Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

— First Shot —

A legal challenge to Florida’s freshly approved congressional map is already moving at warp speed, with attorneys for Equal Ground Education Fund asking a Leon County judge to block the new lines before they ever make it onto a ballot.

The group, represented by Democratic attorney Marc Elias’ firm, argues the map signed this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis runs afoul of the Fair Districts amendment by intentionally tilting the playing field toward Republicans. In a newly filed motion for a temporary injunction, lawyers say there’s “no serious dispute” that the map was designed “to favor the Republican Party and disfavor the Democratic Party.”

The filing leans heavily on testimony from Jason Poreda, who acknowledged during Senate debate that partisan performance data was considered while drawing the map — the sort of thing prior Florida Supreme Court rulings warned against under the voter-approved anti-gerrymandering standards.

Equal Ground’s attorneys also argue the new map is less compact than the current one and unnecessarily carves up counties and cities statewide in ways they say can’t be justified under constitutional standards.

Attorneys for the Governor’s Office, meanwhile, signaled an aggressive defense strategy. Mohammad Jazil argued in court that after the Florida Supreme Court’s recent rollback of minority-protection provisions in Fair Districts, the court could ultimately scrap the anti-partisan-gerrymandering section altogether.

Equal Ground’s lawyers countered that the argument amounted to mapmakers openly admitting they ignored existing law while betting the courts would later erase it.

The case lands before Circuit Judge Lee Marsh, who previously ruled against Florida’s current congressional map, which was overturned on appeal.

Read more on Florida Politics.

— Evening Reads —

—”How the fight over Israel is playing out inside MAGA” via Anton Troianovski of The New York Times

—”Donald Trump’s team wants him to accept an Iran deal he’s already rejected” via Hugo Lowell of WIRED

—“Poll finds broad rejection of religion-related messages from Trump, Hegseth” via Michelle Boorstein and Scott Clement of The Washington Post

—”Marco Rubio grabs the mic. The message. And the moment” via Damian Paletta of The Wall Street Journal

—”Kash Patel’s personalized bourbon stash” via Sarah Fitzpatrick of The Atlantic

—”The Supreme Court broke democracy by saying the quiet part out loud” via Ian Millhiser of Vox

—”Indiana delivered a message Republicans may not want to hear” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”Want more Black representatives? Elect more Democrats.” via Nate Silver of the Silver Bulletin

—”Most major FL gubernatorial candidates say state should never legalize recreational marijuana” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix

—”After devastating marine lab fire, lawmakers, donors rally around USF” via Max Chesnes and Lucy Marquez of the Tampa Bay Times

— Quote of the Day —

“If it was a misuse of state dollars for Nikki Fried, it’s a misuse of state dollars for Blaise. There’s no way of getting out of that.”

— Gubernatorial candidate David Jolly, on DFS-printed leaflets bearing Blaise Ingoglia’s name and image.

— Put it on the Tab —

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Send a 40-Watt to former Speaker Paul Renner, who’s rolling out a plan to keep utilities in check if he’s elected Governor.

How many No Rushes can one man drink? Gov. Ron DeSantis is apparently going for the record by keeping his property tax plan close to the vest.

With U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds lining up behind him, the Governor has a powerful voice serving him an Atty — and a potential ticket to Washington.

— Breakthrough Insights —

— Tune In —

Marlins try to end skid

The Miami Marlins look to snap a three-game losing streak as they continue a series at home against the Baltimore Orioles tonight (6:40 p.m. ET, MLB.TV).

The Marlins (16-20) are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for second place in the National League East, 9.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves. 

On Tuesday, the Marlins were tied with Baltimore in the ninth inning before Adley Rutschman’s pinch-hit single pushed the Orioles into the lead. The Baltimore win snapped a five-game losing streak for the O’s. Attendance was announced as 6,600 in Miami.

Although the season is not quite to the quarter-post, Miami sits four games behind the final wildcard spot in the National League with five teams between them and the Cincinnati Reds, who currently occupy the final playoff spot.

Miami is scheduled to send right-hander Eury Perez to the mound tonight against Baltimore’s Brandon Young. Perez (2-3, 4.46 ERA)  has lost his last two decisions and has not earned a win since April 19, when he pitched six shutout innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in a game the Marlins won 5-3.

The series is scheduled to conclude tomorrow before the Washington Nationals come to South Florida for a three-game series starting on Friday.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.

The post Last Call for 5.6.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..