Florida Democrats: A Party in Crisis
MIAMI — As Florida Democrats grapple with the aftermath of a crushing electoral defeat in 2024, one might expect a strategic regrouping for the upcoming midterms. Instead, the party appears to be in a tailspin, embroiled in infighting, power struggles, and a growing sense of insignificance in a state firmly under GOP control.
The latest episode in this unfolding drama occurred in late April: David Jolly, a former Republican representative known for his anti-Trump stance, announced his registration as a Democrat and unveiled plans for a political committee to support a potential gubernatorial bid. Within hours, state Senate Democratic leader Jason Pizzo — himself eyeing the 2026 race — pronounced the Florida Democratic Party “dead” and declared his transition to an unaffiliated voter.
This rapid-fire succession of announcements encapsulates the turmoil within the Florida Democratic Party, a group that now seems to celebrate 15-point losses in special elections as markers of progress, struggles to raise funds, and remains divided on the feasibility of a genuine comeback in a state once viewed as a critical battleground.
Conversations with 20 elected officials, strategists, and activists reveal a backdrop of mounting frustration, confusion, and dwindling morale leading up to these recent events. Many of these Democratic insiders, who spoke anonymously out of fear of retribution, echoed a sentiment of disarray. “What Democratic Party?” one quipped after delivering a speech intended to rally unity. Another bluntly described the state party as “a complete disaster.”
Pizzo’s surprising announcement has incensed and bewildered many within the party, particularly given his history of public disputes with fellow Democrats. There’s now widespread concern that he may run for governor as an independent, potentially siphoning votes away from the eventual Democratic nominee and facilitating an easier route for the GOP to retain the governor’s mansion.
Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller, who had previously leaned toward supporting Pizzo, expressed hope that he would recognize the futility of running as an independent. “I hope he is smart enough — I think he is — to realize it’s impossible for him or anybody else to win as an independent,” Geller remarked during a town hall meeting.
The friction between Pizzo and state party Chair Nikki Fried, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in 2022, has become a recurring theme. Even after Pizzo’s announcement, he accused Fried of being “consumed” by term-limited Gov. Ron DeSantis when formulating the party’s messaging — likening it to a high school romance gone wrong.
“It’s indicative of broader issues we all recognize,” said one Democratic political organizer. “The party has been in dire straits for as long as I can remember. We’ve been employing the same strategies for three decades with minimal results.”
‘Can’t Even Keep the Lights On’
Florida Democrats are still mourning their losses. Donald Trump secured the state for a third time in 2024, while DeSantis successfully opposed ballot measures on abortion rights and legalized marijuana. The GOP not only maintained their supermajorities in the Legislature but also managed to lure two Democratic state House members to switch parties by January.
To the casual observer, it might seem like Florida Republicans were the ones embroiled in a civil war. For the first time in six years, DeSantis faced backlash from within the GOP Legislature, while Democrats entertained hopes that Trump-endorsed Rep. Byron Donalds might challenge Florida’s first lady, Casey DeSantis, in a Republican primary — a potential proxy battle between the president and the governor.
Interviews with top Democrats and party operatives reveal that recent optimism was largely predicated on the belief that Trump might self-destruct. They anticipated that his tariffs would lead to widespread shortages and rising prices, particularly impacting seniors reliant on their retirement savings.
However, this hope is not grounded in any tangible metrics of Democratic performance. The party has failed to expand its voter base, amassing a mere $300,000 in fundraising between January and March, a stark contrast to the Republican Party of Florida’s $4.6 million haul. “You can’t even keep the lights on with something like that,” lamented a Democratic organizer.
One of the central grievances voiced by party members is the ineffectiveness of the state party in registering voters, as Republicans enjoy a 1.2 million-voter advantage. Some argued that the party should have pursued legal action when the GOP-controlled Legislature enacted measures limiting third-party groups’ voter registration efforts.
Many within the party expressed frustration over the nearly $25 million spent on a pair of April congressional special elections, questioning why those resources weren’t allocated toward building the state party infrastructure. (Democrats lost those races by 15 points, a performance that some deemed an overachievement but still a loss.)
Furthermore, there is concern that the party’s economic messaging lacks cohesion. Many Democrats feel they have failed to convey to voters that Republicans, who have governed Florida for decades, are responsible for the state’s escalating unaffordability.
Miami filmmaker Billy Corben, who departed the party last year after his involvement with the county’s executive committee, described the Democratic Party of Florida as “far worse than I expected” and “more dysfunctional than what I had reported from the outside.” He criticized it as an organization driven by ego and self-interest, rather than the needs of its dedicated supporters and volunteers. Corben previously called for the resignations of Fried and state Sen. Shevrin Jones, who heads the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee, making similar claims. In response, Jones urged an end to party infighting.
Corben added, “Is it worse than RPOF? Certainly not. But they win.”
National Discontent, Local Fractures
Florida Democrats find themselves embroiled in the same ideological battles occurring nationally between progressives and centrists, with Pizzo, a former homicide prosecutor from Sunny Isles Beach, firmly positioned in the moderate camp. Many acknowledge that Republicans have gained traction with Hispanic voters by branding Democrats as “socialists” — a term that resonates negatively among voters in South Florida’s diaspora community, many of whom escaped oppressive leftist regimes in their home countries.
Steve Schale, a veteran Democratic strategist who played a pivotal role in securing Florida for former President Barack Obama twice, characterized the state’s electorate as “center-right,” with moderate views on social issues and a preference for lower taxes and “reasonable” immigration policies.
“This boils down to a fundamental math problem,” he explained. “If you’re not aligned with voter sentiment, you have two options: change the electorate’s composition through registration, or shift your ideology to resonate with the voters.”
In October, top Democratic lawmakers were already in a state of panic, discussing the previous election and the looming 2026 race. Pizzo recalled an emergency Zoom call where concerns about their electoral prospects were laid bare, leading him to announce his readiness to self-fund a significant portion of his potential gubernatorial campaign. “I have plans for ‘26 and I have $25 million ready to go,” he stated. He estimated that Democrats would require as much as $170 million to compete effectively in Florida, believing that a strong candidate at the top of the ticket would facilitate fundraising efforts for other races and the state party.
Pizzo suspects that some Democrats’ anger over his departure stems from the fear that potential donors will perceive contributions to Florida Democrats as unwise investments.
In response, Fried dismissed Pizzo’s exit, asserting, “He wasn’t a participant in the rebuilding of this party.” When asked about his self-funding remarks, she quipped, “Anyone can make empty promises. Good leaders follow through, even if there’s nothing in it for them.”
Her response to Pizzo’s public departure, which she labeled a “temper tantrum,” was even more pointed. Fried described Pizzo as “ineffective” and “unpopular,” heralding his exit as “one of the best things to happen to the party in years,” claiming it would foster greater unity.
Pizzo shared that he had communicated his disagreements with Fried via text, including her use of the term “mob boss” to describe DeSantis, which he felt was offensive to Italian Americans. He also noted that she had misidentified the state attorney general’s office as part of the judicial branch.
Fried, however, declared she would not engage in a “tit for tat” with someone who “no longer represents our party’s values,” labeling it a “ridiculous game” meant to deflect blame for his poor political choices.
“This is a historic moment,” she asserted. “We are focused on rebuilding the party and working to elect Democrats who are committed to addressing Florida’s affordability crisis, defending our veterans, and safeguarding programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.”
Yet, several Democrats expressed regret over Pizzo’s departure, including Lauren Book, the former state Senate Democratic leader. “It’s unfortunate that it happened in the way that it did,” Book lamented. “Because we have to ask: Why are we losing the members that we’re losing? We need to look inward.”
Supporters of Pizzo noted that he had consistently contributed to the state party and candidates over the years, and that he was warmly welcomed when he was elected leader. Defenders of the party’s current strategy argue that it’s essential to uphold its principles. Sarah Henry, who recently concluded her term as vice chair of the Seminole County Democratic Party and narrowly lost a 2024 state House bid, insisted the party remains “united and angry,” asserting that running candidates in challenging districts offers voters a choice and pressures opponents to clarify their positions on Trump and DeSantis.
“It’s not like we’re all running because it’s the most enjoyable endeavor,” she remarked. “It’s because we have a deep commitment to equity, justice, and the preservation of our democracy.”
What Lies Ahead?
In the days preceding his party switch, Pizzo had ruffled feathers among members of the Legislature’s Black caucus with comments made on the floor. He later acknowledged to them that he had been an “asshole” to Democratic state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith over a gun-related bill during a committee meeting and offered his apologies.
Many within the party were frustrated by Pizzo’s lack of communication regarding his party switch and the manner in which he executed it. “If you wanted to switch parties, just switch. But there’s no need to disparage those who genuinely supported you,” said Scott Evans, a state committee member from the Pembroke Pines Democratic Club.
“As the leader, why didn’t you rally the troops? Why didn’t you propose solutions? Why simply give up? That’s what stings the most — the refusal to accept responsibility for a lack of followership,” Lourdes Diaz, the group’s president, chimed in. “That’s what hurts me the most, that he’s not taking responsibility that people don’t want to follow him.”
In response, Pizzo highlighted that every state Senate Democrat retained their seats in 2024 and emphasized that Democrats had successfully supported legislation that passed this past session while steering clear of contentious social issues.
While he admits he’s still contemplating a gubernatorial run, Pizzo is prioritizing family time and rest for now. He dismisses the idea that he would act as a spoiler, citing split-ticket voting in his district, where Trump won by approximately three points and he secured reelection by 16 points. While he predicts no Democrat will gain traction by late this year, he indicated that he would reconsider his options if proven wrong.
Isa Domínguez contributed to this report.
