The Democratic wave that swept other states barely rippled across Florida, but that doesn’t mean the Sunshine State was quiet. Byron Donalds won the governor’s race by only a point or so, despite a huge spending edge. And Democrats broke up a Republican supermajority in the State House, giving them real leverage on procedural votes and veto overrides.

Then there’s Amendment 3 - it passed with about 62 to 63 percent of the vote, and homeowners are dreaming of savings. But who pays? Toby Overdorf makes the case for trimming local spending while protecting first responders, while Brian warns that nobody has studied what this will do to our communities. Service cuts and new fees could be on the horizon.

Our guest also digs into affordability, the homeowners’ insurance crisis, and whether Donalds will govern as a bridgebuilder. Plus, why national Democrats ignored Florida this cycle, and why they may regret it in 2028

On Election Day, Michael Williams Brian Crowley break down what to watch as voters decide the governor's race between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly, the U.S. Senate contest between Ashley Moody and Angie Nixon, and Amendment 3, the property tax measure that needs 60 percent to pass.

Crowley walks through the regional map, explains what Democrats must achieve to win, and examines how new congressional districts, vote-by-mail changes and national tensions over election integrity could shape the night and the days after. They close with where Ron DeSantis goes next.

🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday at 4 PM on YouTube and 5 AM on all major audio podcast platforms. 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-of-mind-florida/id1818339119 📡 RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/top-of-mind-florida/

Host's note: This was pre-taped, and polls change constantly, so check them yourself if you want to. (Remember: Brian does not like polls!)

Former Palm Beach County State Attorney and MS NOW contributor Dave Aronberg joins Michael Williams and Brian Crowley to assess whether a blue wave is building for the November midterms and what it could mean in Florida. Aronberg, a Democrat, breaks down the Jolly–Donalds governor's race, the Nixon–Moody Senate contest, the role of NPA and Black voters, the White House press-access fight, and whether DeSantis's redistricting could backfire.

🎙️ New episodes every Tuesday at 4 PM on YouTube and 5 AM on all major audio podcast platforms. 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/top-of-mind-florida/id1818339119 📡 RSS Feed: https://rss.com/podcasts/top-of-mind-florida/