Jacob Ogles
Florida Democrats say a series of School Board wins and a shift in sentiment away from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda has them optimistic about November.
“Ron DeSantis has lost his culture war,” said Florida Democratic Party (FDP) Chair Nikki Fried. “Our freedom starts in our schools, and we’re proud to have supported candidates who will fight for our students’ rights to equality.”
More School Board candidates backed by the Democratic Party won than did candidates endorsed by DeSantis, despite the Republican Governor putting his support behind 23 candidates this cycle. Democrats endorsed only 11.
But Democrats also feel emboldened about the statewide contests for President and U.S. Senate in November. Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell said she feels confident that Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott can be defeated.
“Rick Scott has won his previous three elections right by a combined margin of 135,000,” Mucarsel-Powell said. “Well, last night, 237,000 Republicans voted against him in the Primary. … Don’t tell me we can’t defeat Rick Scott. I’m ready to do it.”
The Miami Democrat spoke during an FDP press call the day after securing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. She suggested that Florida has never fallen in love with Scott; he just won some nail-biter elections. Scott won his seat by around 11,000 votes in 2018, and before that won two terms as Governor, but always by a 1-percentage point margin.
Now, Mucarsel-Powell believes the message sent by voters was that Florida has grown weary of extremist policies advanced by elected officials in a divided state.
“Floridians are tired of extremism, and we’re ready to bring back some sanity, integrity, decency and true public servants,” she said.
Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) leaders, though, had a different read. Evan Power, RPOF Chair, said the most important stat was turnout for the August election. “Democrats were outperformed by 14 points by Republicans,” he said.
He scoffed at Mucarsel-Powell’s math, noting that Scott won his Republican Primary over Keith Gross with more than 80% of the vote. More than 340,000 voters cast votes for another Democrat besides Mucarsel-Powell in that statewide Primary.
“Scott is going to win overwhelmingly and we will win Florida confidently,” Power said.
Fried, though, sees a rejection of the status quo on the way. She said donors at the Democratic National Convention, underway now in Chicago, have taken notice. And she said that as of this morning, more than 33,000 new volunteers have signed on with the FDP since Vice President Kamala Harris was elevated as the party’s presidential nominee.
“Having Debbie and Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket, it’s a true female-empowered ticket,” Fried said. “They are engaged.”
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s victory in the Primary showed strength in South Florida, on the heels of nationally noticed Democratic wins in the Jacksonville Mayor and House District 35 races earlier this year.
But with Republicans outraising and outregistering Democrats in Florida, can the structural challenges facing Democrats in the Sunshine State be overcome? Mucarsel-Powell sees those as temporary obstacles.
“Florida has always been a swing state. Yes, it goes back and forth,” she said. “That’s why 2022 was a terrible year for us. But it’s coming right back, and you can see the energy and the momentum on the ground.”
11 comments
Day 31
August 21, 2024 at 3:28 pm
There is the wicked witch of the west, Pelosi. We have the wicked witch of the South, Fried. It’s personal with Fried. DeSantis is always one step ahead of her and it obviously shows. Poor Fried thought she was gonna be Governor, however she couldn’t even beat flip flopper Crist in the primary. Buh bye Nikki Fried.
Deborah B. Ryan
August 21, 2024 at 6:50 pm
I’m not even going to dignify this with a comment.
Day 32
August 22, 2024 at 6:12 am
Then don’t, because it is true what I said. Nikki was nothing but a disrupter as Ag Commissioner. She thought she could vault herself into the Governor’s job from there but really no one likes her except the hard corp leftist Democrats. Thankfully they are outnumbered here in Crimson Red Florida.
Rich Reidy
August 27, 2024 at 5:41 am
We need to be more scared because the Democrats are going to put us in a cuck chair for free. I do hate my addiction as a cuckold myself, having to pay entrance fees at Eyz wide shut.
Yrral
August 27, 2024 at 7:27 am
Fraudster and Rapist Racist, Florida Republican put their hope Google Rick Scott Medicare Fraud
Michael S
August 21, 2024 at 3:47 pm
While I accept primaries are institutional requirements of the parties, I believe there are only 5 states where there is an actual majority for one of the 2 parties. So, while I suppose it is fun for the party chairs to extrapolate off primary results, what are they going to know when 26% of the potential vote is sitting on the sidelines?
BGD
August 22, 2024 at 7:12 am
Delusional Dems.
Yrral
August 27, 2024 at 7:33 am
Lots of conservative men have hatred of their mother,it generally effects their view of women Google Men Who Hate Their Mothers
Super Elvis
August 22, 2024 at 6:53 pm
Good evening Florida Dook 4 Brains Leftys,
Its not too late to save yourselves by committing to vote Trump.
And best of all I, ELVIS, will stop calling you a Dook 4 Brains Leftist and re-name you as yet another one of the Many Beloved ELVIS’ Besty Leftys.
So just drop me a quick note regarding your feilty to Trump and you will join my Beloved Respected and Sage Besty Leftys…..much better than the shame and embarasment of being a Dook 4 Brains Lefty.
This great oppurtunity is being brought to you by SUPER ELVIS [FKA EARL]
Cindy
August 25, 2024 at 5:13 pm
What is equality with so many disability. Are we equal can we run at the same pace as the others. Equal. Or just equal rights
Andy
August 28, 2024 at 6:35 am
Let me be clear .. it was the unions and working people that flipped these school board seats!!!
Comments are closed.