![\"Democratic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789934204_3_MIA_2026-09-19AD2477DemsBlueGala_1.JPG\" "\\"Democratic")
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Democratic candidate Eliott Rodriguez, and Florida governor candidate David Jolly seen left to right, greet each other during the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s 2026 Blue Gala at the Frost Science Museum, in Miami. Florida, on Saturday, September 19, 2026.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY AL DIAZ<\/p>\n
adiaz@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Florida Democrats gathered in downtown Miami Saturday, a mere 44 days ahead of the midterm elections, with renewed optimism about their prospects of flipping the Sunshine State blue for the first time in decades. The surge in confidence follows recent poll results indicating close races in key contests for the governor\u2019s mansion, congressional seats and the U.S. Senate.<\/p>\n
Growing voter frustration with rising prices and strict immigration enforcement has fueled a demand for change, according to recent polls and surveys. At the Miami-Dade Democratic Party\u2019s Blue Gala featuring statewide candidates on the November ballot, speakers addressed the shifting dynamics and emphasized that Democrats can solve the state\u2019s most pressing issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are the party of working people. We are the party that believes healthcare is a right, not a privilege. We are the party that will fight to raise wages and lower prices,\u201d Angie Nixon, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, said from the stage at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. \u201cWe are the party that is going to hold Donald Trump accountable next year for every lie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Democrats, particularly those running statewide races, face financial and structural disadvantages. Republicans have more money, a substantially larger voter base, control of every statewide office and supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate. But new polls, such as a September St. Pete Polls survey<\/a> of 913 likely voters, show races for governor, U.S. Senate and attorney general nearly tied, with ballots already going out in the mail in some parts of the state and expected to hit Miami-Dade mailboxes by next weekend.<\/a><\/p>\n According to the survey, Democratic gubernatorial nominee David Jolly is tied with U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Republican from Naples, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis. And Jose Javier Rodriguez, the Democrat running for attorney general, has a chance to defeat James Uthmeier, whom DeSantis appointed to the job last year.<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s event marked the first time Jolly and Nixon \u2013 who is running to oust Ashley Moody, appointed to the U.S. Senate by DeSantis \u2013 appeared together on the campaign trail.<\/p>\n Nixon, a progressive candidate, secured the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Florida by defeating Alex Vidman. Her surprising victory added to the national conversation about internal tension between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n Her association with the Democratic Socialists of America is a point of friction within the Florida Democratic top ticket, and Republican opponents are using it as a point of attack. But recent polling shows Nixon is galvanizing voters and is almost tied with Moody.<\/p>\n Jolly told reporters he rejects socialism and the DSA. He acknowledged that he and Nixon have differences, but said they are both fighting to address Floridians\u2019 personal economic needs in housing, healthcare and education. He said Nixon is a \u201cwarrior who\u2019s willing to fight for every Floridian and improve their economic conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAngie and I are fighting to make sure everybody\u2019s got a fair shot. I don\u2019t worry about the labels,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Nixon said Saturday that her campaign is talking with Jolly\u2019s team to determine where they would campaign together.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re the yin and yang,\u201d she said, describing Jolly and herself.<\/p>\n Daniel Smith, a political science professor at the University of Florida, said Trump\u2019s low approval rating provides an opportunity for Democrats. He also said Nixon is giving Democrats a boost, pulling in voters who usually stay on the sidelines. Jolly can\u2019t win unless she performs well, Smith said.<\/p>\n \u201cDemocrats cannot win without heavier turnout among their base, which has stayed on the sidelines [in past elections], as well as no-party-affiliates, who once they come to the polls will vote for the Democratic ticket,\u201d he said. \u201cHaving a candidate like Angie Nixon, because of the policies that they\u2019re pushing, as much as identity politics, should help.\u201d<\/p>\n An anxious GOP<\/p>\n There are signs that GOP candidates who easily won previous elections are increasingly anxious about a potential Democratic surge.<\/p>\n In the race for Florida\u2019s 27th Congressional District, which includes Little Havana and Coral Gables, Democrats\u2019 internal polling shows a tight and competitive race between Miami Republican U.S. Rep. Maria Salazar and Elliot Rodriguez, the Democrat looking to oust her.<\/p>\n A recent poll<\/a> of 600 likely voters for Democrats\u2019 House Majority PAC by Tulchin Research, a San Francisco polling firm, found Salazar leading Rodriguez 47% to 46%.<\/p>\n In a newly released campaign ad on Thursday, Salazar criticized Trump directly, arguing that his administration\u2019s immigration enforcement policies have gone too far.<\/p>\n Salazar\u2019s ad reflects growing outrage among Hispanic voters who have found their lives and communities upended by the Trump administration\u2019s crackdown on immigrant communities. When Miami labor unions knocked on 32,0000 doors between March and June and asked Hispanic voters to describe how they felt about immigration, 58% said they were disappointed and 19% said they were angry.<\/p>\n Read More: Miami unions knocked on 32,000 doors. This is what Hispanic voters told them<\/a><\/p>\n Rodriguez, a former CBS Miami anchor, said that as a journalist, he covered crazy stories, but Salazar\u2019s ad campaign this week was \u201cover the top.\u201d He said Salazar voted for Trump\u2019s immigration policies<\/a> and is now against them because \u201cshe is scared.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s scared of me. She\u2019s scared of you. She\u2019s scared of all of us. Let\u2019s keep them scared and let\u2019s win these elections,\u201d he said Saturday.<\/p>\n In Miami-Dade County, which voted Republican in the most recent elections for governor and president, the backlash presents an opportunity for Democrats, even in congressional districts newly drawn to benefit the GOP.<\/p>\n Recent polling indicates a tight contest in the state\u2019s newly formed 22nd Congressional District\u2014stretching across the Everglades from Broward County to Collier County\u2014between Democratic contender Pia Dandiya and Republican nominee Casey Askar.<\/p>\n Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried reminded party members at the event that there is still significant work ahead in the weeks before Nov. 3. She urged them to stay focused, stay engaged and not be distracted by the polls.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery conversation matters. Every door matters. Every voter matters. So let\u2019s get to work. Let\u2019s take back our state now,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 10:17 AM.<\/p>\n![\"Candidate](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MIA_2026-09-19AD3753DemsBlueGala.JPG\" "\\"MIA_2026-09-19AD3753DemsBlueGala.JPG\\"")
Candidate for U.S. Senator Angie Nixon, speaks during the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s 2026 Blue Gala at the Frost Science Museum, in Miami. Florida, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com The Angie Nixon factor<\/p>\n![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MIA_2026-09-19AD3969DemsBlueGala.JPG\" "\\"MIA_2026-09-19AD3969DemsBlueGala.JPG\\"")
Florida governor candidate David Jolly speaks during the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s 2026 Blue Gala at the Frost Science Museum, in Miami. Florida, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n![\"Democratic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/MIA_2026-09-19AD2368DemsBlueGala.JPG\" "\\"MIA_2026-09-19AD2368DemsBlueGala.JPG\\"")
Democratic candidate Eliott Rodriguez walks towards the podium to speak during the Miami-Dade Democratic Party’s 2026 Blue Gala at the Frost Science Museum, in Miami. Florida, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com <\/p>\n