{"id":342568,"date":"2026-07-16T20:00:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T20:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/342568\/"},"modified":"2026-07-16T20:00:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-16T20:00:39","slug":"floridas-lack-of-affordability-could-be-a-path-to-victory-for-state-dems-says-chair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/342568\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida’s lack of affordability could be a path to victory for state Dems, says chair"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ProvideCredit: Shutterstock<\/a><\/p>\n

Florida Democrats are once again optimistic the state is in play, believing a growing lack of affordability across the state now makes the Republican supermajority holds over the state Legislature breakable.<\/p>\n

In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried claimed \u201ca coordinated campaign with our top-of-the-ticket candidates\u201d is lifting \u201cevery Democrat on the ballot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLast cycle, we launched our front porch swing tour and drove straight into towns from Cedar Key to Keystone Heights, sitting down with farmers and families,\u201d Fried said. \u201cNo one had ever bothered to ask for their votes and what was on their minds. We are going back because a Florida majority runs through every kind of community, the small towns as much as the big cities. So here is a choice in front of voters. Republicans have run this state for nearly 30 years, and they have made it a place working people can no longer afford.\u201d<\/p>\n

Democrats claim to have flipped more than 30 seats across the state, mostly at the local level. But the number also includes special election wins earlier this year, such as Eileen Higgins becoming mayor of Miami in 2025 and victories in March by\u00a0Tampa state Sen. Brian Nathan and Jupiter Rep. Emily Gregory.<\/p>\n

Still,\u00a0Democrats are pushing against a tide that has seen Gov. Ron DeSantis win reelection in 2022 by about 19 percentage points and President Donald Trump take the state by about 13 percentage points in 2024, while the GOP voter registration advantage has topped 1.5 million.<\/p>\n

Prior to the Democrats\u2019 media call, Republican Party of Florida Chairman Evan Power dismissed their chances.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday the Florida Democrats are going to hold a press conference on their path to victory,\u201d Power posted on X. \u201cI\u2019ll help out \u2014 there isn\u2019t one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n

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This article appears in July 09 \u2013 15, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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