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Politics

At County Chairs Retreat, Florida Dems Plan to Wage War with GOP in 2018

April 2, 2017 - 6:30pm

Fresh off of a disheartening performance in the November elections, the Florida Democratic Party says it's ready to win again.

Democratic County Chairs gathered in St. Petersburg this weekend to brainstorm and talk about ways to emerge victorious in 2018 after suffering a series of humiliating defeats statewide last year. 

A sense of excitement seeped through the air as Dems were treated to surprise visits from some of Florida and the nation’s top politicos, all pledging to bring a win home for their party next year.

With new party chairman Stephen Bittel at the helm, Democrats are now taking their first steps to maneuver themselves on the road to success. 

“We are going to try and make a difference this time,” Bittel told attendees Saturday. “We are not waiting around this time.”

Their work won’t be easy.

Last year, Dems were upbeat about their prospects. All the signs -- and polls -- said they were likely to see a series of wins. Florida Democrats, who have been in the minority party for nearly 20 years, were especially hopeful about the future. 

Those hopes were quickly extinguished on Election Night, leaving Dems scrambling to figure out what went wrong. Not only did Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton lose the general election, but Republicans defeated many Florida statewide candidates. 

Two of the only large seat pickups the Dems saw were in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, where Charlie Crist, a former Republican, won by a three-point margin, and Rep. Stephanie Murphy's win over incumbent John Mica. Crist, one of the sole large victors, made a brief appearance Saturday morning to address the crowd. 

Dems face an uphill battle, but they are setting their sights high for 2018.

At the top of the list for seat pickups in 2018 -- and one most prime for a political comeback: the governor’s mansion.

Democrats have lots of options this year. County Chairs heard from three of Florida’s potential gubernatorial candidates over the weekend, each making their pitch to their beloved party. 

Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, former congresswoman Gwen Graham and Orlando businessman Chris King all came out or sent videos to show face and rub shoulders with party members. Tallahassee mayor Andrew Gillum was originally scheduled to make an appearance according to news reports, but was a no-show.

The candidates who did attend centered their messages around building excitement for the party again and igniting a “new hope” for Florida.

Graham hit the ground running at the meeting, making appearances at 14 of the party’s 16 caucus meetings Saturday. Most of the caucuses largely focused on planning future meetings rather than addressing plans of action to get out the vote next year. 

Graham, who called her interest in a gubernatorial bid the “worst kept secret” in Florida, said Dems would persist and move ahead despite last year’s setbacks.

“We are in a really desperate place right now,” Graham said. “If we don’t win this time, we won’t have another election to give for the issues we care about.”

King, another gubernatorial hopeful, is also aiming to lead the charge for Dems in 2018, despite being a political unknown.

“We can win this race in 2018, and I want to be the type of candidate that makes that possible and gets you excited again about what is possible in Florida,” King said.

Another arena where the Dems will face strong Republican opposition will be in the U.S. Senate, where incumbent Bill Nelson is likely to face a brutal challenge from Gov. Rick Scott. 
Nelson made a surprise appearance at the meeting with New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, telling a group of college Democrats the time is now to gear up for next year.

“We are getting ourselves organized and ready to go to battle and you know it’s going to be a tough battle,” Nelson said.

Bittel agreed. 

“We are in this war together,” he said. “Let’s win.”

 

 

 

Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen

 

 

 

Comments

In your DREAMS...NELSON....We the People of your District are already Getting Together To RID YOU OF D.C........VeteransR4 Trump...& X-SpaceShuttleWorkers Against Democrats....Hoorah..you will be GONE...

Do wish "C Breeze" could learn about writing a proper paragraph. He isn't the only veteran in Florida.

Unfortunately, Democrats have been most notably known recently as the party of entitlements, regulations and government spending... Republicans have been most notably known recently as the party of lobbyists, deregulation and government spending, so pick your poison. It is for those reasons I choose to be independent of both parties. I lean Republican, but not this current group of fanatics that are more narrow-minded than any other in my opinion. I would say a Progressive-Conservative, which in today's political climate doesn't exist anymore. The one thing I do believe above all else. We will never have government, "of the people, for the people, and by the people", until we take all of the money and legalized racketeering out of politics. I'm often amazed that people are not outraged by our gov't. I guess most just believe what they hear, instead of what is happening right in front of them with all of the money in the game. The bastardization of American Politics has happened in open view and people just accept it, likely because there are no other better alternatives to vote for. Until this changes, we will continue this downward political spiral. It has nothing to do with patriotism. I am a veteran and love this country with all my heart. I just don't love what politicians have turned our government into, legislation to the highest bidder...

"Citizens United" basically corrupted a functioning system. Democrats suffer somewhat from your narrow view, but at least believe in the concept of a governmental referee in the ongoing struggle for life and death in this country.

I've never liked Democrat principles; they seem to resemble Bleeding-Heart Socialism, BIG government, and CONTROL of everything. The ONLY promise to mankind is Freedom upon Birth, the laws of nature as freely given by our Creator, and Death. Let's not "cloud" the issues with the "Taxes" garbage -- there are still places on this planet unencumbered by such crap -- IF you are willing to truly live as a FREEBORN HUMAN. A home-born child with "survivalist" parents IS possible, without ANY government! I DO IN NO WAY SUGGEST THIS AS AN ANSWER in the world of today -- so we go through all the "LEGAL" motions. Back to POLITICS... it seems to me that Floridians LOVE their freedom, and have innate desire to lead good, comfortable, happy lives. The Democrats want to control EVERYTHING... The Conservatives want solid, self-sufficient, memorable lives. BY NATURE, FLORIDA IS CONSERVATIVE!

I AM a Democrat who is ashamed of my "Democrat Party" (both State & National), and have been for quite some time; the Party's upper bureaucracy must be "cleaned and flushed" before I will trust them now and in the future... I did vote for Trump because I believe he loves this Country and this Country loves his vision for this Country. Over the last 10 years I voted MOSTLY Republican because my Party's candidates have been (what we used to call in the Military: "Lite-Hits"...or "misfires") a collection of self-important losers who would (which has been proven true) "sell themselves" for money & power. Our former President "chopped this country down" at every turn to fulfill "the dreams of his Father" who was a foreigner whose hatred of Britain and America was palpable, and unfortunately engendered that hatred into his distantly separated Son (witness the 'book' written by THAT wayward Son.

GO AHEAD AND "WAGE WAR" DEMS !!!!!! You've ALWAYS had "ALL THE AMMUNITION YOU'VE NEEDED"...and What have you done with it??????.... CONSISTENTLY "SHOT YOURSELVES IN THE FOOT" ! ! ! What on earth makes you believe that THIS time your "so called WAR" would be any different?!? (Especially since you, once again, will be relying on "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight").... Tsk, Tsk, Tsk...

Wow! So full of hate.

in your dreams ..NELSON....you be FIRST that Us Floridians going toget VOTED OUT....your disgrace of your Back turning on us Shuttle Workers & YOUR LIES are over with ALL US FLORIDIANS....Ha...Bye Bye.....VOTE ...NO for NELSON 2018.....ALL you Democrats want is Illegal Aliens & there DRUGS...FREEBIE for ALL and those WHO ABUSE IT....and WEED to keep Crackheads HIGH...(so they don't know WHO they Voting for.....HA...)

"Zippy, the ride-along-rocketeer Nelson" needs to be "hurled into Space" once again, on a "one-way" trip... "Don't touch any buttons or switches "Zippy"...just look out the window at the pretty clouds.." [How Nelson has stayed in office for nearly eighteen years is testimony to the uncaring and uninformed Florida voters];...Nelson will be a "Lobbiest's Darling" holding the 'Congressional access door' for his new employers (at twenty times his former Senate salary)......MARK MY WORDS ! ! ! The guy has been "politically-dead" for years, and Floridians need to "embalm" him !

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