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VOLUME 121 - ISSUE 13

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026

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UF political organizations reflect on midterm election results STUDENTS DISCUSS THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL DIRECTION AND BROKEN PROMISES

By Emily Medina-Finsen Alligator Staff Writer

Amendment 3 passed with nearly 62% of the vote, whereas Amendments 1 and 2 fell short of the 60% voter approval needed to pass. Amendment 3 will go into effect in January, increasing the state’s nonschool homestead tax exemption from $50,000 to $150,000, and to $250,000 by 2028. The

Republican and Democratic students at Santa Fe College and UF might disagree on how the country should be governed, but they agree on one thing: The midterm elections were a chance to reflect on where the government has fallen short. UF College Republicans held a press conference Nov. 5 outside Turlington Hall, where the organization addressed the results of the midterm elections. Democrats won control of the House and Senate and flipped six governor’s offices. A Nov. 5 Instagram post announcing the event asserted, “The GOP failed.” Michael Andre, a 21-year-old UF finance senior and UFCR president, spoke at the 6 p.m. press conference. “Republicans just suffered from a defeat that has not been witnessed since the midterm elections of 2006,” Andre said. In 2006, Republicans lost 30 seats in the House of Representatives and six seats in the Senate. At this time under the Bush administration, the war in Iraq was unpopular among voters where they also felt frustrations with the government. This year's midterm elections saw seven Republican seats lost in the Senate and 40 Republican seats lost in the House. Andre called this midterm election a loss for Republicans. Now, the Trump administration could find it hard to pass legislation with Democrats holding the majority in Congress, he said. He pointed to President Donald Trump’s first term, when Democratic control of the House led to increased congressional opposition, including two impeachment proceedings against the president. The midterm election results reflected a loss for the Republican Party, Andre said. But UFCR maintained its satisfaction with Florida remaining red, with the wins of Sen. Ashley Moody and Rep. Kat Cammack, he added. As a group of young Republicans, Andre said, UFCR wants nothing more than to stand side by side with party members who stick to their principles and keep their promises. One of Trump’s reelection promises was not to enter in any new wars, but a year into his presidential term, the U.S. entered a war with Iran. Andre said the involvement in the conflict has caused more harm than good. “The youth is not pro-war,” he said. “They hate it. I hate it.” Amid the war, energy prices, inflation and unaffordability have skyrocketed, Andre said.

SEE ELECTION, PAGE 4

SEE REACTIONS, PAGE 4

Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff

Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., speaks before President Trump during a rally at the Ocean Center, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Alachua County rides blue wave, Florida stays dry

The state elected its first Black governor, passed Amendment 3 and saw a Democrat victory in the Florida House By Alexa Ryan & Grace Larson Alligator Staff Writers

As the so-called “blue wave” flooded the rest of the country, it seemingly missed most of Florida. The Nov. 3 midterms saw the election of Florida’s first Black governor, the passage of an amendment that reduces property taxes and local government budgets and a Democratic victory in the Florida House of Representatives. Here’s what to know. Governor

Florida’s governor race kept voters on their toes Nov. 3 with a tight race throughout the night as the primarily red panhandle counties, the last to report their results, put Gov.-elect Byron Donalds, who will be Florida’s first Black governor, in the lead. The Associated Press called the race just after 9:10 p.m., with Donalds garnering

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exactly 50% of the vote compared to opponent David Jolly’s 48.7% — a gap of just over 100,000 votes. Although Jolly lost at the state level, he won Alachua County by a significant margin. Roughly 66% of Alachua County voters — about 70,000 people — favored Jolly. In his victory speech, Donalds congratulated Jolly for running a “hardfought campaign” and said Jolly was the first person who called to congratulate him after his win. “The truth is, in our state, we have people who are struggling; we have people who are looking at their insurance bills; we have people who are looking at their bank accounts,” he said. “My mission as Florida’s next governor is to make sure that they can build a great life here in the great state of Florida.” He went on to say that Florida will become a top-10 global economy under his leadership. He also promised to make

housing more affordable, protect agricultural lands and the environment and take a stance against bigotry like antisemitism. “Florida will be a state for everybody,” he said. He went on to emphasize parental rights in the state. “At its core, we are going to be a state that makes sure that the children of Florida belong to their parents and not to the government,” he said. Amendments

Flock Safety cameras

UF police continue to use automated license plate readers, pg. 2

Ben Hill Griffin

Tree removal paused for stadium renovations, pg. 3

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Safety devices or surveillance cameras? THE UF POLICE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO UTILIZE AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READERS DESPITE GAINESVILLE POLICE’S REMOVAL, CAUSING CONTROVERSY

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University Avenue on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. the Fourth Amendment right to privacy. “We’ve gotten too comfortable with [the] government knowing everything about us,” he said. Marden said controversies surrounding ALPR cameras are politically unifying because privacy is a universal topic. The mayor said he’s disappointed UF continues to use ALPRs. He suggested the lack of change may be a leadership issue. But replacing Flock Safety cameras with other ALPRs isn’t ideal, either, Marden said. An alternative won’t mend surveillance concerns, he said, because the technology is inherently indicative of “government overreach.” “I hoped that UF would follow the lead of those other entities in protecting people’s privacy,” Marden said. Ryder Dickinson, a 21-year-old UF economics senior, said people with privacy concerns should consider that phones already track personal information. ALPRs aren’t the biggest problem society faces, he said. “Anyone with a smartphone who’s connected to the internet [has] their location already being tracked all the time,” he said. Dickinson hadn’t heard about

the changes made by GPD, he said, but he admitted the cameras could be a starting point for an “authoritarian police state.” But for others, the surveillance state has already started. Though Flock Safety states its products aren’t surveillance cameras, Derek Bambauer, a UF law professor, believes otherwise. He said Flock Safety qualifies as a surveillance system because of its ability to track and store traffic data. Since August, Flock Safety cameras store data for seven days. Previously, the camera’s retention period was 30, but it was shortened after public backlash. Bambauer said Flock Safety cameras can reveal a person’s everyday life and can track places they go, such as a political rally. Rather than cities making their own decisions about Flock Safety and other surveillance systems, Bambauer said the federal government should implement guidelines on ALPR usage. “I don’t want us to lose sight of what I think is an important interface between really sophisticated modern technology and some of our deeper social values,” he said.

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By Alana Nguyen Automated license plate readers are gone from Gainesville roads, but drivers can still see them on UF’s campus. Sept. 3, Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya announced the removal of Gainesville Police’s use of all ALRPs on city right-of-ways. The decision followed an order from the Florida Department of Transportation requiring ALPRs be removed from state roads. GPD suspended its use of roughly 10 cameras, but the UF Police Department wasn’t required to because county and city roads can still use the technology. But students and community members haven’t accepted UFPD’s exclusion from the order. Since then, calls for the removal of ALPRs on campus have risen, and protests like one held on Turlington Plaza Sept. 9 have been planned by student organizations. UF and UFPD declined to comment. Under Florida’s statutes, the school can’t share security plans. Flock Safety is an Atlantabased private manufacturer that produces ALPRs for over 5,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Its cameras capture license plates, locations and details like a car’s make and model, storing information for seven days. In the past, ALPR cameras have led to wrongful arrests. Lindsey Isaacs was falsely accused of contributing to a crash that killed three people in Sanford because her vehicle was incorrectly flagged by a Flock Safety camera, landing her 13 days in jail. Possible data misuse and privacy issues are also concerns. The Institute for Justice has recorded over 200 ALPR misuses, including stalking, incorrect detentions and other cases of unspecified misconduct. More than 15 incidents have been reported in Florida. Newberry Mayor Tim Marden said the automated cameras are dangerous because they violate

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 ALLIGATOR 3

The environmental cost of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium’s facility upgrades A UF COMMITTEE VOTED TO PAUSE THE REMOVAL OF OVER 200 TREES

By Christian Haas Alligator Staff Writer

The UF Lakes, Vegetation and Landscaping Committee unanimously voted Nov. 5 to pause plans to remove over 200 trees outside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The trees were slated for removal because of planned upgrades to the stadium’s facilities. The pause will allow the committee to consider parking lot and road closures to minimize the construction project’s environmental impacts. Bill Smith, UF’s assistant athletics director of facilities, said parts of Stadium Road will already be closed for the project, and closing parking lots would create inconveniences on campus. Emergency service vehicles might also face accessibility issues if stadium renovations demand extra road and lot closures, he added. Laurie Hall, the vice president of engineering company NV5, said most of the trees planned for removal would block construction work. The trees will be removed gradually throughout the multiyear project, rather than all at once, she added. NV5 has contributed to other large UF projects like the construction of Malachowsky Hall and the Condron Family Ballpark. At Thursday’s meeting, Hall presented a PowerPoint by Stephen Caron, a UF planning, design and construction project manager. Per Caron’s PowerPoint, the tree removal would be part of a “multi-phase renovation” intended to improve the stadium utilities and broadcast truck parking. The project’s plans haven’t been finalized, but early renovations are likely to include improvements to infrastructure like sidewalks. Despite the trees’ removal, the project plans to preserve 15 live oak trees along University Avenue and Gale Lemerand Drive. The trees slated for removal are regulated, meaning Gainesville needs to approve permits to remove them. Nearly 40 of the trees are heritage trees, which UF’s 2019 Tree Mitigation Policy defines as canopy trees measuring 20 or more inches

Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff

Trees are planted along Gator Walk in front of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla.

in diameter or 30 or more inches for some species. If the current plans are followed, UF would remove 10 tree species, including three heritage species. One magnolia, three winged elms and 33 live oaks would also be removed. UF’s mitigation policy looks to compensate for the removal of healthy trees by planting new trees elsewhere. To mitigate the removal of the 202 trees from the Ben Hill Griffin area, 564 trees would be planted in other spots across campus, costing $141,000. Ryan Klein, an assistant UF arboriculture professor, said $141,000 is considerably low compared to the value of the 202 healthy, living trees. He believes UF has fallen into a bad trend of removing trees planted during previous construction projects dating back up to 30 years, he said. In February, UF’s LVL Committee proposed the removal of up to about 1,100 trees from Graham Woods as part of the Graham Woods Stormwater Improvement Project. Klein proposed relocating the existing trees instead of replacing them with new, younger trees. UF’s mitigation plan considers relocating trees, but doing so can cost over 10 times more than replacing them, and there are

tree diameter limitations. According to the policy, relocating a 20-inch tree costs $12,000 — compared to a $1,000 replacement — and UF avoids relocating trees with diameters more than 30 inches. NV5 Vice President Hall also said there’s not enough room or time to relocate trees. Joanne Tremblay, the secretary of the Suwannee St. Johns Group, said UF’s pattern of removing trees for construction is concerning. The health of the campus, its students and nearby residents are impacted by the removal of trees, she said. A 2023 analysis on 237 trees throughout Maguire Village, a UF graduate housing complex, found they remove over 500 pounds of pollution from the air, store over 100 tons of carbon and produce 15 tons of oxygen per year, according to documents obtained by The Alligator. When UF replaces trees in accordance with its mitigation policy, Tremblay said, it doesn’t fully address the value of the removed trees or consider the multiyear maintenance required to ensure newly planted trees develop properly. Campus construction, according to UF’s mitigation policy, should avoid impacting trees. During Thursday morning’s meeting, the LVL commissioners discussed how tree removal could be avoided during the stadium’s renovations. Adam Dale, a UF entomology and nematology associate professor who heads the committee, proposed using existing parking lots near the stadium to house construction equipment and minimize tree removal. Many of the 202 trees proposed for removal, Dale said, have recently reached a point of environmental benefit, and removing them would restart a 30-year growth process. If the plans are approved, the area will see minimal tree removal in the project’s first year, and it will increase with construction and renovation. Kristina Lee, a 20-year-old UF plant science junior, said she values how UF’s trees contribute to the campus atmosphere. “Taking down trees, it’s a sign of disconnection from the environment,” she said, “which is disconnection from yourself.”

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4 ALLIGATOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026

Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff

A protester is removed from the crowd as President Trump speaks during a rally at the Ocean Center, Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla..

Students discuss election results REACTIONS, from pg. 1 Republicans were also promised an economic turnaround to relieve the “broken economy,” but that promise was also broken, he said. “The members of the UF College Republicans love our country, and we love our party,” Andre said, “but we also acknowledge that some element of change must occur to serve in our best and most faithful capacity.” Andre encouraged Republicans to listen to younger voters and recognize where the party has fallen short. He said Republicans should learn

from Democrats’ ability to engage younger voters and need to do more to bring young people into political conversations. “No one is going to fight for us but us,” Andre said. For some young conservatives, the election raised questions about whether the Republican Party still represents the next generation. Landon Roughton, a 20-year-old UF history junior and outreach coordinator of UF Turning Point USA, attended UFCR’s Nov. 5 press conference. Roughton agreed with Andre when he said the war with Iran hasn’t been popular with the youth

or, as the midterms reflected, many Republicans. Trump also ran on strict immigration enforcement, he said, but Roughton said Trump backed off when it faced controversy in some Democratic states. Still, the administration's immigration efforts have remained strong and have reduced the undocumented immigrant population by almost 3 million. “He had the opportunity while everything was red to get everything done, and then he kind of didn’t,” Roughton said. Immigration was a significant issue for Trump voters in the 2024 election. About 9 in 10 Trump voters

said his pledge to secure the border and combat illegal immigration was a major reason they supported him. Seeing Republicans share their disappointment with the Trump administration, Roughton said the MAGA movement was “decapitated” by the midterm election results. “In my opinion, I think MAGA is dead,” he said. Despite the loss Republicans faced in the midterms, Roughton thinks many young conservatives in Florida will continue to vote red. Because about 3 in 5 Floridians are Christian, he said, their values align with conservatives, so they’ll continue to vote Republican. The Trump administration’s broken promises have also been felt on the opposite side of the political spectrum, said Jacob Kaluski, a 19-year-

A rundown of the Florida midterms ELECTION, from pg. 1 amendment reduces property taxes, decreasing revenue local governments typically use for public safety budgets. Meanwhile, because Amendment 1 didn’t pass, Floridians won’t see an increase to the state’s budget stabilization fund, which acts as a reserve in the event of financial emergencies. Likewise, agricultural land owners won’t get property tax exemptions for agricultural equipment kept on their land as proposed by Amendment 2. U.S. Senate

Incumbent Republican Ashley Moody and Democratic opponent Angie Nixon were in a close fight for control of Florida’s open Senate seat throughout election night, and Moody eventually clinched the win by just under 240,000 votes. AP called the race just after 8:30 p.m. with a slim 2.9 percentage points separating the candidates. Moody will serve out the remainder of Marco Rubio’s term, which ends in 2029. Rubio left the seat vacant in January 2025

when President Donald Trump appointed him U.S. Secretary of State. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Moody, who was attorney general at the time, to the seat. Her top priorities are law and order, economic prosperity and American sovereignty, according to her campaign website. Gainesville charter amendment

Roughly 52% of Gainesville voters passed a charter amendment that will allow Gainesville commissioners to appoint a new member to the commission in the event of a vacancy.

Florida House District 10

Republican Marshall Rawson won the state House District 10 race over Democrat Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson. Rawson will represent Baker, Bradford, Columbia and Union counties and the northern part of Alachua County. Rawson campaigned on stopping illegal immigration, preserving Florida’s natural and agricultural land, lowering property taxes, defending Second Amendment rights and passing anti-abortion measures, according to his campaign website.

House District 3

Republican Kat Cammack will keep her position as a representative in the U.S. House after winning reelection for the fourth time Nov. 3. She beat out Democrat Seth Harp by just over 10 percentage points. She has served the district, which represents much of north central Florida and includes Alachua County, since 2021. Her campaign website emphasized securing the southern border, lowering taxes and advocating for small businesses.

Florida House District 22

In an upset win, Democrat Amy Trask unseated Republican incumbent Chad Johnson in the Florida House District 22 race. Trask led the race by just over a percentage point. She will represent Gilchrist and Levy counties and western Alachua County. She emphasized affordability, healthcare and education on her campaign website. Senate District 6

Jennifer Bradley will continue to serve

old Santa Fe College student enrolled in a welding and GED program. Kaluski serves as the harassment grievance officer for UF’s Young Democratic Socialists of America. Following the midterm elections, Kaluski said he and other young left-leaning voters remain frustrated with the Trump administration, particularly with immigration enforcement and involvement in the war in Iran. He also said the Democratic Party needs to improve its campaign efforts and make changes the youth wants to see. He doesn’t think Trump will withdraw troops from Iran until he gets a win, he added, suggesting he might want to add to his presidential accomplishments. “I just don’t think our soldiers should be there in the first place,” he said. “I think they should withdraw.” Immigration enforcement is another source of frustration among young people, said Kaluski, who believes many are upset by Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and the fear they create in communities. Candidates like Democrat Angie Nixon rallied support among younger voters, which he said is because voters gravitate toward candidates who offer a different political direction, such as focusing on economic inequality, healthcare and corporate influence. He suspects that’s why left-leaning candidates like Zohran Mamdani, Abdul El-Sayed and James Talarico won their elections, he said. Candidates like Nixon ran on platforms like “Fight the oligarchy,” which rallied the support of young voters desperate for a change. “They are fed up with data centers, fed up with billionaires that have infinite wealth, with the U.S. sending our tax dollars to Israel … murdering Palestinians and stealing their land, ICE raids, and the Iran war,” Kaluski said. @EmilyMedFinZ27 emedina-finsen@alligator.org

Alachua County in the Florida Senate following her successful bid for reelection. She won over Democrat challenger Jason Bellamy-Fults by 18 percentage points. Bradley will represent seven north central Florida counties, including the northern portion of Alachua County. Her most recent legislative work advocated for child safety, stricter fiscal policy and increased medical research funding. Alachua County Commission District 4

Ken Cornell won nearly 75% of the vote defending the District 4 county commission seat. Cornell, the current Democratic commission chair, will be sworn in for a fourth term after beating his nonpartyaffiliated opponent, Dewayne Baines. Alachua County School Board District 1

Hunter Miller won the District 1 school board seat, securing nearly 59% of the vote. He beat incumbent Janine Plavac in a runoff election after neither candidate secured more than 50% of the vote in the primaries. @AlexaRyan_ aryan@alligator.org @graceellarson glarson@alligator.org

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/the_avenue

THEATRE

Mystery takes center stage in Buchholz’s ‘And Then There Were None’ BUCHHOLZ HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS BRING AGATHA CHRISTIE’S CLASSIC MURDER MYSTERY TO LIFE By Aaliyah Evertz Avenue Staff Writer

In Buchholz High School’s production of “And Then There Were None,” the audience won’t just be watching a murder mystery unfold. They’ll be sitting in the middle of it. With audience members seated onstage alongside the actors, the production brings Agatha Christie’s classic mystery up close and personal, where even the smallest facial expression or movement could raise suspicion. The play follows 10 strangers who find themselves trapped together and killed off one by one. With each death, suspicion grows among the remaining guests, leaving both characters and audience questioning who is

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responsible. For Emma Zuvich, a 16-year-old BHS junior and the show’s student director, keeping the audience guessing is key to the production. Zuvich previously performed as a main dancer in Buchholz’s production of “Hadestown” her freshman year. Now working behind the scenes, she said she wanted to explore how directing could evoke emotions from an audience. Compared to Buchholz’s previous productions, Zuvich said the play takes on a darker tone and places greater emphasis on the actors’ interactions. The immersive stage setup adds another element to the mystery. With audience members seated close to the actors, subtle movements and facial expressions become easier to notice, giving viewers an opportunity to pick up on details throughout the performance. Zuvich said those details are especially important in a story where anyone could be

Takeaways from the Gators’ loss to Oklahoma at home for the first time. Read more on page 10.

responsible for the murders. The production also relies on carefully timed pauses to build tension, allowing moments of dialogue to settle before the story moves forward. “It keeps you thinking about what is being said while also having to be paying attention to another element,” Zuvich said. Lighting adds to the suspense. The stage flashes red after each death, and a spotlight draws attention to the soldier boy figures tied to the story. Bringing the deaths to the stage has presented its own challenges. Zuvich said some scenes, in rehearsal, required adjustments to keep the production appropriate for a high school audience without losing the story’s darker elements. For 17-year-old BHS senior Mikaela Clouser, suspicion is part of the job. Clouser plays William Blore, an undercover detective who arrives at the house posing as a millionaire. Tasked with keeping an eye

on the other guests, Blore soon finds himself caught in the same mystery he’s trying to unravel. Playing a detective surrounded by potential suspects required Clouser to juggle several emotions at once. With much of the cast sharing the stage, one of the role’s biggest challenges was keeping track of her lines while staying suspicious of everyone around her. For Clouser, the story’s appeal comes from the uncertainty surrounding each character and the questions that linger as the mystery unfolds. “I feel like everybody loves a good murder mystery, and a lot of people know Agatha Christie,” she said. Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/the_avenue. @aaliyahevertz1 aevertz@alligator.org

The Alligator’s arts and culture reporting is made possible with the support of the Brian Doherty Fund.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/opinions

Column

The price of friendship is too high

hether it’s a day trip, dinner at a restaurant or a night out at the bars, having plans always feels great. But all these activities have one thing in common: They cost money. One activity may not be a problem, but expenses add up. You might justify the costs by telling yourself they aren’t that expensive, but when combined, all of these fun activities can cause a significant dent in your bank account. Even an outing that may seem free, such as going to the beach, can come with hidden costs when you factor in gas, parking and food. Beyond the financial strain, there’s a pressure to pay to be included. No one wants to miss out on making memories by missing an event. If friendships revolve around expensive outings, maintaining them can be difficult for those who can’t afford them. No one should have to choose

between staying within their budget and spending time with friends. Paid experiences don’t need to be avoided, but they should be minimized. Social lives don’t need to be action-packed or Instagram-worthy to be meaningful. A normal afternoon seems less exciting, but it can be just as enjoyable in good company. Connections are built through conversations and shared experiences, which can happen anywhere. Students need to start looking into more budget-friendly activities to accommodate everyone. There are plenty of ways to socialize around UF’s campus without spending much money or sacrificing the fun. The Plaza of the Americas is the perfect spot to sit and have lunch with friends. As the weather gets cooler, you can enjoy the fresh air while decompressing from the stress of classes with your friends.

You could also take a walk around Lake Alice. You can enjoy the scenery, and you might even spot some bats flying overhead if you go at the right time. And this is just one of many beautiful spots on campus to get outside with friends. Hosting a movie night is another easy option. If you commit to a film franchise, it can even become a recurring plan. If you want to pair your showing with food, make it a potluck to split the cost. To get some exercise with friends, you could start an intramural sports team. It gives you a reason to get together every week to play soccer, volleyball or other sports. You even have the opportunity to win a free shirt, which is a constant motivator for me. If sports aren’t really your thing, going to the gym together is always another option to stay active when catching up, and the Southwest Recreation Center and Stu-

dent Recreation & Fitness Center are Kaitlyn Ocuto opinions@alligator.org free for UF students. Everyone has to eat, so you may as well spend some time cooking dinner with friends. Instead of paying restaurant prices, you can split the cost of ingredients and make a meal together. If you want to add some competition, you could organize a cooking contest and see who comes up with the best dish. You don’t need to completely eliminate spending from your social life, but it shouldn’t be a requirement for having one. Next time you make plans, remember that what matters most isn’t what you spend — it’s who you spend your time with. @KaitlynOcuto kocuto@alligator.org

The views expressed here are not necessarily those of The Alligator. The Alligator encourages comments from readers. Letters to the editor should not exceed 600 words (about one letter-sized page). They must be typed, double-spaced and must include the author’s name, classification and phone number. Names will be withheld if the writer shows just cause. We reserve the right to edit for length, grammar, style and libel. Send letters to opinions@alligator.org, bring them to 2700 SW 13th St., or send them to P.O. Box 14257, Gainesville, FL 32604-2257.Columns of about 450 words about original topics and editorial cartoons are also welcome. Questions? Call 352-376-4458.

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 ALLIGATOR 7

Column

Florida Democrats are running out of excuses F lorida bucked the national blue tsunami Nov. 3, with the GOP sweeping almost all statewide races. Byron Donalds will succeed Gov. Ron DeSantis and become the first Black governor in Florida, and Ashley Moody won her special election to the U.S. Senate. These results call into question the ability of the Florida Democratic Party to win any future statewide election. Despite having one of the best political environments for Democrats in decades, Republicans managed to maintain almost complete control over the Sunshine State. Donalds defeated Democrat David Jolly by less than two percentage points, a fraction of DeSantis’ 19-point landslide reelection four years ago. In the Senate race, Moody beat Democrat Angie Nixon by a slightly wider margin of about three points. Four years ago, Secretary of State and former Sen. Marco Rubio won reelection by 16 percentage points. This narrowed gap would be an encouraging sign for Florida Democrats — if it wasn’t taken in the broader context of the 2026 midterms. South Carolina and Texas, which strongly voted for Trump two years ago, each elected a Democrat senator. Trump won South Carolina by 18 points in 2024, but Democrat Annie Andrews won over Republican Darline Graham for the Senate in a four-point margin, making her the state’s first female senator and the first Democrat since

1998. Meanwhile, Texas elected Democrats in two races: James Talarico defeated Ken Paxton for Senate, and Gina Hinojosa beat Greg Abbott in the governor’s race. This was the first time the Lone Star state went blue in these races since 1988 and 1990, respectively. We also saw Republicans lose in more than six historically Republican states, including Georgia, Kansas and Ohio. While some of these states usually lean more purple, others are historically redder than Florida, and yet we still see Democrats in Florida underperforming compared to national trends. This is not the first time Florida has countered national momentum. In 2018, Trump’s first midterm election and the last blue wave, Florida went red in both statewide elections. Then-Gov. Rick Scott defeated incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson by a razor-thin margin of 0.2% for Senate. DeSantis also won his bid for governor by 0.4%. Both then and now, Florida was one of the few battleground states to vote red. In both midterm elections, Trump’s unpopularity created a strong political environment for Democrats — but those in Florida were unable to capitalize on it. The only bright spot for Florida Democrats in the two big races was that the polling slightly underestimated Jolly and Nixon. Donalds had a four-point polling lead and won by 1.3%. Moody had a six-point polling lead and only won by 2.9%.

In the House, Florida went 20-8 for the GOP, maintaining the makeup of the congressional caucus from two years ago. This is despite the fact that Florida Republicans redrew the Congressional map to give their party a better chance in four congressional districts. Democrats nearly held onto all four new districts, only losing Florida’s 27th Congressional District by less than 1%. The Florida State House of Representatives and Senate are no longer held by Republican supermajorities. This would be a bigger win for the Democrats if they had managed to take the governor’s mansion, but it’ll nonetheless provide increased resistance to Donalds and Republicans in Tallahassee. These are only small consolations for the millions of Floridians who will be hurt by at least four more years of GOP control. Florida has officially lost any semblance of political competitiveness, and the Florida Democratic Party needs to prove it can win before voters place any faith in it again. Another blow to the future of Florida is the passage of Amendment 3. Floridians chose to prioritize individual savings over public safety and local governments that will have their budgets ravaged by this tax cut. Rural Floridian counties will face extremely difficult decisions about which services to cut and how to make up lost revenue. These results make it clear Florida is far out of reach for the Democratic Party on the

state and national levels. This will likely cause political money Evan Dressel and resources to be opinions@alligator.org moved away from Florida and toward more competitive states that have proven willing to elect Democrats, like Texas and South Carolina. Florida Democrats clearly can’t rely on favorable national political environments. They must turn their attention to building a stronger, more sustainable state political party that can recruit compelling and electable candidates. They certainly need to move away from the failed strategy of nominating former Republicans for governor. These candidates must also be able to provide Floridians with a strong ideological argument and clear vision for the future. This lack of competitiveness means issues specific to Florida will be less likely to receive national attention. Marginalized communities will also find it harder to make their concerns heard in Tallahassee. Over the past three decades, Republican control in the state has already proven how damaging a GOP chokehold can be to our state. Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/opinions. @EvanD_Alligator edressel@alligator.org

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 www.alligator.org/section/sports

FOOTBALL

3 takeaways from Florida’s sluggish home loss THE GATORS CONVERTED ON JUST TWO THIRD DOWNS IN THEIR SECOND LOSS IN THE SWAMP THIS YEAR

up third-and-16, when the quarterback made a play with his legs to pick up the first down, but Florida was forced to move back again. It punted two plays later. The penalty issues continued in the second frame, contributing greatly to Oklahoma’s 15-play touchdown drive. Cornerback Cormani McClain picked up a passinterference call on the series’ third play and the Gators jumped offsides, bringing Oklahoma to Florida’s 32-yard line. Florida cleaned up the extracurricular activity in the second half, but still couldn’t generate any offense down the stretch.

By Riley Orovitz Sports Writer

When a team’s punter generates more yardage than its offense, that’s usually not a great sign. Unfortunately for No. 24 Florida (5-4, 3-4 SEC), Alec Clark was the star of the show in its 23-7 loss to Oklahoma (5-4, 3-3 SEC). Nov. 7 marked the third rendition of Florida vs. Oklahoma and the first as conference foes. The Gators topped the Sooners 24-14 in the 2008 national championship en route to their third title. But instead of setting off celebratory fireworks as it did in Miami Gardens following the championship win, Florida left Ben Hill Griffin Stadium winless for the second time this season. Here are three takeaways from Florida’s lackluster defeat.

3. Dallas Wilson finally got involved, but it didn’t make much of a difference

1. The offense failed to string together quality drives

Florida totaled 203 yards in the contest. Clark, its senior punter, accumulated 212 yards on his five boots. The Gators possessed the ball for just 22:10 of game time, despite Oklahoma’s offense failing to find itself heading into the matchup. The Sooners averaged the second-fewest points in the SEC before Saturday, but they had a much easier time maintaining possession than their conference foe. The Gators averaged just 4.7 plays on their 10 drives, making it wildly difficult to generate much success. They had a three-and-out on the game’s opening possession and put together a drive of more than four plays just twice before the final series in garbage time. Meanwhile, the Sooners tacked on a 20play, 89-yard touchdown drive to put the game away. The series ate up 12:45 of game time and pushed their lead to 13 with 4:56 to go. "They found ways to get thirdand-shorts, fourth-and-short and just convert and keep converting," head coach Jon Sumrall said. "Situationally, we didn't have a real good awareness or feel for what that looked like and how they were going to call it." Gators quarterback Tramell Jones Jr. relied on his legs for much

Bayden Armstrong // Alligator Staff

Florida wide receiver Dallas Wilson (6) reaches for a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Gainesville, Fla. of the night because the offensive line continued to struggle, similar to recent weeks. Jones came out of the win with 133 passing yards, two interceptions and just 10 throws completed of his 22 attempts. "We never could find our rhythm," Sumrall said. The Gators put together their longest drive of nine plays, but it was capped by an interception thrown by Jones on fourth-and-3 from the Oklahoma 17-yard line. They drove 52 yards down the field facing a 13-7 deficit with 6:22 to go in the third quarter, but they turned the ball over and were left scoreless.

Both teams traded punts in the third frame, combining for five boots, plus Jones’ pick. The Gators had two possessions in the fourth quarter, the first of which contained two incompletions, a 7-yard pass and a sack on fourth down for a loss of 15. Their final series was capped by another Jones interception after he completed three passes in garbage time. 2. Penalties were a factor early

The Gators had been called for 7.9 penalties per game ahead of Saturday, stacking up to No. 108 in the

nation. The trend quickly continued as Florida committed four penalties in the first quarter alone. On the Gators’ opening possession, they were called for illegal formation, but the call was moot because Jones was sacked anyway, bringing on the punt unit for the first of five boots. Right tackle Caden Jones was then called for back-to-back holding penalties on positive plays. Florida faced a third-and-6 where Tramell rolled out to his right and threw an on-the-run dart to Bailey Stockton for a gain of 18 — until the yellow flag came out. Caden’s hold brought

When Dallas Wilson reeled in six catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns in his collegiate debut Oct. 4, 2025, the Florida faithful thought he would be special. Instead, the wide receiver has failed to put up a stat line even close to the one against Texas outside of Week 2 of this year against Campbell, when he had 104 yards and a score. Wilson, a sophomore wide receiver, caught two passes for 14 yards against Georgia a week after having three catches for 27 yards the week prior. Wilson was a complete non-factor against the Bulldogs and has not shown the same flashes from his first game as a Gator. While he wasn’t wildly effective, Wilson had a fine night against Oklahoma. He was targeted on Tramell Jones’ first five pass attempts and six times out of the first eight throws. With Vernell Brown III sidelined for the fourth consecutive week, other wide receivers have taken on a larger role in the system. But Wilson’s name hadn’t been called on as many times as anticipated. Saturday was a different story, sort of. The Tampa native hauled in four catches for 48 yards, marking his most receptions since Oct. 10. Wilson was targeted just twice in the second half. "We have to go back to work," Sumrall said. "What we've been doing is not working good enough. We have to find new things to make us be successful, and we're going to continue to work tirelessly to do so."

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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2026 ALLIGATOR 11

MEN'S BASKEBTALL

So far, so good: 3 takeaways from Florida men’s basketball’s 2-0 start THE GATORS DEFEATED NO. 14 MIAMI AND JACKSONVILLE TO START THE 2026-27 CAMPAIGN By Jeffrey Serber Sports Writer

Heading into the season as the No. 1 team in the country, Florida has passed every test so far, winning its first two games. The Gators defeated No. 14 Miami 77-67 to start the season in Tampa Nov. 2 before taking care of business against Jacksonville in an 88-57 home victory Nov. 6. With a road game against Florida State Nov. 10, Florida will look to extend its winning streak before traveling to Las Vegas for the Players Era 8 Tournament. Here are three takeaways from Florida’s first two games of the 2026-27 season. 1. Defense is off to a great start

For much of last season, Florida’s defense played a big part in the team’s success. The Gators had the second-best scoring defense in the SEC, allowing 71.5 points per game while holding opponents to a conference-best 40.7% shooting from the field. Senior center Rueben Chinyelu played a big role in Florida’s 202526 defensive success, winning Naismith and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors last season. This season, Chinyelu and Florida have yet to skip a beat on the defensive end. Across its two games, Florida has held opponents to 34.2% from the field and 28.3% from beyond the arc. In its season opener Nov. 2, the Gators faced a No. 14 Miami team that scored 109 points on 44.4%

shooting from the field and 36.4% from the 3-point range in an Oct. 23 exhibition game against Vanderbilt. Florida held Miami to 67 points, 35% shooting and 23.5% from the 3-point range. “We were out there playing, and it just felt like everything was moving how we knew it was going to move,” Florida senior forward Thomas Haugh said postgame. “Nothing surprised us. We were able to stay on their tendencies of the guys and stuff.” Miami’s Malik Reneau, who scored 22 points against Florida when the teams met Nov. 16, 2025, logged 5 points on 1-of-6 shooting. Shelton Henderson, who scored 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting against Vanderbilt, managed just 7 points on 2-for-13 shooting against Florida. Miami point guard Acaden Lewis led the Hurricanes with 24 points on 9-of-20 shots. “He scored a lot, but that’s not an efficient type of ball game,” Florida head coach Todd Golden said. “That’s not going to win for them. You got to live with some things, especially against another top-10 team. Florida’s strong defense against Miami was on full display in the second half. Miami shot 29% from the field in the second half and endured a stretch where they converted one field goal in 19 attempts. Boogie Fland led Florida's defense with four steals, followed by Haugh with two. Chinyelu also contributed with a team-high three blocks, showcasing his ability to protect the rim. Against Jacksonville, Florida continued its offensive prowess, holding the Dolphins to 33% shooting from the field and 29% from the 3-point range. Jacksonville sophomore guard Hayden Wood had 11 points at the

Noah Lantor // Alligator Staff

Florida center Rueben Chinyelu (9) celebrates a basket with guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Miami, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. break against Florida. But he was held scoreless in the second half, getting up just one shot attempt in that span. Dolphins junior guard Jamie Phillips Jr., who logged 18 points in his previous outing, finished with 10 against Florida on 14 shot attempts. Finally, Jacksonville junior guard Caleb Williams logged just 3 points on 1-for-6 shooting in 26 minutes. Florida senior forward Alex Condon recorded a team-high three blocks against Jacksonville, while Haugh, Denzel Aberdeen, Isaiah Brown and Alex Lloyd each had a steal. 2. Shooting from the 3-point range may no longer be an issue

Last season, 3-point shooting plagued the Gators. Florida finished last season shooting 31.2% from beyond the arc during the regular season, the

second-worst in the SEC and 321st nationally out of 365 NCAA Division I programs. Concerns grew that these struggles would carry over this season after Florida shot 4 of 29 (13.8%) from beyond the arc in its first exhibition game against Baylor Oct. 18. However, two games in, the Gators appeared to have turned things around, shooting 42.3% at the 3-point range, ranking fourth in the SEC and 60th nationally. Florida opened its season against Miami by making seven of its first 10 shots from beyond the arc, including an Isaiah Brown 3-pointer that started a 9-0 run for the Gators after trailing 17-15 in the first half. Florida finished the game 11-of26 (42%) from the 3-point range. Haugh connected on four 3-pointers, followed by Boogie Fland, Urban Klavžar and Domen Petrovic,

each with two. Even Condon, who shot 17% from beyond the arc last season, made a 3-pointer against Jacksonville. He last made one in Florida’s SEC Tournament Semifinal game against Vanderbilt on March 14. “It’s been a while,” Condon said after the game. “I worked on it really hard with the Gator boys in the offseason out in LA, so it’s just a mental thing: Get past that barrier. Everyone’s encouraging me to shoot.” Florida’s 3-point shooting carried over into the Jacksonville game, with the Gators going 11 of 25 (44%) from beyond the arc. Aberdeen went 4-for-5 from distance, while Klavžar went 3-for-5. “It’s a big part of what we need to be the best that we can be,” Golden said. “Simply, we’re taking the right ones. We’re not forcing a ton of 3s.” 3. Domen Petrovic is solidifying his spot in the rotation

Heading into the season, Florida knew it would have two reliable options off the bench in Klavžar and Brown. But the Gators needed one last player to round out Golden’s eight-man rotation. CJ Ingram seemed to be the top candidate, but a back injury has kept him sidelined. As a result, Golden tested his options, especially in the exhibition schedule. AJ Brown, Alex Lloyd and Arturas Butajevas all saw meaningful minutes, but junior Domen Petrovic ultimately emerged in Florida's season opener. Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports. @JeffreySerber Jserber@alligator.org

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The competitive fire behind Tammi Reiss' Florida rebuild FLORIDA’S NEW WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH HAS BROUGHT A FIERCELY COMPETITIVE MINDSET TO GAINESVILLE By Joshua Gitman Sports Writer

On her second day of third grade in Eldrad, New York, a young girl decided she was unwilling to be pushed around. When a classmate shoved her, she took her KISS-themed lunchbox and hit the classmate in the head. The two ended up becoming friends, but the encounter taught everyone a lesson: Don’t mess with Tammi Reiss. Forty-eight years later, Reiss brings that same tenacity to the basketball court, coaching with passion in practice and waltzing fiercely to the middle of the court when her team doesn't follow instructions. “I am a high-intensity person,” Reiss said. “If you know one thing about me, it's that.” Florida’s new women’s basketball coach

isn’t shy about her expectations, and she has established high energy and passion as pillars of her program. With 12 new players on the roster, including the five starters arriving in Gainesville from the transfer portal, Reiss has spent the offseason building the team’s culture. “I want to establish an identity,” Reiss said. “You build a great program on a great foundation, and you have to believe in that foundation.” The message is direct: Reiss wants Florida to be recognized for its effort and competitiveness, she said, and she’s drawn inspiration from some of the sport’s most successful leaders. Reiss looks up to many coaches in women’s college basketball, from her former Virginia teammate and roommate, Dawn Staley, to Geno Auriemma, the all-time winningest basketball coach in NCAA history. She also has an unexpected role model she idolizes. “I compare myself to Dan Hurley,” Reiss said. “I’m insane, and it's how it should be. I want the intensity to translate into how we coach and play.” Hurley, a two-time national champion at

the University of Connecticut, has built his reputation on an emotional, demanding coaching style. He brings moxie and grit, things you don’t typically see from a coach on the sideline. Reiss said she wants to be known as the Hurley of women’s college basketball, and she’s embraced the idea that passion should be visible. She desires for that intensity to trickle down from her coaching staff to her players. Every demanding practice in the long offseason has paved the way for Reiss’ first chapter in Gainesville. The hard work finally took stage Nov. 3 when Florida opened the regular season against Bucknell University. Debuting as the team’s coach, Reiss isn’t shying away from the job’s expectations. Florida is considered one of the top athletic programs in the country with 49 national titles, but women’s basketball doesn’t have a single championship banner to its name. “Do your research on me. Look at Virginia or Rhode Island before me,” Reiss said. “I love being first and always want to be first.” Playing four years at Virginia, Reiss averaged 14.5 points and three assists per game, helping the Cavaliers become one of the nation’s premier women’s basketball programs.

During Reiss’ tenure, Virginia reached three consecutive Final Fours and appeared in its first national title game in 1991. The potential to make history is what attracted Reiss to Florida. The Gators women’s basketball program has never won a national championship or reached the Final Four. Florida’s deepest NCAA Tournament run came in 1997, when the team reached the Elite Eight. Before taking over at Florida, Reiss’ first head coaching opportunity was at Rhode Island in 2019 after building her resume as a college and WNBA assistant. The Rams had experienced 14 losing seasons in 15 years before she was hired, making the job a challenge to take over. Progress took time, but across seven seasons, Reiss compiled a 138-73 record at Rhode Island. In the 2025-26 season, she led the Rams to their first March Madness appearance in 30 years (1995-96). Read the rest online at alligator.org/section/sports. @JoshGitman Jgitman@alligator.org

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