Democrats Still Think They Can Win Florida
In recent years, Florida has been a challenging state for Democrats, having only swung their way three times in the past 25 years—with razor-thin margins in the presidential elections of 2000, 2008, and 2012. Despite this, some Democrats are now expressing optimism about their chances in the upcoming election. According to recent statements made to Newsmax, they believe Kamala Harris could potentially secure Florida’s 30 electoral votes this November.
The key event fueling this optimism was the unexpected defeat of several Moms for Liberty candidates in local school board races across Florida. These candidates had been endorsed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis. Preliminary results indicate that out of 17 candidates supported by DeSantis, 11 lost their races, including several incumbents in traditionally conservative areas. On the other hand, six candidates backed by DeSantis managed to win, and another six are headed to November runoffs due to not securing over 50% of the vote in their initial races. These runoffs could still tilt in DeSantis’ favor.
State Democrat Chair Nikki Fried highlighted the significance of these school board victories. She told Newsmax that this success, combined with the strong candidacy of Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for the Senate against GOP incumbent Rick Scott, boosts their confidence. “Florida is definitely in play this year,” Fried asserted, adding enthusiasm for both Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Polling data from the University of Florida shows a tight race for the Senate seat, with Scott holding a slim lead over Mucarsel-Powell—47% to 43%. Ramon Day, a delegate from Jacksonville, echoed the sentiment of heightened Democrat enthusiasm, attributing it partly to the defeat of the Moms for Liberty candidates, whom he said faced criticism for their stance on public schools.
Day also pointed out Scott’s vulnerability, noting that his previous win was by a narrow margin of about 10,000 votes, despite investing $60 million of his own funds. This, he argues, could present an opportunity for Democrats to make significant inroads in the state.
