Scott Powers
The contest for leadership of the Florida Democratic Party narrowed again Friday afternoon when Orange County Democratic Chair Wes Hodge withdrew from the field and endorsed Cynthia Moore Chestnut.
Hodge announced his withdrawal and endorsement early Friday afternoon, narrowing the candidate field to three: Chestnut, who is chair of the Alachua County Democratic Party; Manny Diaz, the former Miami Mayor; and Ione Townsend, the Hillsborough County Democratic Party chair.
Late Thursday Nikki Barnes withdrew from the race and endorsed Chestnut.
The election is Saturday, with a virtual meeting of the Florida Democratic Party starting at noon.
Like Barnes, Hodge cited the need for the party to reestablish relationships with Black Democrats.
“I think at this time we need a Black woman to lead our party and she’s the right person for the job,” Hodge said of Chestnut.
When Barnes withdrew and endorsed Chestnut, she echoed that sentiment.
““After seeing the results in Georgia it’s imperative that @FlaDems truly demonstrates that it’s prepared to trust black women. She is more than prepared to meet this moment. Join me in supporting her for Chair of the Florida Democratic Party.”
Chestnut has been chair of the Alachua party since 2014 and also is chair of the Democratic County Chairs Association of Florida.
Though there are now three candidates, down from a high of six at one point, the FDP rules allow for nominations from the floor on Saturday.
Democrats also will be electing a first vice chair, a treasurer and a secretary.
Incumbent First Vice Chair Judy Mount of Jackson County, is seeking reelection against three challengers from Volusia County, County Councilman Phillip Giorno, Evans Smith and Civil Rights activist Joyce Cusack.
Incumbent Secretary Casmore Shaw is seeking reelection against State Committee Member Valery Duhl of Volusia County.
Incumbent Treasurer Francine Garcia is seeking reelection against Kristina Renteria of Seminole County.
2 comments
shoresofeola
January 8, 2021 at 2:42 pm
Although we all owe a debt of thanks to Stacey Abrams and the work done in Georgia with a legion of other hard-working activists (including many, many Black women), isn’t the first priority to bring back Miami-Dade and its Hispanic voters into the Party? It seems like Manny Diaz is uniquely equipped to do that.
Once we work through that and get Dade back to D+30 instead of D+7, the next goal will be to solidify Black support across the state and then determine how to make inroads with the tsunami of Midwestern retirees moving into the exurban counties.
Right now, Florida’s challenges are slightly different than Georgia for Democrats.
Irwing Nieto
January 8, 2021 at 9:07 pm
I agree with your statement. We have lost ground among the Hispanics especially among the Cuban Americans.Thats how we lost 2 congressional seats and a state senate seat. That why Manny Diaz is the right choice. He will be able to pull in and convince more Hispanics to come out and vote by denouncing the attacks from the right, who has pegged us as communists and socialists
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