Here are five ways Florida Democrats can stop losing and start winning | Opinion

There’s a scene from an episode of Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing that plays in my head when I think of Florida politics:

Two players sprint to first base, and they arrive at the same time. “Which one do you pick?” asks one character.

“The one with lousy form,” comes the reply. “Because you teach him the right form,” another chime in. “And he beats the other guy.”

Florida Democrats are like that player with lousy form. The party has the raw potential to win but lacks the technique, structure and strategy.

Over the past eight years, both faith and finance have disintegrated within Florida’s Democratic politics. Florida has seen statewide elections slip further and further into Republican hands—and yet, when you look closer, something striking emerges.

In the same elections where Democratic candidates lose, progressive policies win. Floridians have voted for marijuana legalization, a $15-an-hour minimum wage, environmental protections, restoration of voting rights for ex-felons, tax exemptions for public service workers and abortion rights—all in the past few cycles.

Those results echo what I saw firsthand as the statewide voter protection director for the Florida Democratic Party.

Florida is filled with die-hard democrats who care ferociously about their communities, state and country. Yet I’ve also watched Democrats struggle and fail for three consecutive election cycles.

The challenge is not insurmountable. Florida need not be lost. When the party votes to elect a chair on Jan. 25, Democrats also need to focus on making five key changes:

1. A long-term vision:

In 2022, Republican candidates spent $132 million more than their Democratic counterparts. But Florida doesn’t just need more money—it needs smart, patient capital. Democrats will not win in one cycle, or even two. The measure of success should be ten years, not two. The first step must be a laser-focused goal: winning back the state legislature by 2030.

To get there, Democrats need donors who understand the importance of year-round staffing and steady infrastructure that builds on deliberate strategy and policies—not just seasonal staffing and reactionary spending driven by the latest headlines.

2. Support county parties:

Across the state, Democratic Executive Committees (DECs) are eager to do the hard work of registering voters, energizing communities, and building momentum. However, these county-level organizations often lack the tools, training and data they need to succeed. The state party should act as a support engine—offering best practices for voter registration, shared messaging tools and access to robust data systems. Currently the party treats counties like a burden rather than a benefit.

3. Invest in local candidates:

Winning statewide races starts with strong, credible candidates at the community level. Yet today, local candidates receive little to no support from the state party. That has to change. The state party should connect local candidates to donors and offer free, high-quality communications training. Running for office is hard enough; we must make it easier for passionate, capable people to step up and stay.

4. The top of the ticket matters:

At the end of the day, a good ground game can only get you so far. Whether it be Senate, governor, or presidential candidates, they need to be able to connect with voters and meet the moment. At a time of soaring inflation and the worst wealth inequality in American history, Democrats cannot simply tell voters that the economy is actually “the envy of the world.” The not-as-bad-as-the-other-guy campaigns are not working. We must speak to people’s lived experiences—and run candidates who do too.

5. Fix the form, focus on the future:

Florida is not an easy state for Democrats, but it is not a lost cause. Like the player with “lousy form,” the state has everything it needs to win—we need to fix the technique. Republicans have done the same to great success.

If Democrats make smart investments in Florida’s potential, they’ll find that it’s been there all along.

Sam Koplewicz is the former voter protection director for the Florida Democratic Party. He currently works for an international humanitarian organization.

This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM.