Early-voting numbers

indicate more enthusiasm among Republicans than Democrats, columnist Scott Maxwell says.

We have a lot of ground to cover today — everything from politics and scandals to gators and guns. (Which, let’s be honest, could be most any week in Florida news.)

But let’s start with a dose of harsh reality for Sunshine State Democrats.

Progressives, I know you’re convinced you’ll ride a “Blue Wave” to glory in November.

But don’t count your wave before it crests — because the numbers so far don’t look great.

Early voting started last week. And so far, Republicans are whupping Democrat tail.

We’re talking about 153,106 Republicans who have already voted by mail compared with 124,984 Democrats, according to numbers from the state Division of Elections.

That’s a lot more Republicans jazzed about casting ballots than Democrats … especially when you consider there are more Democrats in the state.

Now, there are some qualifiers. This is only the primary. (Party loyalists revved up about voting against the other side can’t do that until November.) And Republicans traditionally outperform Dems with votingby-mail, while Democrats do better when it comes to actually showing up at the polls.

Still, all voting measures enthusiasm. And so far, Republicans have about a 22-point edge. That’s an awful lot of red in that allegedly blue wave.

It’s a good reminder that, while rallies and emails and social-media campaigns are all fine and dandy, the only thing that really matters in an election is voting.

Theft, beer and KFC

This week’s only-in-Florida headlines: “Florida man tries to force KFC employee to reopen restaurant at gunpoint” … “Florida man steals forklift because he was tired of walking” … “2 men accused in viral gator-involved beer run face judge.”

I submit that Florida is the only place on earth where the phrase “viral gator-involved beer run” could even be used.

Or where residents might go: Again?

Graham, DeSantis get enviro-nods

In a year where Florida is choked with blue-green algae that smells like death and looks like hell, environmental endorsements matter more than ever.

And Democrat Gwen Graham and Republican Ron DeSantis scored big ones this week when the Everglades Trust named each their respective party’s best advocates for the River of Grass.

For Graham, the nod is key in a crowded primary in which Democrats are trying to out-

green each other. For DeSantis, it’s just another win over former favorite Adam Putnam, whom DeSantis has been beating like a bass drum.

Which brings us to … Sugar loves Putnam

Putnam is making more not-so-sweet headlines with news that he is the only candidate for governor — on either side of the aisle — still taking money from Big Sugar, which has been blamed for many of South Florida’s environmental woes through the years.

In its piece, “Only one candidate for governor still takes money from Big Sugar: Adam Putnam,” the Tampa Bay Times noted that Putnam isn’t just taking sugar money, he’s taking gobs of it — more than $800,000 for his Florida Grown PAC.

The Times cited several favors Putnam has done for sugar through the years, including: “In 2010, he halted a Department of Education effort to ban chocolate milk and most other high-sugar drinks in Florida schools, then took over the school breakfast and lunch programs.”

That’s right, kiddies. Thank the nice agriculture commissioner for your sugar highs. Conflict averted

Last week, it looked like Orange County was about to make a big mistake by putting one of Rick Scott’s more controversial appointees on a county board.

The man was John Miklos, a consultant who has made headlines for mixing his private business with his public position. Specifically, Miklos has offered businesses the chance to pay him ($155 an hour, in one case) to help them get permits from the St. Johns River Water Management District … the same agency Scott appointed Miklos to help run.

That’s not OK. So after local media and watchdogs got loud, the member of the county nominating board who suggested Miklos retracted his nomination, and Miklos withdrew from consideration.

Chalk one up for common sense … which is too often uncommon. If you want more on this one, check out orlandosentinel.com/takingnames. The last word

This week I read an online comment that said: “RESIGN media hack.”

I probably should’ve been insulted. But my first thought was simply: That sentence really needs a comma. (“RESIGN, media hack.”) Much better. smaxwell@ orlandosentinel.com