TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV\/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Democrats are heading into the 2026 midterms with momentum following special election victories, while Republicans acknowledge the race may be more challenging than anticipated.<\/p>\n
Democrats flipped two state legislative seats in special elections this week, prompting party leaders to point to the results as evidence of shifting political dynamics despite a voter registration deficit of more than a million.<\/p>\n
Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the political landscape during a fireside chat at Palm Beach Atlantic University Wednesday night, acknowledging Republicans face challenges in the upcoming midterms.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the midterms nationally, there\u2019s obviously headwinds. You got to figure out ways to overcome it as Republicans,\u201d DeSantis said.<\/p>\n
DeSantis urged congressional Republicans to take action that voters can see.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I were advising people in Congress, I would say, well, one way you can maybe change the narrative is actually get off your rear ends and do something for a change, because they\u2019re not doing very much,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said the special election results demonstrate the party\u2019s ability to compete statewide.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are showing the world that Florida Democrats are ready to compete everywhere. And if we can win in Donald Trump\u2019s backyard, we can win anywhere,\u201d Fried said.<\/p>\n
Florida Politics:<\/p>\n
Fried attributed the wins to voter frustration with Republican policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, Floridians everywhere are feeling the strain of rising prices fueled by Trump\u2019s chaos and years of corruption from Washington to Tallahassee,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
A new AP-NORC poll suggests the president could face blowback from his own voters if the U.S. gets drawn into a prolonged war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Susan MacManus said the special election wins provide an energy boost for Florida Democrats.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been an infusion of energy into Florida Democrats that they\u2019ve really needed. It\u2019s going to help them raise a lot of money because they lag behind the Republicans,\u201d MacManus said.<\/p>\n
MacManus said turnout will determine the outcome in November.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely, turnout is everything. You can\u2019t just take registration. You can\u2019t just take party. You can\u2019t just take a standard kind of approach to getting out the vote. Those things don\u2019t work anymore,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
MacManus noted the midterms remain seven months away.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot can change between now and then,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Lawmakers return to Tallahassee next month for a special session on congressional redistricting.<\/p>\n
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