Democrats bet on Florida ‘getting its act together’ with new $15 million effort
Following months of Republican gains in voter registration and outreach, Florida Democrats are launching a $15 million statewide investment to organize the state party with funding from all major Florida Democratic candidates.
Blue Shift Florida, the Florida Democratic Party’s new coordinated campaign, promises investments in voter registration, voter protection and data infrastructure ahead of the 2022 midterms.
“This is my dream, this was what I’ve been working towards basically for the last year,” said FDP Chair and former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. “It’s betting on infrastructure, it’s training, robust training programs with our volunteers so we’re building that homegrown talent.”
Diaz said the initiative aimed at supporting Democrats up and down the ballot will be funded by U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who is running for Senate, gubernatorial candidates
Charlie Crist, Nikki Fried and Annette Taddeo, legislative leadership committees, labor unions and other organizations aligned with progressive causes. Diaz said the goal is for Democrats to compete in all 67 Florida counties, hiring hundreds of organizers and building anywhere from 75 to 80 new offices around the state.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns from national Democrats that Florida’s status as the most populous bellwether state in the country is fading.
Florida Democrats have struggled to keep up with Republicans when it comes to voter registration efforts, with registered GOP voters surpassing registered Democrats for the first time in Florida’s history in 2021. Until last week, Democrats had also struggled to recruit viable candidates to challenge Republican incumbents in South Florida’s two competitive Congressional races. And some organizations and donors nationwide have been hinting at skepticism over Florida’s competitiveness.
Diaz said the effort is also a message to potential donors that “Florida’s gotten its act together” for Democrats.
“For years, donors have been writing large checks to Florida, and haven’t seen the returns,” Diaz told the Herald. “I walked in, there was no organization, no capacity … At the end of the day, it’s something that needs structure.”
Julia Friedland, spokesperson for the Republican National Committee in South Florida, said in a statement the announcement wasn’t a match for Republicans’ recent investments.
Congressman Charlie Crist
“Democrats may pick and choose when to pay attention to Florida, but Republicans have continuously invested in the state and its voters,” she said.
Diaz didn’t name all the organizations involved in the funding and said some are still being contacted, but said so far Ruth’s List and Emily’s List are also supporting FDP’s efforts. He also said the initiative, which he hopes will be a long-term effort, is an investment in staff that is from Florida, as opposed to relying on out-of-state groups that parachute into Florida at the last minute.
“All our staff around the state is going to reflect the community they’re in,” Diaz said. “I’m a long-term thinker. My goal is to win in 2022, but my goal is also to build that infrastructure for 2024.”
Bianca Padró Ocasio: 305-376-2649, @BiancaJoanie