Jesse Scheckner
The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) has announced that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker will be the featured speakers at its annual Leadership Blue Gala.
The marquee event will be held Saturday, June 21, at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood as part of a three-day Leadership Blue Weekend.
FDP Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement that the party is “thrilled” to be hosting Beshear and Booker at its South Florida soiree.
“Sen. Booker and Gov. Beshear are two of the brightest stars of today’s Democratic Party,” she said, “and their visit to Florida is more proof of the party’s commitment to the future of our state and the importance of the South.”
The choice of speakers underscores the party’s effort to energize Florida Democrats amid ongoing electoral challenges. Once a key battleground state, Florida has trended increasingly Republican in recent election cycles, while Democrats suffered sweeping losses, including the re-election of Gov. Ron DeSantis by a nearly 20-point margin in 2022 and Donald Trump’s seismic victory in 2024, when he became the first GOP presidential candidate to flip Miami-Dade County since 1988.
The party also faces a significant voter registration deficit, with Republicans outnumbering Democrats by more than 1.21 million as of March 31.
Late last month, Hollywood Sen. Jason Pizzo resigned as Senate Democratic Leader and re-registered as an independent. He became the third state lawmaker to leave the party in less than six months.
Beshear is among the few Democrats to win and hold office in a deeply Republican state. He secured a second term in Kentucky in 2023 with broad bipartisan appeal. Known for his calm, steady leadership, Beshear has overseen record economic development, turning Kentucky into a national hub for electric battery manufacturing. His administration has also prioritized infrastructure, clean water access, and rural broadband expansion.
“Gov. Beshear is living proof that the right leader with the right message can break through partisan politics in the South,” Fried said. “His steady, principled leadership is an inspiration to red state Democrats everywhere.”
Booker, who gained national prominence as Mayor of Newark before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2013, has become a prominent voice in progressive politics. He recently made headlines for a 25-hour floor speech in the Senate, the longest in recent memory, in defense of reproductive rights and voting access.
He also co-led a sit-in on the U.S. Capitol steps in April to protest inaction on voting legislation.
“Sen. Booker has given us a blueprint for the fight against Donald Trump,” Fried said. “(His) leadership in this moment has energized Democrats across the country and inspired millions to reengage in the political process.”
Leadership Blue Weekend, which runs June 20-22, is the Florida Democratic Party’s largest annual fundraising and strategy event.
The gala is expected to draw elected officials, donors, grassroots activists, and national attention as Democrats look to regain momentum in the Sunshine State ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Tickets and a full schedule for the event are available at LeadershipBlue.com.
