Progressive group says it signed up 50K new voters

The progressive group that spearheaded voter registration efforts at the University of Central Florida this year said it has signed up more than 50,000 new Florida voters since 2017 – the most of any state it’s been involved in.

NextGen America, founded by liberal billionaire Tom Steyer, invested $3.5 million in the state to register thousands of young people in time for the November election. The group had spent more than $32 million nationwide, including 10 other states such as Arizona, California, Pennsylvania and Iowa, and said it registered more than 236,000 voters across the country.

“We are tremendously proud of the fact that we’ve registered over 50,000 voters this election cycle,” NextGen Florida Youth Director Carly Cass said in a statement. “But our work isn’t done yet. From now until November 6th, we’re going to remind voters that they have the power to move the needle on issues like affordable health care, racial justice and climate change.”

The group co-sponsored the UCF Pegasus Palooza event in August was one of about 20 groups, including campus Democrats and Republicans, which worked with UCF Student Government Association this year to register students – a change from 2014 and 2016, when the SGA partnered with the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office.

The group, which also endorsed Andrew Gillum in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary, said primary turnout doubled from the last midterm election in 2014 in every precinct surrounding UCF.

“With over 125 staff and fellows already on the ground, NextGen is working day in and out to mobilize young Floridians and ensure that youth turnout levels set records on Nov. 6,” the group said in a statement.

Steyer is also the founder of the group Need to Impeach, which calls for President Trump’s removal from office, but organizers said the organizations are separate.