Why DeSantis may or may not win in November

First beer brewed in Tampa returns; local impact of ‘reverse storm surge’ from Hurricane Ian; details on the region’s 15th Congressional District debate

View on the web Go to our home page Subscribe to the Times Thursday, October 20, 2022 Forward this to a friend Subscribe to more newsletters What’s up, Tampa Bay? Keep those jackets and sweaters handy today because we're in for another sunny and chilly day (high of 73, low of 53).    In this newsletter, we cover the local return of the first beer brewed in Tampa and examine whether “reverse storm surge” from Hurricane Ian affected Tampa Bay’s environment. Plus: The Times is hosting a debate tonight between candidates for the region’s 15th Congressional District. Get details on how to tune in. [Tribune News Service] DeSantis has numerous paths to victory, while Crist is a significant underdog Will Florida Democrats keep their 2020 gains with suburban voters, helping gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist?   Will Republicans increase their inroads with Hispanic voters, catapulting Gov. Ron DeSantis to a big reelection victory?   Or could a political “black swan” event shake everything up?   These are the questions Florida’s politicos are thinking about in the final weeks before Election Day.   DeSantis is the big favorite to win the governor’s race, with massive fundraising and voter registration advantages. We talked to pollsters, strategists and activists to lay out three scenarios that would lead to a DeSantis triumph or a Crist upset. Here’s what we found.   Related stories:   Felon advocates are calling on Florida officials to fix the state’s “broken” voting system in the wake of DeSantis’ voter fraud arrests.   Watch two Tampa Bay congressional candidates debate tonight.   In Pinellas County, School Board races have pivoted toward social media postings. Screenshots from one candidate’s accounts appear to show her taking the QAnon oath.   Al Hernandez suffered another legal blow in his fight to remain on the Nov. 8 ballot after a judge stood by her ruling that the Pasco County School Board hopeful is ineligible.   Under a new Florida rule, schools must notify parents which bathrooms and locker rooms “are not separated by biological sex at birth.”   A retired Florida firefighter has pleaded guilty in federal court to sending threatening letters to U.S. Capitol rioters. AROUND THE BAY Taste of fall: Wednesday marked the coldest day of the season so far for our area. A stroll along the St. Pete Pier shows how visitors and locals spent it.   Ian aftermath: Did the hurricane’s reverse storm surge change the amount of nutrient pollution in Tampa Bay? Experts are trying to find out. Meanwhile, farther south, the Florida county hit hardest by Ian is seeing a spike in cases of flesh-eating bacteria.   Still a ways to go: St. Petersburg is 40% done with its debris removal from Hurricane Ian, Mayor Ken Welch says.   $85 million sale: A Pinellas Park development group purchased the Shoppes at Park Place last week, with plans to add multifamily housing and a hotel.   Federal complaint: A court has issued a temporary restraining order for a Tarpon Springs pain clinic based on accusations that the practice prescribed drugs improperly, leading to two overdose deaths, according to the feds.   Second chances: Some teachers move from district-run schools in Hillsborough County to charters. But when they have a disciplinary history at the organizations they left, it’s unclear how extensively charter schools review them.   Fake reports, real dangers: Across Florida, at least 16 emergency calls reported an active shooter at a school recently. None of them were real. We dive into the “swatting” phenomenon.   New details emerge: Carson Senfield’s family found what they believe to be a key piece of evidence revealing what may have happened the night the UT student was killed.   Fatal shooting: A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed Tuesday at a Tampa McDonald’s after an exchange of gunfire with people in a car, police said. THINGS TO DO [Pig Jig] Read the Pig Jig’s remarkable origin story In 2008, Will Wellman was diagnosed with a kidney disorder. His childhood friends rallied around him, organizing a backyard barbecue as a fundraiser. The gathering has since grown into one of Tampa Bay’s biggest events — all while spotlighting a rare disease that now has dozens of potential treatments. It returns to Tampa on Saturday.   Disaster recovery: Help fill donation bins at Sparkman Wharf this weekend when the Tampa spot holds a Hurricane Ian relief drive for southwest Florida. Need a mental break? Play a game! 👾 ARCADE SOLITAIRE SUDOKU SEE ALL OPINION AND COMMENTARY Nov. 8 election: The Times Editorial Board has more recommendations for local voters. See its picks for the Florida Senate and U.S. House. Dive deeper into your favorite local subjects 📨 Our free email newsletters bring the best of the Tampa Bay Times to your inbox every week. Explore all of them here. SPORTS Well-rounded and versatile: When the Lightning traded Vladislav Namestnikov to the Rangers in 2018, he had no choice but to improve his defensive game. "He's a different player now than he was when he left," coach Jon Cooper said. "He's a bonafide NHL player."   "I miss Gronk": Mike Evans echoed the sentiments of Bucs fans on Wednesday, but the receiver also acknowledged that talent remains on the team. Plus: Coach Todd Bowles weighed in on when center Ryan Jensen might return.   Rookie guard struggles: Luke Goedeke ranks first in QB pressures allowed, and his pass block rate is second worst in the league. "We're going to help him be better and we're confident in him," Bowles says.   Not doing too hot: Matt Baker looked at the Gators' historically bad third-down defense. Check out his findings.   Calendar additions: Valspar Championship officials have snagged a big headliner for the PGA event's concert series in Palm Harbor. Plus: The popular Skyway 10K race opens registration to runners next week. TODAY'S TALKER 🍻 [Courtesy of Cerveceria La Tropical] First beer brewed in Tampa is back La Tropical left the local market when its original Ybor City brewery closed in 1961. Now, six decades later, this historic brew is available in restaurants and stores across the Tampa Bay area thanks to a joint venture. Oh, hoppy day! Today's DayStarter was compiled by Meaghan Habuda, Anila Lijo, Mari Faiello and Amy Gehrt. Did someone forward this to you? Get DayStarter in your own inbox next time. It's free to subscribe. Sign up here. Contact us Privacy policy Terms, conditions & copyright Standard of accuracy © 2022 • All Rights Reserved Tampa Bay Times • 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 To ensure this email is delivered to your inbox, add custserv@elist.tampabay.com to your address book. You are receiving this email because you signed up for the "DayStarter" newsletter from the Tampa Bay Times. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe from this email.