Jacob Ogles
While acknowledging shortcomings in early voting, Florida Democrats see an opening in Donald Trump’s rally rhetoric agitating Florida’s immigrant communities.
“It’s about respect. We have seen ‘a floating island of garbage.’ Seriously,” said U.S. Rep. Darren Soto. “Do you know how pissed people are across Florida?”
The Kissimmee Democrat referenced a widely covered joke by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump event held at Madison Square Garden. Soto, Florida’s first Congressman of Puerto Rican descent, by contrast called Kamala Harris “our Caribbean sister.” The Democratic presidential candidate’s father is Jamaican.
Soto suggested on a Florida Democratic Party press call that the rhetoric at the rally gave one more reason for the Floridarican community to turn out for Democrats.
From the start of the meeting, Florida Democratic Party Nikki Fried acknowledged that the party must defy expectations if it hopes to win the state’s electoral votes for Harris. Republicans have substantially outperformed Democrats in early voting, with a turnout edge there nearing 600,000 voters and erasing an advantage Democrats enjoyed in vote-by-mail.
“I know many of you are looking at the early vote returns and are quick to count us out,” she said. “But to that I say: Florida is still in play.”
Democrats argue the xenophobic rhetoric from Trump’s campaign could make a difference in the week leading to the Nov. 5 General Election.
State Rep. Marie Woodson, a Miami Gardens Democrat, said anger already exists within the Haitian American community over past comments by Trump and running mate JD Vance accusing legal immigrants in Ohio of eating dogs and cats.
“I don’t know why we’re debating the elections anymore. I don’t know why we are here. Because that man (Trump) has proven who he is,” she said. “He showed you. I don’t know what else that he needs to do to prove to people that they need to elect Kamala Harris.”
According to the Center for Immigration Studies, 51% of all Haitians settled in the U.S. live in Florida. Nearly 1.2 million Puerto Ricans live in Florida, according to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies.
It’s also home to 64% of Cubans in the U.S., according to Pew Research Center, though that ethnic group has been a historically Republican voting block.
But Shevrin Jones, Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, said South Florida has a stark choice in front of them, between a Harris campaign focused on improving lives of all Americans and a Trump campaign increasingly leaning into dividing American among racial and political lines.
Jones noted that Hinchcliffe made other jokes about watermelons while pointing out a Black man in the rally. Meanwhile, Trump himself has increasingly referenced an “enemy within” when discussing political rivals.
“This race has become more than about politics y’all, and after that rally, it was absolutely the icing on the cake for his attack on Puerto Rico, Black people and our Haitian community,” Jones said.
“This has now become personal. It’s not even political anymore.”
Democrats say the comments could also make a difference in other Florida races.
“In Washington, D.C., Florida can decide the Senate majority and the Senate Majority Leader,” Fried said. “We can flip congressional seats and take back the House and Congress.”
While U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican on the ballot this year, has distanced himself from the rally comments, he faces Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who would be Florida’s first Latina Senator.
Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Chair of the Orange County Democratic Party, also noted many of Florida’s battleground legislative seats boast heavy Hispanic populations.
He noted that 30% of voters are Hispanic in House District 35, where Democratic state Rep. Tom Keen faces a close race with Republican Erika Booth. The same goes for about 56% of voters in House District 47, where Democrat Maria Revelles hopes to unseat Republican state Rep. Paula Stark.
About 20% of voters in House District 45 are Hispanic, where embattled state Rep. Carolina Amesty faced Democrat Leonard Spencer. There’s also a majority-Hispanic district in South Florida, House District 113, where Democrat Jacki Gross-Kellogg hopes to unseat Republican state Rep. Vicki Lopez.
“People know and understand exactly what Donald Trump is saying,” he said.
Jones said Republicans know the rhetoric from Trump could put some Florida contests at risk, precisely because they will rally voters around the Democratic alternatives.
“That’s what we’re seeing in Miami-Dade County,” he said. “There are a great deal of coalitions that have been built, that are being built within our clubs and caucuses in South Florida.”
22 comments
Michael K
October 29, 2024 at 11:40 am
It wasn’t just one joke. And not just one speaker. The entire rally was an encapsulation of the vitriol – racism, misogyny, and xenophobia – that has defined Trump his entire life.
He’s just getting worse. Finally, some people see who he really is and what he’s about. And it’s not about you – it’s all about him. Always has been.
Dont Say FLA
October 29, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Truedat. The comedian was there to take the blame for the whole 4+ hours of stuff just like what he said about Puerto Rico.
But the 4+ hours of stuff like what he said, none of that was comedians. That was normal everyday MAGAs.
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October 29, 2024 at 12:51 pm
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White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 11:50 am
It Halloween,what you expect White Spiteful Devil like Trump,and White MAGA Spiteful Demon coming out the closet was a fitting occasion, Puerto Rican are different breed of Hispanic,they will not be so forgiven
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 12:01 pm
What has Republican done for Cuban,they still in Florida,not in Miami,it be cold day in hell , before the people of Cuba, let a bunch of Miami exile run Cuba,still mad about Elian Gonzalez,he had cast his vote with the Cuba Communist party,unless they want to live under his rule
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 12:02 pm
Not in Havana,I.meant
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 12:10 pm
Same can be said about Mar a Lago,it an island inhabited by Trump Trash
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 12:11 pm
Google John Kennedy Mexican Cat Food
I Am Speaking
October 29, 2024 at 12:14 pm
Like I say time and time again, usually the ones that cry racism are typically the biggest racists themselves. Right on cue here come Michael K and Yrral with their “white devil” vitriol. Now the Dems have nothing here except abortion and some two bitt comedian who I have never heard of making a stupid joke. Can’t talk about the economy. Can’t talk about the southern border. Can’t talk about foreign policy. Can’t talk about crime.
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 1:51 pm
I don’t give a damn about the border,I live almost 300 miles from the Mexican, illegal have zero effect on my life,they have none on yours,you just like to bitch about something,you have no first hand knowledge of
I Am Speaking.
October 29, 2024 at 2:18 pm
So you are in favor of no borders then? You are voting for Kammy. Like her you don’t care about the border. You don’t care about the price of commodities? You don’t care about our foreign policy. You don’t care about city crime. I guess you don’t care about anything as long as you can surf the internet.
YEW OWEME
October 30, 2024 at 6:48 am
MAGAMAN, talk is cheap. how long did maga talk about infrastructure, and then do nothing for years. harris will do what she talks about if maga will just stay away. they don’t even have to lift a finger. harris will be glad to pay the maga senate their paychecks and they can stay at home. the maga cult will not be a team player, so why bother asking them.
Michael K
October 29, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Poor Miss Spoke – she of so many names but little to say. Always changing the subject with her whataboutisms. The article is about the foul-mouthed racism, sexism and xenophobia of Trump’s MSG rally. Focus.
I Am Speaking.
October 29, 2024 at 1:48 pm
Her? That’s not my pronoun.
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 1:52 pm
If their was a devil, Trump would be the White Spiteful Devil
A Day Without The White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 2:57 pm
I am not a border agent or diplomat ,I care about the promotion of Liberty Equality and Justice for All, something all American should agree upon ,and not supporting racist facist trash like Trump,he do remember anything that make him the racist trash, Trump is
YEW OWEME
October 30, 2024 at 7:06 am
MAGAMAN, are you saying you are trans sexual? i won’t judge you for that. i’m a dei guy.
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 3:11 pm
Do you think prices are going down at Publix,you are mistaken,the prices are set by the supermarket,they can charge,what the public will pay for them as long as they getting 10 of billions of dollars in food stamps,the prices are not going down Google Walmart Food Stamps Revenue
White Spiteful Devil Trump
October 29, 2024 at 3:16 pm
If you poor under Biden Harris,you probably will be worst off under Trump, when he cuts your food stamps
The man predictions are in the year 2525
October 30, 2024 at 8:23 am
What’s a poke is accountability one nation under indoctrination
The man predictions are in the year 2525
October 30, 2024 at 8:33 am
You have to be working for food help now
Go fishing water all around you.
Freedom comes hard
Irving Schwartz
October 30, 2024 at 10:51 am
Despite the usual left wing slant,, the current vote count proves otherwise. Republican voters are swamping the Democrat voters by over 600,000 votes. Kamala, the fat boy publisher of this propaganda piece and the radical left of Florida are going down in favor of responsible voters who love their country.