Florida Democrats announced Friday that they have fielded a candidate for each of the 140 state House and Senate seats up for election in November, in an effort to counter the state’s shift to the right. This marks the first time in nearly three decades that all 120 state House seats and 20 state Senate seats will have a Democratic candidate on the ballot.
The move is seen as a strategic effort to boost Democratic voter turnout and momentum in the state, following the party’s poor performance in the 2022 election. Despite being expected to fall short of flipping either chamber, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said that the party has made history by contesting every seat in both the legislature and congressional races.
Fried contends that the party has gained momentum since 2022, and pointed to a significant increase in voter registration among Republicans. However, Florida Republican Party Chairman Evan Power dismissed the Democratic effort, labeling it a “moral victory” and saying that the GOP is focused on winning.
Democrats are pinning their hopes on abortion becoming a deciding factor in several races, including the presidential election and the race for Sen. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) seat in the Senate. Fielding a candidate in each state legislative district could help boost turnout for statewide contests.
A recent poll have shown vulnerability for both former President Donald Trump and Sen. Rick Scott, but the RealClearPolitics polling average indicates that Scott holds a 5.7% lead over Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and Trump holds a 7.6% lead over President Joe Biden.
