Kimberly Leonard

@leonardkl

Florida Playbook author. National and Florida politics reporter for @Politico. Send tips to [email protected].

Miami, Florida

Joined June 2009

11KFollowing

16KFollowers

Tri-Rail: Train service will run out of money by end of 2026 because of state budget cuts palmbeachpost.com/story/news/loc… via @pbpost

leonardkl's tweet card. Florida's contribution to Tri-Rail budget is dropping to $15 million from $42.1 million, and money from the American Rescue Plan dries up at the end of 2026.

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · 14 h

Florida Playbook today: -#Miami election is a whole saga -@bruceritchie follows detention center hearing, and @SecRollins announces a disaster block grant -@fineout recaps big day in Tally: @GovGoneWild sworn in, @JayCollinsFL on '26, new committee chairs politico.com/newsletters/fl…

leonardkl's tweet card. Ballot battles in the 305

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Kimberly Leonard Retweeted

Peter Schorsch@PeterSchorschFL · Jul 18

Sad news: Democrat @RepJoeCasello has suffered a massive heart attack. According to an email from the Palm Beach leg. delegation, "Despite the tireless efforts of his medical team, the damage to his heart was extensive, and unfortunately he is not expected to recover."

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 18

Florida Playbook Today: -Lawsuits pile up against "Alligator Alcatraz," w/@bruceritchie -@ArekSarkissian covers Ladapo's plea to NIH to look at Covid vax side effects -@fineout details Florida's State Supreme Court's decision to uphold congressional maps politico.com/newsletters/fl…

leonardkl's tweet card. ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ becomes lawsuit magnet

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 18

Happy 2-year work anniversary to me! Will shamelessly admit that I wanted to work for @politico for years and years. My pie in the sky dream was to join the Florida team, because even though I lived in a lot of places, Miami (where I was born) always felt like home. Grateful <3

KKimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 18, 2023

Today is my first day at @POLITICO. I'll be covering all things #Florida #politics, and soon authoring the Florida Playbook newsletter. I'm eager to get started to deliver major stories to our readers! Say hi and send tips to [email protected].

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Martin Vassolo@martindvassolo · Jul 17

WLRN could lose 8% of its operating budget if Congress votes to defund public media. Station exec to @axios: "Our plan is to absorb these cuts responsibly while maintaining the high standards our community expects and deserves." axios.com/local/miami/20…

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 17

She's the best for being born and also for being a great reporter whose stories we feature often in Florida Playbook: tallahassee.com/staff/77751500…

AAna Goñi-Lessan@goni_lessan · Jul 17

Thanks for the shout out @leonardkl and @politico

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 17

Fla. Sen Scott - who in the past would often not endorse in GOP primaries - is backing Gruters not Ingoglia for CFO. Point to remember - Ingoglia defeated Scott's hand-picked choice for @FloridaGOP when he was gov. Scott stopped raising $ for party after that happened

RRick Scott@ScottforFlorida · Jul 17

I am proud to support my good friend @JoeGruters for CFO! He has done an outstanding job for Florida and that's why @realDonaldTrump endorsed him so early. Let's make sure we get Joe elected - joegruters.com

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 17

Lots of negotiations were happening behind the scenes to get Florida State Sen. Joe Guters out of the race for state CFO and avoid a face-off with Trump. He was offered president or chancellor of the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee Campus. politico.com/news/2025/07/1…

leonardkl's tweet card. The governor declined to pick a Trump ally for a Cabinet job in Florida, setting up a GOP primary showdown.

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

Past Kim super on brand. Here I am in Orlando, rolling mud into balls and crouching pigeon toed. Second grade.

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

New Trump-DeSantis proxy war launches over key Florida job politi.co/3Iw81Mc via @politico Lots of tidbits about the behind the scenes machinations, with White House weighing in. W/@fineout

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

My latest with @fox35orlando: - The @Tesla trial in Miami - Rep. Donalds keeps it positive - Uthmeier woos POTUS fox35orlando.com/video/1674837

leonardkl's tweet card. On this Playbook Tuesday, POLITICO Florida reporter and Florida Playbook author Kimberly Leonard joins FOX 35's Garrett Wymer via Zoom to break down the federal court case out of Miami centering...

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

In Playbook I posited that @GovGoneWild could focus his campaign on property taxes. He just said that's exactly what he'll do: "I am going to work hand in glove, side by side with this gov to make sure we get rid of prop taxes" on homesteads. politico.com/newsletters/fl…

leonardkl's tweet card. Blaise-ing into the CFO job

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Kimberly Leonard Retweeted

Gary Fineout@fineout · Jul 16

Fla @GovRonDeSantis announces appointment of @GovGoneWild Sen. Blaise Ingoglia as chief financial officer. Calls him the "most conservative senator in the state of Florida." Says he has a "clear record as a warrior" & calls him someone willing to "run into the fire." ....

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

“I want people that run into the fire, that run toward the battles,” @GovRonDeSantis said as he prepared to unveil his appointment of @GovGoneWild. politico.com/newsletters/fl…

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Kimberly Leonard Retweeted

Michelle Marchante@TweetMichelleM · Jul 16

‘Swim at your own risk’: Mayor’s cuts to Miami-Dade parks hit lifeguards, security via ⁦@doug_hanks⁩ miamiherald.com/news/local/com…

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Kimberly Leonard Retweeted

Gary Fineout@fineout · Jul 16

Governor's office confirms that @GovRonDeSantis will appoint state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia to vacant CFO post ... More here ... Blaise-ing into the CFO job politico.com/newsletters/fl… By me and @leonardkl

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

Florida Playbook Today: - @GovGoneWild will be Florida's next CFO. We get into his bio and the @JoeGruters matchup/behind-the-scenes machinations - @bruceritchie was in court covering the beach use legal fight in Walton County - Congress fundraising hauls politico.com/newsletters/fl…

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Kimberly Leonard@leonardkl · Jul 16

When @POTUS was in Florida two weeks ago he joked that @GovRonDeSantis would make a better Fed chair. politico.com/news/2025/07/0…

AAnna Paulina Luna@realannapaulina · Jul 16

Hearing Jerome Powell is getting fired! From a very serious source. 👀

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Kimberly Leonard Retweeted

Aaron Leibowitz@aaron_leib · Jul 15

NEW: @MiamiHerald / @WLRN investigation reveals 182 people have been struck and killed by Brightline trains. While key safety measures are delayed, Brightline remains the deadliest passenger train in U.S. We compared with other railroads to explain why. miamiherald.com/news/local/art…

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