As the kids would say, the Democratic National Committee has entered the chat. The DNC just announced it is putting resources in Miami to help former County Commissioner Eileen Higgins. That may sound impressive, but it\u2019s not about strategy \u2014 it\u2019s about panic.<\/p>\n
As the Miami Herald reported<\/a>, DNC chair Ken Martin said, \u201cBetween now and Election Day, the DNC is all-in to elect Eileen Higgins and ensure Miami families have a champion who is fighting for them, not Donald Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n The announcement came days after President Donald Trump endorsed<\/a> former City Manager Emilio Gonzalez, a Republican, in the race. While the race is officially nonpartisan, political consultants and endorsements have made political party an issue.<\/p>\n It\u2019s unusual to see a national political committee jump into a local municipal election such as a race for mayor, let alone a runoff election. But this kind of intervention \u2014 while odd \u2014 shows just how high the stakes are for the Democrats. Florida Republicans have recently enjoyed notable wins across the Sunshine State, and in the last presidential election, Trump flipped Miami-Dade County red for the first time since 1988. While Trump narrowly lost the city of Miami to former Vice President Kamala Harris by about 1,000 votes<\/a>, that narrow margin makes the mayor\u2019s race even more competitive.<\/p>\n The DNC will be hosting virtual phone banks in both English and Spanish, as well as activating its national volunteer base to help get out the vote for Higgins. But, with early voting running from Dec. 5 through Dec. 7 and the runoff election on Dec. 9, the timing seems a little last minute. Which makes me wonder \u2014 would the DNC have gotten involved if Trump didn\u2019t endorse Gonzalez? I doubt it.<\/p>\n Higgins supporters will point to her first place finish in the general election earlier this month as an indication that she\u2019ll coast to victory \u2014 she received nearly 36% of the vote<\/a>, while Gonzalez received 19%. But that doesn\u2019t necessarily signal an easy runoff win for Higgins. And here\u2019s the tell: If the DNC believed the runoff was locked up, they wouldn\u2019t be spending money in the Magic City. Democrats must be worried about turnout, which is a realistic concern. Turning out voters in December for a runoff is unpredictable and difficult. Everyone\u2019s already in holiday mode. Will they actually cast ballots in this race? Both candidates will be concentrating on turning out their base.<\/p>\n