Florida Special Elections go Democratic
One thing I love about Postcards to Voters is learning about races and issues all over the country. Writing 42 postcards for Conor Lamb got me pumped! One of my recent assignments was for Javier Ferndandez for Florida’s 114 House District. The seat had been held by team blue until December when the rep had to resign in disgrace (sigh). Republicans saw a chance to pick up a seat in this swingy district and poured buckets of money into Andrew Vargas — don’t think he was too much of a whacko. Then, not long ago when I signed up for more addresses, I was assigned this race. According to email from Tony the Democrat of Postcardstovoters, someone (repubs? dark money?) did this:
It was only a matter of time, I suppose, before someone twisted the idea of fun friendly election reminders written by volunteers into something underhanded. That's what has happened in the race for Florida's 114th House District.
Typed, 1-page letters were signed and mailed in envelopes without return addresses to voters. The signed names appeared to be of regular people. But, when the local newspaper reporter tried to verify their authenticity, they couldn't. Looks as if someone wanted to smear Democratic candidate Javier Fernandez and make it look like volunteers and voters were behind it.
So that’s when Postcards decided to take on the race with REAL volunteers and REAL postcards. We wrote cards that went out the next day so of course I was following the race. I was thrilled Tuesday night with this story in The Miami Herald: Democrats celebrate as they take another Florida special election
Outspent but not outmaneuvered, Democrat Javier Fernandez took Florida’s 114th House district Tuesday, keeping the purple Miami-Dade seat in the fold for the state’s surging minority party. He beat Republican Andrew Vargas by roughly 4 points — 51 to 47 percent — with all the votes counted. Independent candidate Liz de las Cuevas netted an estimated 2.5 percent of the vote.
Lots of great tidbits in this story, notably high Dem turnout, AND Republicans voting blue — Arizona anyone?
Another fun part — the Republican losers’ response: “they held a blue seat, so what?” and “it’s only for 6 months so who cares...” but the real zinger comes at the end with a tweet from Florida Republican pundit and district resident Ana Navarro
"GOP candidate spent oodles of $$. His ppl knocked on my door, called me on the phone & I got mailers in my mailbox, DAILY," she wrote. "If u think Trump isn’t dragging folks down, I want some of what ur smoking."
If U think Trump isn’t dragging folks down, I want some of what ur smoking!!
Light up another bowl, fellas!