>>THIS WEEK ON NEWS NIGHT, DISCUSSING THE RESULTS OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION HERE IN FLORIDA AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS FOR OUR REGION.

PLUS THE DESANTIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES THE ARREST OF 20 PEOPLE IT SAYS VOTED ILLEGALLY IN 2020, BUT THE ARRESTS RAISE QUESTIONS OVER THE ELIGIBILITY OF FORMER FELONS.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT ALL OF US.

JOINING US THIS WEEK IN THE STUDIO, THREE POLITICS REPORTERS, CHRISTOPHER HEATH, WFTV CHANNEL NINE, GREG ANGEL, HE'S ANCHOR AND HOST OF CENTRAL FLORIDA: BEYOND THE SOUNDBITES ON SPECTRUM NEWS 13 AND STEVE LEMONGELLO FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR COMING IN.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY WEEK, NO DOUBT.

FIRST TONIGHT, LET'S DISCUSS THE HEADLINE ELECTION RESULTS THIS WEEK.

TUESDAY'S FLORIDA PRIMARY CEMENTED SOME KEY MATCHUPS FOR THE MIDTERMS IN NOVEMBER AS EXPECTED.

DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS WILL TAKE ON INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN SENATOR MARCO RUBIO AND REPUBLICAN TURNED INDEPENDENT TURNED DEMOCRAT, CHARLIE CRIST EASILY DEFEATED AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER NIKKI FRIED AND WILL FACE OFF AGAINST GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

WELL, I ASKED UCF POLITICAL SCIENTIST AUBREY JEWETT WHAT WENT RIGHT FOR CRIST ON TUESDAY.

>>CRIST HAD MUCH BETTER NAME RECOGNITION GOING INTO THIS.

HE WAS ABLE TO RAISE MORE MONEY.

GOT A LOT MORE ENDORSEMENTS.

I THINK FOR A LOT OF FLORIDA DEMOCRATS, THEY VIEW HIM AS THE BETTER CHANCE TO BEAT RON DESANTIS.

I KIND OF CALL IT THE JOE BIDEN STRATEGY.

THEY WANT SOMEBODY THAT'S SORT OF AN OLDER WHITE MALE, THAT'S MORE OF A MODERATE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THAT WON'T SCARE VOTERS AWAY.

AND THAT'S HOW BIDEN WAS ABLE TO KNOCK OFF TRUMP.

AND SO THEY'RE HOPEFUL MAYBE THAT THE SAME THING CAN BE REDONE IN FLORIDA.

>>NIKKI FRIED HAS ALREADY COME OUT AND BACKED CHARLIE CRIST IN THE RACE NOW AGAINST GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

WE'VE SEEN CHARLIE CRIST OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ALREADY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE FOCUS OF THAT CAMPAIGN IS GOING TO BE NOW?

WE'VE SEEN CRIST TALK A LOT ABOUT ABORTION, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT NIKKI FRIED HAD HIT HIM ON DURING THE PRIMARY.

ALSO THE GOVERNOR'S KIND OF ANTI-WOKE CRUSADE.

HOW DO YOU THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO TRY TO FIGHT THE GOVERNOR?

>>WELL, AS FAR AS ISSUES, CERTAINLY ABORTION RIGHTS WILL BE FRONT AND CENTER BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT ONLY DOES THAT MOBILIZE THEIR DEMOCRATIC BASE AND GET THEM EXCITED, BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE SWING VOTER, INDEPENDENT IN FLORIDA, ALSO SUPPORTS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND DID NOT THINK THAT THE US SUPREME COURT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF ROE V. WADE.

SO THAT WILL BE, AS FAR AS ISSUES, ONE OF THE CENTERPIECE.

>>I THINK THE OTHER THING, OF COURSE, IS THAT THEY WILL ATTACK GOVERNOR DESANTIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR TRYING TO PUT THE NEEDS OF RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT IN 2024 ABOVE THE NEEDS OF AVERAGE FLORIDIANS.

AND SO THEY'LL POINT OUT A NUMBER OF THESE PRETTY EXTREME POLICIES THAT HE'S PUSHED AND HIS LACK OF EFFORT ON DOING THINGS THAT MOST FLORIDIANS REALLY CARE ABOUT ON THE DAY-TO-DAY, LIKE THE COST OF HOUSING.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUY A HOUSE OR EVEN RENT A HOUSE?

HOW DO YOU GET HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE?

AGAIN, THE COST GOING UP, OR EVEN WHEN YOU CAN AFFORD IT IT'S HARD TO FIND IT IN SOME CASES.

OR THE TEACHER SHORTAGE?

DESPITE EVERYTHING FLORIDA'S STILL 48TH IN TEACHERS SALARIES OUT OF 50 STATE.

SO I THINK THAT THEY'LL HAMMER IN ON DESANTIS AND HIS POLITICAL AMBITIONS.

AND THEN THEY'LL ALSO STRESS THAT ABORTION RIGHTS ISSUE.

>>AUBREY JEWETT THERE FROM UCF.

OKAY, CHRIS, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE.

I MEAN, IN THE END, THE GOVERNOR WAS RIGHT IN HIS PREDICTION ABOUT THAT DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY BETWEEN CRIST AND FRIED.

I MEAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK WENT RIGHT FOR CHARLIE CRIST AND WHAT WENT WRONG FOR NIKKI FRIED?

>>WELL, AS FAR AS THE GOVERNOR'S PREDICTION, IT'S LIKE WHEN MY WIFE WAS PREGNANT, MY DAD WAS LIKE, "WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A BOY."

AND HE WAS RIGHT.

WELL, YOU GOT A 50-50 SHOT.

IT'S CRIST VERSUS FRIED.

YOU FLIP A COIN, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE POLLS ALSO SHOWED THAT CRIST WAS AHEAD.

HE HAD MORE MONEY, LITTLE MORE NAME, IDEAS, DR. JEWETT SAID THERE.

AND THAT'S REALLY, I THINK, FOR CRIST WHAT HELPED.

HE'S RUN IN FLORIDA, THIS WILL BE HIS SIXTH TIME RUNNING STATEWIDE IN FLORIDA.

HE KNOWS HOW TO RUN STATEWIDE.

HE'S GOT THE NAME ID.

AGAIN, THE MONEY.

NIKKI FRIED, I THINK, REALLY NEVER WAS ABLE TO BREAK OUT AND ESTABLISH HERSELF AS WHAT KEVIN CATE, WHO WORKED FOR HER, AS THE NEW THING, AS SOMETHING NEW FOR FLORIDA.

AND AGAIN, I THINK WHAT DR. JEWETT SAID THERE WAS SO SALIENT, WHICH IS DEMOCRATS WANT TO BEAT DESANTIS.

THEY DON'T CARE WHICH TOOL IN THE ARSENAL IS THERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO GRAB WHICHEVER ONE THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE THE BEST.

THEY LOOKED AT THE TWO OF THEM AND SAID, "CHARLIE CRIST PROBABLY GIVES US THE BETTER SHOT."

WE'LL SEE.

>>WELL, I THINK PART OF THE STRATEGY THERE, DEMOCRATS, THEY WANT TO UNITE.

THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A TALL MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB.

AND I THINK PART OF THE ISSUE IS AT THE END OF THE DAY, EVERY ELECTION IS A LITTLE BIT OF A POPULARITY CONTEST.

AND NIKKI FRIED'S CAMPAIGN GOT A LOT OF CRITICISM WHEN THEY WENT ON THE ATTACK AGAINST CHARLIE CRIST.

AND THERE WAS A BIT OF BACKLASH ABOUT THAT APPROACH, THE TONE, AND THE DEMEANOR.

SO I THINK THAT WAS ALSO ANOTHER POINT THAT KIND OF SET THEM BACK.

>>YEAH, SHE REALLY TOOK A LOT OF HEAT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I MEAN, STEVE, THE CRIST CAMPAIGN, OR CHARLIE CRIST HIMSELF, HAS SAID ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THAT HE'LL SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROTECT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE.

DO YOU AGREE WITH AUBREY JEWETT ON WHAT YOU THINK THE KEY ISSUES ARE GOING TO BE IN THIS RACE?

>>YEAH.

ABORTION WILL BE A HUGE ONE.

OBVIOUSLY NIKKI TRIED TO MAKE THAT ONE OF HER MAIN THINGS AFTER DOBBS, BUT CRIST HAS SORT OF BURNISHED HIS PRO-CHOICE CREDENTIALS ENOUGH, GOT ENDORSED BY ANNA ESKAMANI, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO HE'S ABLE TO PRETTY MUCH GET GOOD REVIEWS FROM DEMOCRATS ON THAT ISSUE.

PLUS, ALSO, LIKE THEY SAID, DESANTIS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT DESANTIS, DESANTIS, DESANTIS, AND THEY WILL JUST BE HAMMERING IT HIM OVER AND OVER.

>>WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT DESANTIS, CHRIS.

I MEAN, HE'S DOUBLING DOWN ON THIS SORT OF FLORIDA'S THE PLACE WHERE WOKE GOES TO DIE.

THAT SEEMS TO BE ITS MANTRA FOR THIS ELECTION.

IS DESANTIS, DO YOU THINK, TAKING HIS CUES FROM WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS, OR DO YOU THINK HE'S NOW SETTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AGENDA?

>>IT DEFINITELY FEELS LIKE HE'S SITTING THERE SAYING, "THESE ARE MY PEOPLE.

THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

I'M THEIR LEADER.

SO I MUST FOLLOW THEM."

THE BASE IS MOVING IN THIS DIRECTION.

THIS MOTIVATES THE BASE.

IT GETS THE BASE ENERGIZED.

IT CUTS ACROSS, NOT JUST FLORIDA REPUBLICANS, BUT PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE KIND OF RIGHT OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

YOU CAN CALL IT THE MAGA CROWD IF YOU WANT, BUT THIS DEFINITELY SPEAKS TO THEM.

SO THIS IS VERY GOOD FOR HIM.

WHETHER OR NOT IT ACTUALLY PLAYS IN THE BROADER SENSE, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

BUT FOR THAT BASE VOTER, THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

>>WHAT DO YOU THINK, GREG?

>>ARGUABLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAMPAIGN STOPS THAT GOVERNOR DESANTIS IS ON, NOT ONLY IN STATE, BUT OUT OF STATE, THERE'S PROBABLY THE GOOD ARGUMENT THAT THE GOVERNOR IS ACTUALLY SETTING THE TONE.

A LOT OF SUPPORTERS, THEY WILL JUST CHEER AND ROOT WHATEVER THE ISSUE IS.

SO I THINK ARGUABLY THE GOVERNOR IS PROBABLY SETTING PART OF THE AGENDA THERE.

>>YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD POINT.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JEANETTE NUNEZ RAISED EYEBROWS AMONG SOME IN THE CUBAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT BUSING UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT ARRIVALS TO DELAWARE.

THE GOVERNOR ADDRESSED THIS AFTER A CABINET MEETING ON TUESDAY.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>>SHE DREW A DISTINCTION BETWEEN REFUGEE AND ILLEGAL ALIENS.

AND THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY VERY CLEAR BY WHAT SHE DID.

I WILL TELL YOU, WE HAVE NOT SEEN THEM BUS PEOPLE INTO FLORIDA, BECAUSE TEXAS IS SENDING TO NEW YORK, THEY'RE SENDING TO DC, WHICH HAVE PRIDED THEMSELVES ON BEING SANCTUARY JURISDICTIONS.

SO NOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE BEING BUSED, THEY DON'T LIKE THAT.

AND THEY'RE UPSET THAT IS HAPPENING, BUT THAT'S THE FRUIT OF THE POLICIES THAT THEY'VE ADVOCATED FOR.

AND I THINK BECAUSE TEXAS HAS DONE THAT, I DO THINK WE'VE SEEN, WE HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT IT WAS EXPECTING THAT WE WOULD SEE, WE DO HAVE MONEY TO BE ABLE TO DO, BUT THAT'S FROM PEOPLE FROM THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

THAT'S NOT GOING IN THE INTERIOR OF FLORIDA FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE AS REFUGEES.

AND THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENT OF THAT.

AND I THINK MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

>>GOVERNOR DESANTIS THERE, LET ME TURN TO YOU ON THIS ONE, STEVE.

I MEAN, CRIST REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRANT BUSING ISSUE IN HIS VICTORY SPEECH.

I MEAN, COULD THIS BE SOMETHING THAT WORRIES CUBAN VOTERS?

>>YEAH, THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE LINE THAT'S HAD TO BE BALANCED FOR THE LAST 30, 40, 50 YEARS IN FLORIDA, REPUBLICANS BEING VERY SORT OF ANTI-IMMIGRANT, ANTI ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, CUBANS ARE WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS.

AND WHEN YOU MUDDLE SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DID, THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE A PROBLEM.

>>CHRIS, DESANTIS TALKS A LOT ABOUT NATIONAL ISSUES.

WE HEARD THAT ON ELECTION NIGHTS AT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HE WAS AT WITH MARCO RUBIO, HE ATTACKED THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION THIS WEEK ON CANCELING STUDENT DEBT.

IS HIS AUDIENCE REALLY FLORIDA?

OR IS IT THE REST OF THE COUNTRY?

>>BOTH.

STEVE SCHALE, THE LONGTIME DEMOCRATIC AID HAS SAID, "YOU WIN FLORIDA, YOU WIN THE COUNTRY, " BECAUSE FLORIDA IS IN SO MANY WAYS PEOPLE FROM ALL 49 OTHER STATES WHO MOVE HERE.

SO WHEN YOU SPEAK TO FLORIDA, YOU'RE REALLY KIND OF SPEAKING TO THE OTHER 49 STATES AS WELL.

SO I THINK HE'S SPEAKING TO BOTH BECAUSE IF IT PLAYS WELL IN THE VILLAGES WHERE EVERYBODY'S FROM, THIS NEIGHBOR'S FROM IOWA, THIS ONE'S FROM ILLINOIS, THIS ONE'S FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU'RE SPEAKING TO THEM?

YOU'RE ALSO SPEAKING TO THE COUNTRY.

SO I THINK IT REALLY PLAYS BOTH VERY WELL.

>>WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT TOO, YOU FOLLOW THE MONEY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL NOMINEE IN ARIZONA, KARI LAKE, WHO WON THE NOMINATION ON THE COATTAILS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOW FEVEROUSLY SENDING OUT SOLICITATION EMAILS ALL ABOUT DESANTIS, ME AND THE GOVERNOR DESANTIS.

TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION, SAYING THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS COMMITTED TO SEND THE FLORIDA NATIONAL GUARD TO ARIZONA.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT RAISING MONEY, AND WHAT DOES THAT CAPITAL GIVE YOU?

OVER $125 MILLION, THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM, PLEDGING $100,000 FOR CHARLIE CRIST.

IT'S POLITICAL CAPITAL THERE WITH THE MONEY SO I THINK THAT'S ALSO PART OF IT.

WHAT ISSUES CAN YOU PUT IN SOUNDBITES TO RAISE A COUPLE DOLLARS, AND IF YOU'VE GOT THE WAR CHEST, THEN YOU'VE GOT THE ATTENTION OF YOUR WHOLE PARTY.

>>YEAH.

YOU SAID IT, POLITICAL CAPITAL.

STEVE, I WANT TO JUST TALK ABOUT SCHOOL BOARDS BRIEFLY IF I CAN.

TERESA JACOBS WON REELECTION AS THE CHAIR IN ORANGE COUNTY.

SHE SAW OFF SOME CHALLENGES ON THE RIGHT.

THE GOVERNOR'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN ENDORSING CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL BOARDS.

I MEAN, HOW DID THOSE ENDORSEMENTS PAN OUT FOR HIM?

>>YEAH.

HIS CHOICES WERE PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN PLACES LIKE SARASOTA, MIAMI-DADES.

I THINK THERE WAS A QANON-ISH, ONE IN VOLUSIA OR SOMEWHERE WHO LOST, BUT HE STILL GOT LIKE 49% OF THE VOTE.

SO, YEAH, DESPITE WHAT HAPPENED IN ORANGE COUNTY, DESANTIS' PICKS DID VERY, VERY WELL.

>>QANON-ISH.

>>THE ISSUE WAS ASSOCIATION.

>>THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CALLING IT NOW?

CHRIS, LET'S TURN TO THE SENATE RACE.

OF COURSE THIS WAS THE OTHER BIG ONE ON THE NIGHT.

CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS EASILY WINNING, OF COURSE, HER PRIME RACIAL CHALLENGE, MARCO RUBIO NOW.

SOME POLLS HAVE SHOWN THIS BEING TIGHT.

CAN SHE PULL THAT OFF AGAINST THE INCUMBENT SENATOR?

>>ABSOLUTELY SHE CAN.

WILL SHE?

WE WILL FIND OUT IN NOVEMBER.

THIS IS THE HARDEST RACE MARCO RUBIO'S EVER HAD FOR SENATE.

HIS FIRST RACE WAS REALLY A THREE-WAY RACE.

CHARLIE CRIST WAS KIND OF ALMOST SPOILER IN THAT ONE, AND THE FOLLOWING YEAR, OR THE FOLLOWING TERM, HE COMES UP AGAINST PATRICK MURPHY, UNDERFUNDED, REALLY NOT WELL PREPARED, NOT WELL KNOWN, PRETTY EASY RACE FOR HIM THERE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH TEST FOR HIM.

NOT ONLY IS VAL OUT THERE BURNISHING HER, "I'M A POLICE OFFICER.

I WAS A POLICE CHIEF," CREDENTIALS.

SHE'S ALSO OUT THERE RAISING A TON OF CASH.

>>BUT HE'S GOT A LOT OF ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE POLICE SIDE OF THINGS.

>>HE'S GOT A LOT OF ENDORSEMENTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ESPECIALLY FROM OF COURSE, FLORIDA SHERIFFS, WHICH THAT'S MORE OF A POLITICAL THING THAN A LAW ENFORCEMENT THING.

BUT HE HAS A TURNKEY OPERATION WHEN IT COMES TO HIS POLITICAL OPERATION.

HE'LL BE FINE THERE.

HE WILL GET THE FINANCIAL BACKING HE NEEDS.

HE'LL BE OKAY ON THAT END.

BUT THIS IS THE HARDEST CHALLENGE HE'S EVER FACED.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, DEMINGS IS OUT RAISING RUBIO, BUT WILL THE DEMOCRATS, DO YOU THINK, GREG PUT THE RESOURCES INTO THIS RACE?

I MEAN, THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF OTHER PRIORITIES.

THEY'VE GOT STATES THEY WANT TO FLIP.

>>YES.

>>PENNSYLVANIA, WISCONSIN.

THEY'VE GOT A LOT OF PLACES THEY WANT TO HOLD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, GEORGIA.

>>GEORGIA, WITH THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

>>AND SO FORTH.

I MEAN, IS THIS A PRIORITY, DO YOU THINK FOR THEM?

>>SO WHAT'S INTERESTING IS ON THE OUTSIDE DEMOCRATS WILL TELL YOU, "WE ARE ORGANIZED.

WE ARE ENERGETIC.

WE ARE READY TO GO."

BUT THEN INTERNALLY A LOT OF THEM WILL RECOGNIZE THERE'S A LOT OF DISORGANIZATION WITH THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF SENTIMENT RIGHT NOW.

AS WE SAW ANDREW GILLUM WAS THE ONE THAT WAS EXPECTED TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS IN 2018.

IT IS NOW VAL DEMINGS THAT IS EXPECTED TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS TO CAST BALLOTS.

>>THE OTHER THING IS IN THESE ELECTIONS, IT IS ABOUT GETTING YOUR PEOPLE TO THE POLLS AND THEN COUNTING ON THE OTHER SIDE NOT SHOWING UP.

THIS PRIMARY HAD ONLY 25% TURNOUT.

IN THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION, IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 67% TURNOUT.

SO THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A TALLER MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB, BUT WITHOUT OUTSIDE HELP, THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE.

>>YEAH, I THINK I PROBABLY AGREE WITH THAT.

WELL, MAYOR JERRY DEMINGS WON RE-ELECTION ON TUESDAY.

AND ARAMIS AYALA WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO THE PRIMARY ELECTION RESULTS COVERAGE FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13, WFTV CHANNEL NINE, AND THE ORLANDO SENTINEL ON OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

YOU'LL ALSO FIND A LINK TO GREG'S PODCAST, CENTRAL FLORIDA: BEYOND THE SOUNDBITE THERE AS WELL.

>>WELL, AS WE'VE DISCUSSED ON THE SHOW IN THE PAST THERE ARE VERY FEW COMPETITIVE SEATS LEFT IN FLORIDA AT THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AND THAT MAKES THE PRIMARY WE JUST HAD ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT.

SO LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THE RESULTS IN THE US HOUSE RACES, SOME OF WHICH DREW HIGH PROFILE ENDORSEMENTS FROM THE LIKES OF DONALD TRUMP.

AMONG THEM LAURA LOOMER, WHO LOST HER BID TO UNSEAT INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN DAN WEBSTER IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 10 AND TRUMP LOYALIST AND STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY SABATINI LOST HIS PRIMARY IN DISTRICT SEVEN TO CORY MILLS.

WELL, I ASKED AUBREY JEWETT IF WE CAN READ ANYTHING INTO THE DEFEATS ON THE RIGHT.

>>I THINK WE CAN DRAW AT LEAST A COUPLE THINGS FROM IT.

ONE IS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IS STILL HELPFUL IN A LOT OF CASES, BUT IT'S NOT JUST POSITIVE.

IT'S NOT THE ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO GUARANTEE YOU A VICTORY, BECAUSE IN DAN WEBSTER'S CASE, I MEAN, HE WAS A WELL KNOWN CONSERVATIVE GOING BACK, HELPED SPRING THE CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT AND REPUBLICAN RESURGENCE HERE IN THE STATE, BECAME THE FIRST SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE IN 100 YEARS.

>>HE EMBODIES THE ESTABLISHMENT.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

AND SO HE WAS ABLE TO HANG ON.

I WILL ADD THAT HE'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE GUY AS WELL SO THAT PROBABLY HELPED HIM.

AND HE'S A LITTLE BIT OLDER, WHICH PROBABLY HELPED HIM IN HIS DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES SOME OF THE VILLAGES AND ALL THAT.

IN THE OTHER SEAT, IT WAS AN OPEN SEAT RACE, WIDE OPEN.

AND ALTHOUGH SABATINI DIDN'T WIN, THE PERSON THAT DID WIN IN TERMS OF POLICIES AND THINGS, I MEAN, THEY'RE FIRMLY IN THE TRUMP CORNER AND THE DESANTIS CORNER.

SO THERE WASN'T A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

I THINK THERE WAS MORE ABOUT PERSONALITY.

>>MORE ABOUT PERSONALITY.

WELL, DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

WAS IT MORE ABOUT PERSONALITY, CHRIS?

>>DEPENDING ON ALL THE RACES.

I MEAN, LISTEN, YOU SAID IT IN YOUR INTRO, 28 CONGRESSIONAL SEATS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ONE BRAND NEW ONE, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT.

MOST OF THEM GOT DECIDED ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

AND SO IT WAS MORE ABOUT GETTING THAT BASE VOTE OUT THERE, REALLY SPEAKING TO THAT KIND OF RUMP PART OF THE PARTY CONSIDERING WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOSED PRIMARIES HERE.

SO, YEAH, IT WAS ABOUT ENERGIZING THAT LITTLE SECTION AND THEN CRUISING ON INTO NOVEMBER BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY, IT'S ESSENTIALLY OVER FOR, I WOULD SAY, 27 OUT OF 28 RACES.

>>BUT SABATINI HAD RUN A PRETTY HARD SCRABBLE CAMPAIGN, I THINK WE CAN PROBABLY SAY?

>>WELL, I THINK WITH THE ELECTIONS TOO, AS I SAID, OFTENTIMES I THINK IT IS PERSONALITY OVER POLICIES.

AND WHETHER IT'S ETHNICITY, PARTY, WHAT HAS TO STILL BE RESPECTED IS NO BLOCK OF VOTERS IS MONOLITHIC, I THINK EVEN AMONG REPUBLICANS.

I HEAR FROM SOME, THERE ARE THOSE WHO ARE WHOO-RAH-RAH ABOUT PARENTAL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION AND IMMIGRATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THOSE REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAT ARE GETTING EXHAUSTED OF POLITICS, AND THEY'RE GETTING EXHAUSTED OF CANDIDATES WITH HIGH POWERED RIFLES SHOOTING SIGNS THAT SAY DEFEAT DEMOCRATS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, AGAIN, 25% TURNOUT FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, 67% TURNOUT IN THE 2018 GENERAL.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH.

AND I THINK PERSONALITY PLAYS A LOT INTO THE ELECTIONS.

>>I WOULD ADD SOMETHING ON THE SABATINI THING.

>>YEAH.

>>DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW DEEPLY DISLIKED HE WAS BY REPUBLICANS.

REPUBLICANS FROM- >>ESPECIALLY THE LEGISLATURE.

>>ESPECIALLY FROM THE LEGISLATURE, FROM SPEAKER SPROWLS ON DOWN.

>>YEAH.

>>THEY DID NOT LIKE HIM BEING PERFORMATIVE.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE THE FACT THAT HE CAME AFTER THEM.

IT REALLY JUST KIND OF MESSED HIS OWN NEST SO TO SPEAK.

SO, NO, WHEN HE WAS RUNNING IN THIS RACE, HE DIDN'T JUST HAVE THE DEMOCRATS WHO DIDN'T LIKE HIM OR MAYBE INDEPENDENTS WHO LEANED RIGHT WHO DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

HE HAD THE RIGHT WHO DIDN'T LIKE HIM.

I THINK THAT WAS REALLY WHAT WAS HIS UNDOING IN THAT RACE.

>>CERTAINLY A BIT TOO MUCH OF A FIRE BRAND.

I MEAN, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CORY MILLS, STEVE, AND HIS OPPONENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, KAREN GREEN?

>>YEAH.

WELL, SPEAKING OF GUYS SHOOTING RIFLES AT THINGS, HE HAD A FAMOUS AD WHERE HE SORT TALKED ABOUT HOW HIS COMPANY WAS THE ONE WHO GAVE TEAR GAS, WHO SOLD TEAR GAS, TO POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO USE IN VARIOUS PROTESTS IN 2020.

SORT OF THREATENED THE MEDIA A BIT SAYING, "WE'LL GIVE YOU SOMETHING TO CRY ABOUT."

PEOPLE WHO WERE SORT OF REPUBLICANS WHO DIDN'T LIKE SABATINI, YOU WANTED A CHOICE OF ANOTHER SORT OF VERY MAGA, ELECTION DENYING, REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE?

WELL, THERE'S ONE RIGHT THERE IN CORY MILLS.

>>YEAH.

SO THERE WAS IDEOLOGICALLY MAYBE SIMILAR, TACTICALLY DIFFERENT, POSSIBLY.

THIS WAS STEPHANIE MURPHY'S DISTRICT, CHRIS.

I MEAN, GIVEN THAT SHE'S NOT RUNNING AND THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN REDRAWN IN THE MOST RECENT REDISTRICTING, I MEAN IT TILTED THE BALANCE TOWARDS THE GOP.

IS THIS NOW A REPUBLICAN LOCK?

CAN DEMOCRATS DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

>>I WOULD SAY PROBABLY.

I MEAN, CORY MILLS, IS HE TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT FOR THIS DISTRICT?

WE'LL SEE HOW IT PERFORMS ON ELECTION DAY.

I THINK IF YOU JUST LOOK AT THE WAY IT PERFORMS JUST BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW FROM PREVIOUS ELECTIONS AND WHERE THESE LINES ARE, YOU WOULD SAY JUST, "HE'S GOING TO WALK INTO ELECTION DAY WITH AN ADVANTAGE."

IF YOU HAD $100 TO PUT DOWN ON THIS RACE, PROBABLY PUT IT ON THE GOP, JUST ON THE WAY THE LINES ARE DRAWN.

>>LET'S TALK ABOUT LAURA LOOMER, GREG.

I MEAN, SHE TOOK IT FAIRLY CLOSE IN HER FIGHT WITH DAN WEBSTER IN 11.

SHE'S CLAIMING VOTER FRAUD, AT THIS POINT.

CAN WE SAY THIS RESULT WAS A REPUDIATION OF SOMEONE WHO SORT OF DESCRIBED THEMSELVES AS A PROUD ISLAMOPHOBE.

CAN WE GO THAT FAR?

>>I THINK THIS WAS JUST A RESULT OF SOMEBODY WHO DIDN'T GET ENOUGH VOTERS TO THE POLLS WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, AGAIN WITH THE LOW TURNOUT, WHICH IS TYPICAL FOR A PRIMARY.

BUT SHE ALSO CAME IN WITH A LOT OF BAGGAGE.

HER HISTORY IS OUT THERE.

AND, AGAIN, SHE'S ONE OF THOSE ALTRIGHT KIND OF POLITICIANS WHERE, IN TEARS, SCREAMING ON STAGE, SHE'S NOT CONCEDING THE RACE, MAKING FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT CONGRESSMAN DANIEL WEBSTER'S HEALTH, CALLING THE MAJORITY OF THE PARTY RINOS, SAYING THEY'RE NOT REAL REPUBLICANS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>>MUCH LIKE ANTHONY SABATINI.

>>YEAH.

SO PERHAPS IT'S ONE OF THOSE, WHAT'S THE PHRASE?

DON'T BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU, BECAUSE I MEAN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS WHO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RELY ON.

>>I WILL SAY THIS.

SHE WON SUMTER COUNTY, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE VILLAGES.

>>YES.

>>GOING AWAY.

WHAT SAVED DANIEL WEBSTER WAS THE LITTLE CHUNK OF HIS DISTRICT THAT LAPS INTO ORANGE COUNTY.

HIS MARGIN IN ORANGE COUNTY WAS ABOUT 200 VOTES HIGHER THAN WHAT HE ENDED UP WINNING THE ENTIRE DISTRICT BY.

>>YEAH.

>>SO THAT CHUNK OF ORANGE COUNTY THAT IS IN HIS DISTRICT NOW, THAT'S WHAT SAVED HIS REELECTION.

>>IT'S INTERESTING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS, AND ONE IN PARTICULAR, MAXWELL FROST IN DISTRICT 10.

I BELIEVE HE WAS ENDORSED BY BERNIE SANDERS.

TALK ABOUT HIM.

HE HAD A LOT OF HIGH PROFILE COMPETITION FROM SOME DEMOCRATIC NAMES OF THE PAST.

IS HE GOING TO BE THE FIRST GEN Z MEMBER OF CONGRESS?

>>YEAH, IT SEEMS LIKE IT.

LIKE WE WERE SAYING, THIS ESSENTIALLY IS DETERMINED IN PRIMARIES THESE DAYS.

IT'S A VERY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT AND YES, HE'S A 25 YEAR OLD, GUN REFORM ADVOCATE, HAD TO TAKE ON, LET'S SEE, FORMER CONGRESSMAN ALAN GRAYSON, WHO HOPPED IN, WE HAVE FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN CORRINE BROWN.

>>CORRINE BROWN, YEAH.

>>FRESH OUT OF JAIL.

WE GOT RANDOLPH BRACY, A STATE SENATOR.

SO HE HAD A LOT OF NAMES TO TAKE ON, BUT HE OUTRAISED THEM BY A LOT, TOOK IN $1.5 MILLION.

HE WAS ESSENTIALLY THE ONE BEING ENDORSED BY EVERYBODY AND HE WON IT AND HE PROBABLY WILL BE THE FIRST GEN Z CONGRESSMAN IN THE COUNTRY.

>>WELL, WE WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THIS WEEK'S PRIMARY.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE @WUCFTV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

>>WELL, JUST DAYS BEFORE THE PRIMARY GOVERNOR DESANTIS ANNOUNCED THE ARREST OF 20 PEOPLE FOR BREAKING ELECTION LAWS.

ALL WERE FORMER FELONS THAT THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED OFFICE OF ELECTION CRIMES AND SECURITY SAYS WERE INELIGIBLE TO VOTE BUT DID SO ANYWAY.

A NUMBER OF THOSE ARRESTED SAY THEY THOUGHT THEIR RIGHTS HAD BEEN RESTORED UNDER FLORIDA'S VOTER APPROVED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT FOUR.

CHRIS, LET ME START WITH YOU ON THIS ONE, BECAUSE YOU'VE COVERED THIS ISSUE A LITTLE BIT.

I MEAN, WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU FROM THOSE THAT WERE ARRESTED AND THOSE THAT WEREN'T ARRESTED?

>>WELL, YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ABLE TO VOTE.

THE SYSTEM FOR FELONS TO FIND OUT IF THEY GOT THEIR RIGHTS RESTORED IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS.

AND DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR THAT.

GO ASK REPUBLICAN ALAN HAYS, WHO'S THE SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS IN LAKE COUNTY.

HE'LL TELL YOU IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS BECAUSE I WENT TO HIM WHEN WE HAD A MAN COME TO US AND HE SAID, "LISTEN, THERE'S A BUNCH OF FELONS WHO VOTED IN THE ELECTION."

AND HE GAVE US A LIST.

WE TOOK IT TO HIM.

THERE WERE ABOUT 12 IN LAKE COUNTY WHO VOTED, TRIED TO VOTE, SOME OF THEIR VOTES GOT THROUGH, SOME DIDN'T.

AND THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT LOOKED AT THAT LIST AND BASICALLY SAID, "WE CAN'T PROSECUTE, " BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T PROVE INTENT.

THEY COULDN'T PROVE THESE GUYS KNEW THAT THEY WEREN'T ALLOWED TO VOTE.

>>AND THIS WAS KIND OF HAYS' WHOLE POINT.

THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT REACHED THE SAME CONCLUSION.

YOU FLASH FORWARD A COUPLE OF WEEKS, COUPLE OF MONTHS.

NOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR DOWN IN BROWARD COUNTY, DOWN IN FORT LAUDERDALE, AND HE'S SAYING, "OH, WE'VE GOT ALL THESE ARRESTS."

IT'S THE EXACT SAME.

SO EITHER THEY'RE GOING TO PROSECUTE ALL OF THEM OR THEY'RE GOING TO PROSECUTE NONE OF THEM.

BUT THIS RANDOM PROSECUTION, HERE, BUT NOT THERE, WHEN YOU HAVE A SYSTEM THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY SET UP WITH, "I THOUGHT I WAS ABLE TO VOTE."

>>YEAH.

>>"YOU LET ME VOTE.

WAIT, NOW I'M IN TROUBLE?"

SO IT BASICALLY COMES BACK TO THE STATE REALLY DIDN'T TELL THESE GUYS, "YES OR NO, YOU CAN VOTE."

THEY VOTED.

NOW THE STATE'S GOING TO PROSECUTE THEM.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS NEEDS TO BE SORTED OUT AND I DON'T THINK A COURTROOM'S THE PLACE FOR IT.

>>AND CORRECT ME IF MY MEMORY'S NOT SERVING ME CORRECTLY, BUT WHAT WAS INTERESTING IS ON THE DAY OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 20 ARRESTS, ON SOCIAL MEDIA STARTED TO TREND ABOUT THE FOUR PRIOR ARRESTS IN THE VILLAGES, THREE REPUBLICANS, ONE NO PARTY AFFILIATION.

I BELIEVE TWO OF THEM HAD PLED GUILTY AND ONE HAD JUST KIND OF GOTTEN A DEAL AND THEN I THINK THE FOURTH CASE IS STILL PENDING A LITTLE BIT THERE.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE KIND OF DRAWING ATTENTION TO A CONSERVATIVE AREA FOR PRIOR ARREST AND NO ANNOUNCEMENT, NO PRESS CONFERENCE, NOTHING, NO ATTENTION FROM THE GOVERNOR.

YET HERE, AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TOO, AS THE FLORIDA RIGHTS RESTORATION COALITION HAS TRIED TO POINT OUT IN RESTORING THESE RIGHTS, YOU CAN'T TAKE THIS GROUP AS A MONOLITHIC GROUP EITHER BECAUSE THERE'S REPUBLICANS, THERE'S DEMOCRATS, THERE'S NPAS.

SO THAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER TOO.

>>IT'S TRUE.

I MEAN, THE STATE HASN'T, REALLY, HASN'T INVESTED MUCH TIME IN TRYING TO CLARIFY THESE RULES.

>>NO, THIS HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT.

PEOPLE HAVE TRIED CALLING UP, LOOKING ONLINE, TRYING TO SEE, "OKAY, WHAT DO I OWE?

WHERE DO I OWE IT?

WHO DO I OWE IT TO?"

AND IT'S JUST BEEN ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE SORT OF LEFT IN THE LURCH ON THIS.

AND THESE PEOPLE, A LOT OF THEM RIGHT OUT OF PRISON.

THEY DON'T KNOW.

THEY'RE JUST BEING TOLD, "HERE YOU CAN VOTE."

AND THEY VOTED AND THEY'RE SORT OF SURPRISED.

>>LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT SIGNATURE CHECKING AND SORT OF NEW ABILITIES FOR OUTSIDE GROUPS TO DO THAT UNDER FLORIDA'S NEW ELECTION LAWS.

THE ORANGE COUNTY GOP ESTABLISHED WHAT IT CALLS AN ELECTION INTEGRITY TASK FORCE TO DISPUTE MAIL IN BALLOTS.

I MEAN, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT EFFORT AND WHAT KIND OF POWERS DO THOSE GROUPS WHO WANT TO CHALLENGE SIGNATURES HAVE?

>>IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW MUCH THEY BRING TO THE TABLE THAT'S LEGITIMATE AND HOW MUCH IT'S JUST, "OH, I DON'T LIKE THAT ONE.

OH, I DON'T LIKE THAT ONE."

AND I THINK THIS IS GOING TO PUT A LOT OF STRAIN ON OUR SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.

I'VE TALKED TO SUPERVISORS ALL THE WAY FROM MARION COUNTY TO ORANGE TO SEMINOLE, AND THEY'RE ALL KIND OF JUST BRACING FOR WHAT THIS ELECTION IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BECAUSE BOTH SIDES ARE SO GINNED UP.

THE RIGHT IS SO CONVINCED.

I MEAN, FROM LAURA LOOMER TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT, THAT VOTER FRAUD IS EVERYWHERE, THAT THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

WHEN I WAS IN MARION COUNTY TALKING TO THEIR SUPERVISOR ABOUT A VERY SIMPLE MISTAKE THEY MADE ON AN INFORMATION CARD, NOTHING OFFICIAL, IT WAS JUST YOUR VOTER INFORMATION, BUT SOMETHING GOT SCREWED UP AND PEOPLE WERE FREAKING OUT AND SOCIAL MEDIA WAS ABUZZ WITH FALSE INFORMATION.

AS I'M LEAVING HIS OFFICE, I'M LOOKING, THEY'VE GOT BARRICADES SET UP AT ALL OF THEIR DOORS, LIKE CONCRETE BARRICADES.

AND I ASKED ABOUT THIS AND HE SAYS, "YEAH, WE JUST HAVE TO HAVE THAT THERE TO KEEP STAFF SAFE."

THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE, THAT YOU HAVE ELECTIONS OFFICES WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST THERE TO PROCESS THE VOTES, AND THEY'RE PUTTING BARRICADES UP BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THEIR OFFICE.

THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT.

>>AND I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY.

I MEAN, WE'VE ALL DEALT WITH THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS AND, WELL, IT'S PARTISAN ALAN HAYS, REPUBLICAN, BILL COWLES IN ORANGE COUNTY, A DEMOCRAT.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY A LOT OF THEM REALLY PUT FORTH THE STRONGEST EFFORT TO BE AS NONPARTISAN, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS ARE TOPNOTCH, AND THAT EVERY FAIR AND VALID VOTE IS COUNTED.

SO YOU ADD ALL THOSE STRESSORS AND PRESSURES ON TOP OF IT, ON TOP OF CREDIT NOT REALLY GIVEN TO THESE FOLKS WHO RUN THESE ELECTIONS.

>>WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A VERY BUSY TIME BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY.

AND SO ARE THE SUPERVISORS OF ELECTIONS.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

BE SURE TO HEAD ON OVER TO OUR WEBSITE, WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT FOR MUCH MORE.

BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO CHRISTOPHER HEATH, WFTV CHANNEL NINE, GREG ANGEL FROM SPECTRUM NEWS 13, STEVE LEMONGELLO FROM THE ORLANDO SENTINEL.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEK.