Commission Report a Message from Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo
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PATH TO POWER COMMISSION REPORT A MESSAGE FROM FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIR TERRIE RIZZO Dear Florida Democrats, and diverse Democrats to find innovative solutions to our challenges. The Path to Power Commission November 6, 2018 was filled with conflicting is made up Democratic leaders, volunteers, elected emotions. Across the state, Democrats saw many officials, donors, and activists. The members of the important gains for our Party. Commissioner Commission represent a microcosm of our Party: Nikki Fried became the first Democrat to win a people from all walks of life, with diverse viewpoints, statewide cabinet post in over ten years and the each working to move our state forward. first Jewish woman to serve as Florida Agricultural Commissioner. We flipped two congressional The recommendations made by the Commission districts, sent a strong delegation to Congress, are crucial to electing Democrats in 2020 and for and sent the largest Democratic delegation to many elections to come. Putting this plan in motion Tallahassee in more than 20 years. We also saw gains will require hard work, dedication, and persistence, at the local level, including major victories in Miami- but we are up to the challenge. This agenda will lay Dade, Orange County and Hillsborough -- for the the foundation for success and I am committed to first time all of the five largest counties in the State ensuring that it is implemented. have Democratic leadership at the helm. I want to thank the members of the Path to Power But in spite of these wins, 2018 was not the year Commission for their tireless effort and tremendous we expected it to be, losing Senator Bill Nelson’s work. I also want to thank all the members of our Senate seat and the Governorship by fewer than Party who contributed their ideas, insights, and 50,000 votes combined. As Chair of the Florida stories so that this could truly be a comprehensive Democratic Party, I am committed to learning and inclusive agenda. Your drive to make Florida a lessons from 2018 and moving forward with a plan better, more fair state for all Floridians inspires me that expands what was successful and corrects what every day to keep fighting. was not. As soon as the election was over, I tasked the FDP staff with creating new initiatives so that Sincerely, we may begin building a strong infrastructure for 2020. This year, FDP will make record investments in communications, voter registration and turnout efforts, and municipal elections. The path to a Democratic White House will go through Florida, 2019 PATH TO POWER COMMISSION REPORT 2019 PATH and we will waste no time charting that path. Terrie Rizzo Chair One of the most important actions I took after the Florida Democratic Party 2 election was to commission a group of dedicated 3 A MESSAGE FROM THE PATH TO POWER COMMISSION CO-CHAIRS Dear Florida Democrats, HONORARY CHAIR It has been an honor and a highlight in our time as Democrats to lead the Path to Power Commission. We Commissioner Nikki Fried took this task with the utmost seriousness and dedication because we understood how hard the results of the last election were on our Party and the repercussions it will have on the people of our state. CO-CHAIRS We would like to thank the members of the Path to Power Commission. We are immensely proud of their work Dr. Cynthia Chestnut and inspired by their commitment to Democratic values. Although the Commission did not always agree, it Sean Michael Shaw came together to recognize the biggest challenges facing the Party and found innovative and creative ways to Senator Jeremy Ring solve them. They have worked tirelessly to create a comprehensive report that humbled us by looking at our Party’s shortcomings, but filled us with a renewed drive to keep fighting. MEMBERS Congressman Ted Deutch We would also like to thank the Party’s grassroots. Throughout this process, the most enlightening moments Congressman Darren Soto came from the people who make up the backbone of the Florida Democratic Party; the passionate activists Senator Gary Farmer who fill DEC phone banks, knock on doors, carry clipboards filled with registration forms, and regularly Senator Audrey Gibson volunteer their time and treasure to move our communities forward. This report would not have been possible Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez without their contributions. Representative Ramon Alexander Representative Anna Eskamani We would also like to thank the Florida Democratic Party staff who supported this endeavor. As always, they Representative Shevrin Jones stand at the ready to implement our ideas and bring a great many ideas of their own to the table. Representative Kionne McGhee Representative Amy Mercado One of the greatest challenges that we faced in 2018 was insufficient time to prepare for the election. Representative Cindy Polo 2020 will be one of the most consequential years in history and we must act now. Our most important Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith recommendation is that this agenda is put into place fully and swiftly. There is no time to waste. Cassandra Arnold, Democratic Haitian American Caucus of FL President Karen Clay, Disability Caucus of FL President We present to you this report with a sincere belief that these strategies will flip Florida blue in 2020 and JoAnne DeVries, Sarasota DEC Chair for years to come. It is our hope that these recommendations will serve as the foundation that will elect Patricia Farley, Democratic Women’s Club of FL President Democrats who will create a more progressive and equitable Florida. Karen Green, FDP Diversity and Inclusion Co-Chair Samantha Herring, Walton DEC State Committeewoman Sincerely, Lydia Hudson, FDP Vice Chair and Democratic Black Caucus of FL President Fedrick Ingram, FDP Vice Chair Annisa Karim, Collier DEC Chair, Vice President of the American Muslim Democratic Caucus Mayra Macias, Vice President, Latino Victory Commissioner Nikki Fried Dr. Cynthia Chestnut Sean Michael Shaw Senator Jeremy Ring Honorary Chair Co-Chair Co-Chair Co-Chair Raul Martinez, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Donna Shalala Path to Power Commission Path to Power Commission Path to Power Commission Path to Power Commission Noemi Morales McGregor, Democratic Hispanic Caucus of FL President Judy Mount, FDP First Vice Chair, DNC Member and Jackson DEC Chair Roxey Nelson, Director of Politics and Strategic Campaigns, 1199 SEIU UHE 2019 PATH TO POWER COMMISSION REPORT 2019 PATH Antonio Rodriguez, Former President, Florida College Democrats Wendy Williams, Citrus DEC and Small County Coalition Chair 4 5 INTRODUCTION AFRICAN-AMERICAN TURNOUT 2018 saw a blue wave sweep across the United Eight legislative seats were flipped from red to blue States as Democrats won back the House of and Hillsborough, Miami-Dade and Orange Counties Representatives and saw important gains in state saw their local governments turn Democrat. In governments throughout the country. In Florida, addition, counties that had long been considered election results were more complex. Republican strongholds turned blue, including Duval county. Democrats began the new electoral cycle with several special election wins: Margaret Good was However, Democrats also faced tough setbacks. +54% elected as the State Representative in a district Incumbent Senator Bill Nelson lost his seat to Rick that Donald Trump won by four points, and Scott by only 10,033 votes. Despite an unexpected Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Senator Annette primary win, Andrew Gillum lost his bid for governor Taddeo, and Representative Javier Fernandez had by just 32,000 votes. These losses were especially big wins in Miami-Dade. surprising given that several state and national polls predicted both Democrats winning their respective As the midterm election kicked into gear, the Florida elections. HISPANIC DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT Democratic Party convened the largest coordinated campaign in its history. Despite changes in Party Statewide losses included Sean Shaw’s bid for leadership and a very short time to prepare, the Attorney General and Jeremy Ring’s election for unprecedented collaboration resulted in more Chief Financial Officer. Democrats also missed successful field efforts than previous years. The 2018 opportunities in pink congressional districts and coordinated campaign knocked on 2,960,243 doors legislative seats. vs 1,398,258 in 2014. We need to learn from 2018, and in order to do Similarly, Florida Democrats also saw an increase so Chair Terrie Rizzo created the Path to Power in voters, especially people of color. Compared to Commission, made up of 35 Democrats selected for +97% 2014, the coordinated campaign saw the following their expertise, commitment to Democratic values, increases in voter turnout: and experience with campaigns and grassroots organizing. Commissioner Nikki Fried served as • African-American voters turnout increased by the Honorary Chair, and Chair Rizzo nominated +54%. three co-chairs representing different parts of the • Hispanic Democratic turnout nearly doubled at state: former Representative Sean Shaw, former +97%. Senator Jeremy Ring, and former Representative • White Democratic voters increased by +36%. Cynthia Chestnut. The Commission was tasked with WHITE DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT reviewing the 2018 election strategy and using these These efforts resulted in some difficult losses but a lessons to create a path toward winning in 2020. record number of midterm wins. Nikki Fried became the first Democrat to win a statewide cabinet level This report details the Commission’s analysis through position since 2006. Two congressional seats were concrete recommendations that will improve flipped by Democrats, both in Hispanic districts, strategies that worked well in 2018 and implement and Democrats held all Congressional swing seats in new ideas that will help us deliver Florida in 2020. 2018. These recommendations will help push forward FDP’s 67 County Strategy, so that all Floridians hear 2019 PATH TO POWER COMMISSION REPORT 2019 PATH our Party’s message. This report can and should be +36% used as a guide to navigate the path to power as Democrats build a better and stronger operation 6 that will win elections far beyond 2020.