• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2022
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

Flagler and Florida Democrats Face a Reckoning After Dismal Showing at Every Level

November 6, 2020 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

No wins for Democrats in Flagler, mirroring a poor showing across the state. (© FlaglerLive)
No wins for Democrats in Flagler, mirroring a poor showing across the state. (© FlaglerLive)

Forget purple state. And don’t even think about blue state.




Florida Republicans dominated Tuesday’s elections from the top of the ballot on down, leaving Democrats searching for answers after more than two decades of GOP control of the state.

In a victory that by Sunshine State standards was a landslide, President Donald Trump defeated Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden by more than three percentage points in Florida, more than doubling the edge he held over Democrat Hillary Clinton four years ago.

Republicans upset two incumbent South Florida congresswomen, flipped five state House seats and could pick up a seat in the state Senate, making a mockery of Democrats’ hopes to cut into the GOP’s legislative dominance.

In Flagler County, the only Democrats to win an election were Ralph Lightfoot, a former IBM manager and Democratic Party chairman who won his first election by taking a seat on the East Flagler Mosquito Control District, and Jules Kwiatkowski, at 85 the oldest elected official in the county, who retained his seat on the district for a third term. Flagler and regional Democrats lost in challenges for the County Commission, for Sheriff (no one contested four other constitutional offices held by Republicans), for Palm Coast City Council, for the Florida House and Senate and for the congressional seat that includes Flagler. The combined 15 seats on the Palm Coast City Council, the Bunnell City Commission and the Flagler County Commission are all white, all Republican held seats. The school board is all white, with a 4-1 Republican majority. The only elected Black elected official serves on the Flagler Beach City Commission, one of whose five commission members is a Democrat. The mayor is an independent.

The across-the-board losses leave Democrats and their state party in shreds as they begin to gear up for mid-term elections in 2022, including a gubernatorial election.

Even before Trump officially notched his win Tuesday night in Florida, some Democrats were calling for a state party shakeup.

“I’m saying it now. We need a whole new direction for the @FlaDems,” state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, tweeted before 10 p.m. Tuesday. “We are losing too many incredible down ballot elected officials and candidates right now and it’s not ok. I know we have the potential to be better and do better. We do it everyday here in #HD47”

Eskamani, a firebrand liberal who was first elected to the House in 2018, won her reelection bid in Orange County’s House District 47 by more than 18,000 votes.

“I want to be in a place of celebrating those victories, but unfortunately the losses of the state of Florida is another reflection of just how broken our party is and how we continue to let consultants and corporations set our agenda,” she said during a Zoom call Wednesday morning.




Eskamani said her re-election came with marginal support from the Florida Democratic Party, adding that her political committee contributed more than $35,000 to help other candidates.

Eskamani, who is seen as a rising star in what’s known as the “back row” where Democrats sit in the Florida House chamber, said the state party needs a top-to-bottom makeover.

Throughout the day Wednesday, pressure mounted for the ouster of Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Terrie Rizzo and party executive director Juan Peñalosa.

Rizzo issued a statement late Wednesday that thanked people who “gave their blood, sweat, and tears to help Democrats win.”

“While we are confident in the ultimate victory of Joe Biden, I know our Florida losses sting deep, for our party, the candidates, and the 5 million Florida Democrats looking to build on the progress we have made,” the statement said. “Together with our state and national partners, we need to do a deep dive to address data and turnout issues that caused these losses, and where our party goes from here.“

But Eskamani said the party should begin with new leaders.

“Step one is complete new leadership. The challenge is, who wants to step up,” Eskamani said. “It is challenging, but step one is to tell your friends that they’ve got to step back, and it isn’t easy.”

Other strategists, however, noted that candidates at the top of the ticket have more control than party officials over the hiring of consultants and messaging.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat, acknowledged that Florida Democrats “suffered some hard losses” on election night.

“Our party needs to take a long hard look at what went wrong in the election, and how we move forward,” she said in a prepared statement. “As leaders, we must do better, and we must all work together to mend our fractured political system.”

Amid state Democrats’ post-election autopsy, political experts agree that Florida is now decidedly in the red state column.

Part of Trump’s success rested in his support from Hispanic voters in the state’s most populous county — Miami-Dade — as well as those along the I-4 corridor between Tampa Bay and Orlando.

Hillary Clinton held a nearly 300,000-vote edge in Miami-Dade over Trump in 2016, although she lost the state to the Republican. But Biden’s lead over Trump shriveled to just 84,000 votes.

Trump began courting Cuban-Americans in Miami-Dade not long after his 2016 White House victory, frequently traveling to the region and feting community leaders at his Mar-A-Lago home, Florida International University political science professor Dario Moreno told The News Service of Florida on Wednesday.

He kept up the effort throughout the past four years and intensified the outreach to South Florida Hispanics — including emigres from Venezuela and Colombia — by painting Biden and Democratic vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris as “socialists.”




Biden made a series of missteps that alienated South Florida Hispanics, Moreno said, such as considering California Congresswoman Karen Bass as a running mate. Bass created a furor when she called Fidel Castro’s death “a great loss,” Moreno said.

About 83 percent of Miami-Dade Republicans voted in the presidential election, compared to just 68 percent of Democrats, Moreno said.

“This was the mobilization that the Trump campaign did. And Biden did not have a ground campaign in Dade County.

They did not have people canvassing because of the pandemic,” the FIU professor said.

Trump’s messaging about the economy and job creation also resonated with Hispanics, including Puerto Ricans who had been targeted by Biden, according to Moreno.

“Trump is a jerk, but he’s extremely politically cunning. I think this thing about firing (infectious disease expert Anthony) Fauci wasn’t misspoken. It was a signal to a lot of people that he was not going to lock down,” he said, referring to comments Trump made during an Opa-locka rally early Monday morning. “I think all those things combine.”

Republican Party of Florida Chairman Joe Gruters, who also serves as a state senator from Sarasota, credited the GOP’s turnout machine, fundraising efforts by Gov. Ron DeSantis and legislative leaders and the president himself for Tuesday’s red wave in Florida.

“We won because of our ground game and the fact that we ran circles around the Democrats. We had a well-oiled machine. We were literally pounding the pavement every day,” Gruters said in a phone interview Wednesday.

Democratic consultant Steve Vancore agreed that Republicans did a much better job than his party at getting voters to cast ballots, a frequent problem for Democrats.

“As long as the Democratic Party is structured the way it is in Florida, you cannot expect change,” he said. “You need to tear it down and rebuild it.”

While both parties seemed flush with cash during the 2020 election cycle, at least at the top of the ticket, Republicans spent their money “on the ground, doing the really hard work,” Vancore told the News Service.

“The Democrats almost bragged about not going door to door, saying, ‘We’re not going to do that, COVID, blah blah blah blah blah,’ and it came to bear on Election Day,” he said.

Democrats’ losses might be hardest felt in the state Senate, where they had hoped to pick up two open seats to chip away at the GOP’s 23-17 advantage.

Instead, Democrats failed to capture either race and could be facing the loss of an incumbent. Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, trailed Republican Ileana Garcia by 21 votes as ballots continued to be counted Wednesday afternoon.

Republicans also ousted U.S. House members Donna Shalala and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in South Florida.

“These are races that we should have had a good shot of winning, and we didn’t,” Eskamani said.

–Dara Kam, News Service of Florida, and FlaglerLive

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
You and your neighbors collectively read our articles about 25,000 times each day (that's not a typo) with up to 65,000 daily reads during emergencies like hurricanes. Flagler County residents rely on FlaglerLive for essential, bold and analytical journalism that cannot be found anywhere else. But we depend on your support. Please join our December fund drive! If you donate the cost of a scoop of ice cream, you will be helping us continue to provide comprehensive local news and honest, serious journalism for our community. If you can donate more or become a monthly donor, even better. Donations are tax deductible since FlaglerLive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donate by clicking anywhere in this box. Think of it as buying a scoop, in every sense of the term!  
All donors' identities are kept confidential and anonymous.
   

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. tulip says

    November 6, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Well it sure looks like Trump won some battles , but lost the war, according to today’s (11/6/2020. It will be great not to see Trump’s face on tv and hearing the derogatory drone of Trump lying, dividing the country, mean, ccon artist etc. He called Biden sleepy Joe. Well, granted Biden is not as energetic as Trump, but he is a gentleman and genuinely cares about people and a whole lot calmer. Like the ant, he was methodically persistent and focused in getting his job done and not getting sidetracked by other things, but like the ant who built anthill colony, Biden has successfully built himself the job of President of the USA at his own steady well thought out pace.

    Reply
  2. Jane Gentile-Youd says

    November 6, 2020 at 3:53 pm

    What ever happened to considering individual candidates, what they have accomplished ( if incumbent) and what they stand for as the most important criteria in making our decision who to vote for in each separate respective ‘race’?
    Do those like me – who cast votes for Republican, Democrat and NPA candidates have any standing anymore?
    Are we now obligated to either be ALL Red or ALL Blue. What about the issues coning first?
    Perfect word ‘Race’ – ‘Election’ is a dying word. The only thing missing are the actual racetracks- especially the ones that take 5, 10, 15 days to decide the winner…
    Very sad and very frightening. The world must be laughing at us – all of us.
    How do you all see it?

    Reply
  3. marlee says

    November 7, 2020 at 4:55 am

    Dems shouldn’t beat themselves up.
    What I see are more people who believe in Trumpism are moving to Florida.
    Figure out what Trumpism is all about.
    You will have your answer!

    Reply
    • Steve says

      November 9, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      Lets start with Racism lying cheating fraud disinformation continuos aattacks on others baseless conspiracy theories projection deny deflect accuse and loyalty to the one and only master of deception Donnie. Howd i do?

      Reply
  4. LetThemEatCake says

    November 7, 2020 at 5:49 pm

    I will say this, a modified version of what a professor told the great Ruth Bader Ginsberg: Run by the climate and not the weather. A professor remarked one day to RBG, “Rule by the climate and not the weather,” which is what she used when arguing for equality on the basis of sex. Similarly, what works in progressive NY, Philly, NJ, won’t work in OK or MS or even FL. The AOC’s of the world need to understand that, progressive policies work in progressive areas but you can’t force a moderate or a conservative Democrat to see that point of view so you need compromise. Yes, the Democratic Party is moving toward progressive ideals but that’s the weather. The climate says slow and steady, with a mixture of policy ideas to appeal to a range of Democrats. People need to come to these ideas “themselves” with a little guidance. It will take time. It took me ten years to get on board with some liberal policies and I’m a 90s kid so I’m not that set in my ways but I got there, on my terms. If I could so can many others. Sometimes people just need their concerns listened to and then have someone explain what the Democratic Party can do to help that become a reality.

    Reply
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents
  • grand living realty

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • Laurel on DeSantis from Governor’s Mansion to Presidential Run
  • Mrs. M on Flagler Sheriff’s Sgt. Breckwoldt, In Charge of Narcotics Unit, at Center of Abuse of Power Allegation
  • Michael Cocchiola on Palm Coast’s Darryl Boyer, Running for Renner’s Seat, Appears on Fox & Friends to Talk Trump/DeSantis
  • Laurel on Palm Coast Fines Waste Pro $125 For Every Recycling Bins It’s Taking Back and Threatens Litigation
  • Laurel on The Supreme Court Just Plundered Wetlands Protection
  • Jim on Palm Coast Fines Waste Pro $125 For Every Recycling Bins It’s Taking Back and Threatens Litigation
  • Atwp on Palm Coast’s Darryl Boyer, Running for Renner’s Seat, Appears on Fox & Friends to Talk Trump/DeSantis
  • Laurel on Palm Coast’s Darryl Boyer, Running for Renner’s Seat, Appears on Fox & Friends to Talk Trump/DeSantis
  • Laurel on The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, May 27, 2023
  • Laurel on He Was Convinced the School Board Was Pushing “Transgender BS.” He Was Arrested. And Emboldened.
  • Brian on Palm Coast Fines Waste Pro $125 For Every Recycling Bins It’s Taking Back and Threatens Litigation
  • Brian on Palm Coast Fines Waste Pro $125 For Every Recycling Bins It’s Taking Back and Threatens Litigation
  • JimBob on He Was Convinced the School Board Was Pushing “Transgender BS.” He Was Arrested. And Emboldened.
  • Deborah Coffey on The Supreme Court Just Plundered Wetlands Protection
  • Deborah Coffey on The Supreme Court Just Plundered Wetlands Protection
  • JOE D on He Was Convinced the School Board Was Pushing “Transgender BS.” He Was Arrested. And Emboldened.

Log in