How we won the election
Since the special election on Jan. 16 people across the state are asking me the same question: “How did you do it?”
Looking back at my campaign to become the newly elected Representative for Florida House District 35, we achieved what few imagined possible and Democrats can replicate to win in Florida again. Here is what we did right:
We listened to the people. During the campaign I pounded the pavement, personally knocking on thousands of doors. I showed up at community events, debates and neighborhood meetings.
My neighbors were loud and clear, sharing their frustration over the divisive culture wars that waste taxpayer money and the lack of leadership to solve real problems — especially the ones neglected at the expense of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ failed presidential ambitions. Their frustration was made worse by an insurance crisis, a direct result of two decades of Republican rule and government overreach into personal health-care decisions. We heard anger about the diminishing reproductive freedoms under the “Free State of Florida” policies.
We did the work. While Florida Republicans were trying to court Iowa voters, we stayed here, working to earn each vote in HD-35. Every piece of the puzzle — the Florida Democratic Party, the Orange and Osceola Democratic Executive Committees, the local clubs, elected officials like Congressman Maxwell Frost, candidates near and far, and even other groups from across the state — aligned in a remarkable show of unity. Our supporters sacrificed their precious weekends during the holiday season in the cold and rain.
Our volunteers knocked on doors, manned phone banks, sent out texts and mailed postcards. The weekend before Election Day we knocked on over 5,000 doors. On Election Day alone our volunteers made 50,000 calls.
But sweat will only get you so far. You need investment. Rep. Fentrice Driskell, our Democratic Minority Leader and chair of the Florida House Democratic Campaign Committee (FHDCC), invested $1.2 million in this race.
And with critical aid from the Florida Democratic Party and Chair Nikki Fried, we reached independent voters and moderate Republicans too. This approach closed the vote-by-mail gap that was initially in the Republicans’ favor, eventually gaining an 11-point Democratic advantage.
This special election, like others, was decided by a small margin, underscoring that every vote really counts. Independent voters’ growing dissatisfaction with the GOP’s extreme policies played a significant role in propelling us forward.
We recognize that many of the concerns voters had were not partisan, and we’re dedicated to engaging with voters from all backgrounds.
On Jan. 16 we recorded the first Democratic flip in the nation this year and the first in the Florida House in six years. Our victory is consistent with a trend where Democrats are outperforming expectations in special elections and proved that Florida is winnable once again.
Looking ahead, my immediate focus is on serving the people of District 35. I am committed to addressing the issues I campaigned on — ensuring reproductive freedom is on the ballot and advocating for real solutions to the property insurance crisis. On a state level this win is a steppingstone toward the future — we will break the Republican supermajority.
We have developed a model for Florida Democrats to scale and win. Don’t count Florida out.