In February this year, 45 Florida state House and Senate Republicans and seven Congressman had no Democratic opponent in this year’s November 2024 election. Through the incredible efforts of 140 Blue Florida, the number was down to 17 on May 2, when I wrote The Unknown Reason why Al Gore "lost" Florida in 2000 and how to stop it this year. Now every one of those Republicans has a Democratic opponent. See this “whiteboard” video by David Pepper based on this argument.
By May 15, through the efforts of the great people at 140 Blue Florida, that number was down to five. See Miracle in Florida: 45 Uncontested Districts are Down to Five.
Today, there are Democratic candidates for every Congressional and state legislative district in Florida — unlike in prior years, there are no uncontested seats for either Congress or the state legislature in Florida.
Compare this with just two years ago, when there were fifty-three Florida legislative districts where Republicans ran unopposed. Is it any surprise Dems lost the governorship by 19 points, when Biden lost by only three points in 2020 (when there were candidates for nearly every legislative seat)?
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson recently spoke to members of Ruth’s List, which “fundraises and trains state and local women candidates in Florida who support abortion rights.” She stressed the need for a comprehensive effort:
Don’t sleep on Florida, because Michigan has shown how in just a few years — when women pull up their sleeves and support each other and don’t take no for an answer — you can actually achieve great things that no one saw coming,
That really is the Michigan story and I think, in the near future, it will be the Florida story as well.”
You have to be consistent in ensuring you’re supporting candidates at the local, state and federal level,
That’s what 140 Blue Florida has done! But the Florida candidates recruited by 140 Blue Florida for the most part are not receiving funding from the state party, so many of the candidates need the funds for the filing fee of $1,781.82, plus another small amount to have a basic campaign.
You can help by giving even small amounts ($5, $10, $20, $50) to 140 Blue Florida’s Act Blue page. More is OK too of course. 140 Blue Florida raised more than $5,000 after Miracle in Florida: 45 Uncontested Districts are Down to Five was posted last week.
Let’s keep that up by contributing, or at the very least, recommending this story.
Democrats’ “Run Everywhere” effort is catching fire — in Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina:
Here’s the contribution link again: