Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison is optimistic about the Democratic Party’s chances in Florida, despite the state’s electoral votes going to Republicans in the last two presidential elections. Harrison believes that Florida is in play and points out that Democrats are running in every seat in the state House, the state Senate, and at the congressional level for the first time in 30 years. Although former President Donald Trump won the state by about three percentage points in 2020, both Miami-Dade and Broward counties went for President Biden. Florida currently has about 5.38 million registered Republicans, 4.35 million registered Democrats, and 3.54 million unaffiliated voters.
Harrison attributes the challenges faced by Florida Democrats in 2020 to the COVID-19 pandemic, which hindered their ability to conduct traditional campaign tactics such as field operations, door-knocking, and voter communication. Despite facing these hurdles, Democratic candidates like Lucia Baez-Geller challenging Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar in the House and former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell running against Republican Sen. Rick Scott are working to secure victories. In terms of campaign spending, Republicans are outspending Democrats in advertising for the Senate race by a four-to-one margin, according to AdImpact. However, Harrison remains confident that additional resources and support will come in to support Democratic candidates.
Looking ahead to Election Day, Harrison hopes that political rhetoric can be toned down in the final stretch of the campaign. He acknowledges the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump and emphasizes the need to end the violence and threats against political figures like Vice President Harris, President Biden, and former President Obama. In response to Harrison’s remarks, Florida Republican Party Chair Evan Power dismissed the idea of Florida being in play for Democrats, citing the Republicans’ superior voter registration, fundraising, and campaign efforts. The last time Florida voted Democrat in a presidential election was in 2012 for President Obama.
Despite challenges and pushback from Republicans, Harrison remains optimistic about the Democratic Party’s prospects in Florida. He points to the strong showing in Miami-Dade and Broward counties in the 2020 election as evidence of the party’s growing support in the state. With Democrats running in all seats at various levels of government, Harrison believes that there is an opportunity to make significant gains in Florida. He also alludes to the influx of resources and funding coming in to support Democratic candidates, potentially shifting the balance in their favor.
Harrison emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility and accountability in toning down political rhetoric and ensuring a peaceful campaign season. He condemns the threats and violence directed at political figures, calling for an end to such behavior. Despite facing criticism from the Republican Party, Harrison remains resolute in his belief that Florida is a competitive state for Democrats and that with the right strategies and support, they can secure victories in key races. As the election season unfolds, it remains to be seen how the political landscape in Florida will evolve and whether Democrats will be able to make significant gains in the state.
