Democrats Pledge $1 Million for Voter Registration Efforts in Florida

Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, holds a press conference criticizing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his response to the recent flooding in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on April 18, 2023. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Florida Democrats have unveiled their ambitious “Take Back Florida” tour, pledging $1 million for voter registration efforts across the state.

The move comes as the state’s Democrats strive to narrow the widening gap with Republicans in preparation for the 2024 election.

The “Take Back Florida” tour, led by Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, will focus on registering Democratic voters, promoting voting by mail, and mobilizing communities for active civic engagement.

Ms. Fried reallocated $1 million from the party’s budget early in her tenure to boost voter registration efforts. The funds will be distributed as grants to local Democratic Executive Committees (DECs), signifying a determined effort to challenge the GOP’s dominance.

The commitment to year-round field organizing demonstrates the Democrats’ dedication to strengthen its own grassroots presence.

“This tour is about firing up Floridians and empowering them with the tools and training to help take back our state,” said Ms. Fried in a statement. “Unlike Ron DeSantis, we are actually here—working on the ground and talking to voters about the issues they really care about.”

The tour, spanning from Aug. 2 to 20, will cover 18 counties across the state, with a particular focus on South Florida, and particularly Miami-Dade County where the Democratic Party aims to recover from notable defeats in 2022.

Ms. Fried, who hails from Miami, acknowledges that the voter registration investment aims to reconnect with South Florida voters, especially new voters and independents who have been overlooked by Democrats in the past.

Florida Governor and 2024 presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis speaks during his campaign kickoff event at Eternity Church in Clive, Iowa, on May 30, 2023. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Currently, Florida has over half a million more registered Republicans than Democrats, according to the latest data from the Florida Division of Elections. Historically, Democrats held higher voter registration numbers, but in 2021, the GOP gained an advantage, and since then, their lead has continued to grow.

As of April 30, the Republican Party of Florida had a significant lead of nearly 473,000 registered voters over the Florida Democratic Party, continuing the gap that started in 2021. Republicans hold all statewide offices, a majority in Florida’s congressional delegation, and supermajorities in the Florida House and Senate.

“It is all hands on deck in Miami,” Ms. Fried said in comments obtained by Miami Herald. “We have not just the Florida Democratic Party, but a lot of our partners that are going to be spending significant resources on voter registration, vote by mail, re-enrollment, as well as messaging.”

Florida’s critical role in national elections makes the Democrats’ efforts to mobilize voters and strengthen their base significant for shaping the political landscape.

Ms. Fried’s strategy involves registering voters in traditionally Democratic and Republican-leaning areas to minimize defeat margins, following the GOP’s gains in the 2022 election cycle.

Until 2021, Democrats used to hold the registration advantage. As the November 2022 election approached, Republicans held a lead of around 306,000 registered voters.

While the Democratic Party doesn’t expect to completely close the voter registration gap, their goal is to reduce the GOP’s advantage by about 35 percent, or approximately 190,000 voters, according to the campaign.

According to figures from the state Division of Elections website, the GOP had 5,307,574 registered voters, the Democratic Party had 4,834,794, while there were 4,031,983 registered voters without party affiliation and 274,894 registered with third parties in Florida.

Miami-Dade County holds particular importance as a population center for Democrats, but the party has faced difficulties both statewide and within the county.

Ms. Fried also acknowledged concerns about the Democratic Party’s messaging and identity, and highlighted the need to reconnect and engage with the electorate in Miami-Dade County through this investment in voter registration.