WASHINGTON – As of Friday’s filing deadline, Democrats have fielded candidates to run for nearly every seat in the Florida Legislature, surpassing Republican recruitment in an unmistakable sign of Democratic momentum in the Sunshine State. Democrats need to flip 14 seats in the House and four in the Senate to win majorities for the first time in more than two decades.
“Democrats are going on complete offense in 2020, and Florida is no exception,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Jessica Post. “We have an incredible slate of candidates who have stepped up to challenge Republicans on their own turf. As we turn our sights toward November, it’s clear that all the momentum is on our side.”
Since Trump’s election, Democrats have flipped six seats in the House and two in the Senate and are now within striking distance of flipping both chambers.
Democratic gains have come as extremist GOP leadership grows increasingly out of touch with Floridians. Republicans have repeatedly blocked Medicaid expansion, leaving more than 800,000 Floridians without health care during an unprecedented global public health emergency. If denying access to health care wasn’t bad enough, the GOP majorities have also worked to restrict those formerly convicted of a felony from voting after Floridians overwhelmingly approved restoring their rights. In May, the GOP’s attempt to suppress the votes was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge
“Republicans in Florida have spent years catering to the far-right and have repeatedly failed their constituents,” added Post. “We’re going to make sure we hold them accountable at the ballot box this November.”
Florida is a target in the DLCC’s $50 million Flip Everything campaign to win legislative majorities across the country this year. Since Trump’s election, the DLCC and state Democrats have flipped more than 450 seats and 10 legislative chambers from red to blue.
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