As their leader Manny Diaz resigns, Florida Democrats are an endangered species
Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we live in Florida, once the nation’s largest battleground state, and not in South Dakota or some other solid red state where one party doesn’t even bother competing.
That’s a harsh assessment of the state of the Florida Democratic Party, but it’s rooted in recent history. A decade ago, Democrats carried the state in a presidential election for the second time. Then came the disastrous 2022 midterm elections and, now, the resignation this week of party Chair Manny Diaz, who had been under pressure to leave.
Florida, in fact is under oneparty rule by Republicans. Money from national Democratic donors has dried up and redirected to states such as Arizona and Georgia. There are no Democrats elected statewide since Nikki Fried left the Department of Agriculture to challenge Charlie Crist in the Democratic primary for governor.
Diaz, a former Miami mayor, led the party during its most humiliating performance in recent years. Even before he became chair after another bad year for the party, the 2020 elections, Democrats had been warning that lackadaisical voterregistration efforts and community engagement would doom them in the Sunshine State.
Naïve are those who believe Diaz’s departure will usher in a new era. The hole is deeper than any one party chair could have alone dug — or climbed out of. If they lose by a less-humiliating margin in the 2024 presidential elections, that likely will be considered a victory of sorts.
But even that will take a new vision, solid messaging and hard work.
GAINS POSSIBLE
It’s safe to assume that the GOP’s grip on the state — built over the past two decades — will be in place for years. In politics, as in life, you reap what you sow. That’s not to say, however, that Florida is completely out of reach for Democrats. They can, for example, improve their performance with Hispanic voters and regain Miami-Dade County, both of which the GOP flipped in 2022.
Let the November elections finally teach Florida Democrats that a more diverse, Latino electorate isn’t going to automatically elect them. The same applies to women. The U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of abortion right protections, on its own, didn’t translate into Democratic voters. Between 2021 and 2022, twice as many Florida
MINIMAL IMPACT
The Trump Organization was fined the maximum penalty of $1.6 million. During the past 50 years, the company has probably saved hundreds of millions in taxes.
Sounds like a great investment.
The penalty needs to be rewritten so that the maximum is three times the amount in question.
Whatever happened to the belief that crime doesn’t pay?
– Art Young, West Kendall
GO BACK IN TIME
Re the Jan. 13 letter “Scaring voters:” By the writer’s logic, in-person voting is the only valid way to record a legitimate vote in an election.
Perhaps we should also be paid by check and go to the bank to cash or deposit it. All credit- or debitcard purchases should be accompanied by a valid photo ID, and the internet should be abolished.
Then we can go back to the good ol’ days as life was intended, when presumably, there was no corruption or nefarious activities happening.
– Alex Jimenez, Winter Park
TRADING ROJAS
Re the Jan. 12 story “Marlins trade Rojas to Dodgers for INF prospect:” Good plan, Marlins, trading away Miguel “Miggy” Rojas, the most loyal and team-spirited player you’ve had in many years — perhaps ever. He played injured half of last season because he was needed, so of course you trade him when his numbers aren’t up to career records.
All he asked was to remain a Marlin. He provided team leadership and spirit when there was little of either available.
This reminds me of the
BOB MCFARLIN
women switched from Democrat to Republican than from Republican to Democrat, according to an analysis of voter rolls led by Susan MacManus, a distinguished professor emerita at the University of South Florida.
And Democrats simply cannot take stalwart Black Floridians for granted. This population clearly has been targeted by the DeSantis administration, who’s seeking, among other things, to neutralized its voting clout. Democrats must issue a clear call to action to Black voters through solid messaging that the party is taking their qualityof-life concerns seriously.
In his resignation letter, Diaz wrote a list of grievances, including “a long-standing, systemic and deeply entrenched culture resistant to change,” money woes, poor collaboration between the national and state party and a lack of unified messaging.
Meanwhile, rank-and-file Democrats have hurled criticism at him, mainly for his failure to register voters, lack of enthusiasm and public-facing leadership and missed opportunities to oppose Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda. In fact, you hardly ever saw a strong front from Democrats — i.e. rallies or news conferences — whenever the governor pushed his latest outrageous proposal. The exception was Democrats’ success in labeling an anti-LGBTQ parental rights bill as “Don’t say gay.” The moniker stuck but — more tellingly — one of the lawmakers who led the opposition lost his Central Florida seat in the Florida House.
Both Diaz and his critics are probably right on who’s to blame. That makes the job of rebuilding the Florida Democratic Party a lot harder, beyond the simple task of replacing its leader. Whoever takes over will first have to figure out how to raise money, given that national donors have all but written Florida off. In 2018, they spent $60 million in the Sunshine State and DeSantis won by .4%. Last year, they invested only $2 million, Politico reported, and DeSantis won by 20 points.
MONEY FIRST
Miami-based Democratic pollster Fernand Amandi told the Herald Editorial Board that it would be a mistake to identify a new chair right now. Instead, the party should find a “consortium” of donors and let them pick the next leader, someone they could hold accountable. That’s highly unlikely.
“Trying to just put in a person without the money is wrong,” Amandi said.
Among the people who are first Jeff Conine trade. (This is Conine’s third time with the Marlins in some capacity. I wonder if he is feeling déjà vu on Miggy’s behalf?)
Rojas didn’t cause the Marlins’ attendance problems. Perhaps the organization should build a cohesive team, develop some team loyalty and keep players around awhile, instead of trading them for the next shiny prospect.
Good luck, Miggy. I hope your new team appreciates you.
– Brenna Fredrick,
Cooper City
HOPE FOR CHANGE
Just after the 10-year remembrance of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, a 6year-old child shot his teacher with a 9mm handgun at Richneck Elementary School in Newport
MONICA R. RICHARDSON
News, Virginia.
Is there any hope for change?
We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to surreal and senseless shootings, as they are anything but normal.
We need to believe the Sandy Hook Promise — that gun violence is preventable. The killing is not inevitable. We need to stay with the hope.
We can begin by calling for common-sense gunsafety policies and creating more-inclusive environments for children in schools to help stop bullying.
Schools can adopt the Sandy Hook Promise — the “Say Something” program — that teaches students to know the warning signs of someone at risk of doing harm and how to say something to a trusted adult.
– Connie Goodman-Milone,
Miami
DANA BANKER
rumored to be contenders to replace Diaz are former Miami state Sen. Annette Taddeo, who lost a congressional race last year. She wrote on Twitter on Monday that she “will consult with leaders across the state, especially our grassroots, as I consider any future opportunities.” Jeremy Matlow, a Tallahassee city commissioner, has thrown his hat in the ring.
Democrats face a chicken-orthe-egg dilemma. Without cash, they cannot beef up party apparatus. Without showing they can achieve results, the cash won’t flow. There are no miracle workers who can save the Florida Democratic Party. Progress, if it can be achieved, will happen more slowly than many party faithful demand.
Our democracy depends on the health of our two-party system, but that can only happen if Democrats get their act together.
HELLISH BOAT RAMP
Ignoring warnings of chaotic safety hazards, the city of Miami’s Planning and Zoning Advisory Board has recommended a new boat launching ramp adjoining the Miami Marine Stadium. This is a horrible idea on many levels.
Engine-driven boat traffic is a real threat to manatees, other marine life and sea grass, as well as Biscayne Bay’s entire ecosystem.
What used to be a quiet anchorage has become obstreperous, dangerous, chaotic motorized mayhem — especially to paddlers, kayakers, sailors and swimmers.
This misguided proposal is not needed; the countyowned Crandon Park boat ramp is right across the street. Rather than a new ramp, the city should coordinate with the county to expand the existing ramp and, perhaps, subsidize it to make it more affordable.
Finally, the area around the stadium should be designated a protected marine sanctuary, prohibiting all motorized boats except those anchoring. I strongly urge the members of the City Commission to reject this ill-advised boat ramp.
– Doug Mayer, Coral Gables
LET’S MOVE ON
Recently, the Herald had a long article on the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated season. Congratulations to that team, which we have celebrated for many years.
I lived in Miami Lakes then and still do. There is no more Shula’s Steak House, Shula’s Hotel, Shula’s Athletic Club or Shula’s golf course.
Let’s stop gloating and instead, celebrate the coach and team we have now.
– Kathleen Leitner,
Miami Lakes