS SWORN IN WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WORK ON IT AS WELL.

AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE OF OUR ELECTION COVERAGE.

WELCOME BACK TO OUR SPECIAL EDITION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND FOCUSED WITH OUR ANALYSIS OF THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTION RESULTS.

>> I WANTED OR PIVOT TO THE LOCAL LEVELS HERE.

AND RIGHT HERE IN FORT MYERS, MAYOR KEVIN ANDERSON LOST TO CHALLENGER AMBER, WHERE, YOU KNOW, DESPITE RECENT ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AGAINST ANDERSON FROM A NUMBER OF YOUNG MEN IN RECENT WEEKS, HE'S NOT REALLY FACED ANY SCRUTINY FROM CITY COUNCIL.

IN FACT, THERE WAS EVEN A RECENT COUNCIL SESSION WHERE 3 OF THE MEMBERS GOT UP AND LEFT DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD.

THAT MEANS THERE WAS NO LONGER A QUORUM.

AND SO IT JUST SHUT DOWN ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS SO THEY WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE TO HEAR ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT THE MAYOR.

EVEN SO THIS CAME DOWN TO VOTERS, NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS.

DO YOU THINK THAT PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN WHY ANDERSON LOST REELECTION?

>> WELL, I THINK IT WAS PART OF IT OBVIOUSLY WAS VERY CONTROVERSIAL.

AND IT WAS IT WAS CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE NOT ONLY FOR THE MAYOR, BUT FOR THE CITY.

BUT AMBER, WHERE WAS AND IS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMUNITY?

SHE WAS VERY HIGH PROFILE AND SHE SPOKE TO THE VOTERS AND WAS AND SHE WAS OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

SO I THINK THAT OBVIOUSLY WE SAW THAT THE ROTORS WERE VERY STRONG IN THEIR SUPPORT FOR HER.

SO SO CONTROVERSY ASIDE, SHE DID HER DUE DILIGENCE AND SHE DID HER WORK ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL MAYORAL RUN.

>> ALSO TO A BALLOT AMENDMENTS FOR LEE COUNTY VOTERS.

WE WILL NOW BE IMPOSING TERM LIMITS ON CONSTITUTIONAL THE THINGS WE HAVE FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

BUT THIS IS FOR THE SHERIFF FOR THE PROPERTY APPRAISER.

THERE.

THE ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR CLERK OF COURTS.

WERE YOU SURPRISED?

NOT JUST THAT ONE BY ONE BY SUCH A LARGE MARGIN?

>> WELL, I THINK THE JUST IN THE PAST AND AND UP TO NOW THEIR THING STRONGLY FAVOR TERM LIMITS.

THEY THEY ALSO FAVOR TERM LIMITS FOR CONGRESS.

BUT OBVIOUSLY CONGRESS HAS SINCE THE PENN CENTER HAS SUPPORTED THAT THEMSELVES.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME TO THE VOTERS AND THEY WERE THEY WERE STRONG.

AND THEIR RESPONSE.

AND I REALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD IT WOULD DEFINITELY PASS.

AND AND IT DID.

>> RAY, AND THERE WAS ANOTHER REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT HERE IN LEE COUNTY.

AND THIS DID PASS AND WHAT IT INTENDED TO DO WAS CHANGE THE WAY WE ELECT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

CURRENTLY EVERY REGISTERED VOTER IN LEE COUNTY HAS THE ABILITY TO CAST A VOTE AND THE RACE OF ANY COUNTY COMMISSIONER, REGARDLESS OF WHAT DISTRICT BUT GOING FORWARD BECAUSE THIS PAST, WE'RE MOVING INTO A SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT VOTING.

THAT MEANS IN ORDER TO HAVE A SAY AND A COUNTY COMMISSION RACE, YOU HAVE TO NOT JUST BE A REGISTERED VOTER.

YOU HAVE TO BE A RESIDENT OF THAT DISTRICT AGAIN.

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THE LARGE MARGIN BY WHICH THIS PASS?

BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WERE A LOT OF OFFICIALS, INCLUDING CITY AND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO WERE VOCALLY OPPOSED NAY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF OPPOSITION.

BUT AGAIN, THE VOTERS SPOKE AND THEY WERE IN FAVOR OF.

>> NOT ONLY ELECTING THERE REPRESENTATIVES, BUT ELECTING THE REPRESENTATIVES THAT LIVE WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT.

AND THAT WILL ACTUALLY REPRESENT THEM IN THEIR I THINK THEY MADE IT VERY STRONG ARGUMENT AND A VERY STRONG SAY ON ELECTION NIGHT AND IT WAS SOME IF I WAS I WAS PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT THE RESPONSE FROM FROM THE ELECTORATE THIS PAST ELECTION DAY AND DO HAVING HAVING A A VOTER TURNOUT OF GIVE 60 PLUS PERCENT DURING A MIDTERM ELECTION WAS JUST SO AMAZING.

PROBLEMS ARE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT.

THERE.

>> AND THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

SPECIAL JOINT EDITION OF WGCUS GULF COAST LIFE AND SOUTHWEST FLORIDA KICKS IN FOCUS.

EXPLORING RESULT.

AN ANALYSIS OF TUESDAY'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

AND I WANT TO THANK MY GASLIGHTING SPEAKING WITH FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY POLITICAL SCIENTIST DOCTOR SANDRA PAVELKA.

THANK YOU.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> AND WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR DOCTOR AUBREY JEWETT.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE, DR TO IT.

AND IF YOU MISSED ANY OF TODAY'S SHOW, YOU CAN ALWAYS HEAR EPISODES IN THEIR ENTIRETY ON OUR WEBSITE WGCU DOT ORG SLASH GCL OR SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST FEED WHERE EVER YOU GET YOUR PODCAST AND YOU CAN WATCH THIS AND PAST EPISODES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND FOCUS ON WGCU PLUS DOT ORG FOR