Politics

Chris Mitchell: Democrats, this is not how we win

Published

3 days ago

March 30, 2025

I tried my best to stay quiet.

Like many in the political world these past few weeks, I’ve watched these Special Elections in Florida’s 1st and 6th Congressional Districts unfold with a growing sense of frustration. I wanted to give the benefit of the doubt, to trust that the strategy made sense, that there was a bigger picture I wasn’t seeing.

But as we approach the final days of these races, it’s clear we have been lying to ourselves. And the cost of that delusion is too high to ignore.

Nearly $20 million has been spent on these two races, districts that Donald Trump won by overwhelming margins.

As of this writing, CD 1 shows a 19-point Republican turnout advantage and CD 6 has a 9-point GOP edge. These are not swing districts. These are not close races. And yet, every day, I see the same ads flooding social media: “We can win this. Donate now. We’re closing the gap.” When in fact, the gap is widening, not closing.

Let’s be clear: these races were never truly winnable. That’s not defeatism. That’s math. Now, I understand that this $20 million wouldn’t have been raised if not for these races. The candidates, the urgency, the fear, they all generated energy, and in turn, money.

But that’s exactly the problem.

We’re fueling a system that prioritizes emotional appeal over strategic outcomes. And while small-dollar donors give in good faith, believing their contribution might flip a seat, the only people consistently benefiting are the consultants cashing the checks.

This isn’t just poor planning. It’s donor abuse. It’s an unethical use of resources in a state that desperately needs long-term investment. Even the state party and the DNC, institutions that typically bring oversight and structure to competitive races, got swept up in the momentum.

I don’t know what internal conversations may have happened, but from the outside, it looked like no one stepped in to apply the kind of rigor or accountability we expect in viable races. And that’s not a criticism of leadership; it’s simply a hard truth about what happens when hope and hype go unchecked.

Imagine what we could have done with that $20 million. We could have launched the largest voter registration program Florida has ever seen. We could have hired and trained organizers in underserved communities. We could have built lasting infrastructure that would benefit not just one race, but every race to come.

Instead, we burned through donor dollars on campaigns that will leave nothing behind: no new voters, no stronger party infrastructure, no sustained momentum. Just grifters with a payday and a movement no stronger than it was before.

Let me be clear: I’m not accusing anyone of criminal conduct. But just because something is legal doesn’t mean it’s right. And just because a campaign exists doesn’t mean it should be used as a fundraising funnel for consultants and vendors with no long-term plan for the communities they claim to serve.

I understand the desire to fight everywhere. I understand the symbolism. But if we want to win, really win, we have to stop confusing activity with strategy. We have to be honest about what’s winnable, what’s worth building, and what actually helps us take back power.

We need to stop mistaking good intentions for good planning, and we need to stop letting consultants write checks with other people’s hope. As a consultant, I know I’m part of this system. And that’s exactly why I’m speaking up.

We should expect better from each other and demand more from the institutions and professionals who claim to fight for democracy. The party deserves better. Our donors deserve better. Our voters deserve better. And so do the candidates we recruit, people who give up their time with their families, careers, and so much more to step into the arena and run.

If we’re serious about building a real, sustainable movement in Florida or anywhere else, we have to stop chasing quick wins and start investing in lasting infrastructure.

This isn’t about giving up the fight. It’s about fighting smarter, with integrity, purpose, and accountability. We all love to say, “The stakes are too high.” Well, if that’s true, then the excuses have to stop. It’s time to act like it.

___

Chris Mitchell is a managing partner for Statecraft Digital.

The post Chris Mitchell: Democrats, this is not how we win appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..

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Politics

Donna Deegan lets Jax illegal immigration bill become law without her signature

Published

6 minutes ago

April 2, 2025

May Greene

Deegan predicts lawsuits are coming once the bill becomes law.

Jacksonville’s Democratic Mayor Donna Deegan is taking a position on the “Jacksonville Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act.”

She won’t veto it. She won’t sign it. She will denounce it.

“I want to be crystal clear. I do not believe this bill is necessary. And I will not sign it. It will become law without signature,” Deegan said.

During a press conference at City Hall, Deegan said immigrants were part of the “beautiful mosaic” of Jacksonville, and that they are “welcome” in the city.

She noted that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) would get the 25 fingerprint scanners it asked for in the bill, but that the punitive measures making immigration a “local crime” are redundant given state and federal law. She also noted that JSO has had an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2008, referring to the cooperative 287(g) deals.

She also said the bill “puts Jacksonville in a lane where it doesn’t belong” and would prompt “an expensive lawsuit.”

She won’t veto it though, saying it would sacrifice “all we have left to do over a bill that does not change anything.”

Deegan’s position comes after Republicans in Tallahassee warned her not to veto it.

Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier said “if a city official takes action to impede or prevent law enforcement from undergoing the necessary training and participating with the feds to get these people back where they came from, then I do believe the law is violated and that there will be penalties for that.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis also wanted the bill to become law.

“Great job to the City of Jacksonville in following Florida law and empowering their law enforcement to assist in the enforcement of laws against illegal immigration. I am pleased to see this follow from our work in the special session I called in January to insist that all state and local entities participate in immigration enforcement,” he posted to social media Wednesday.

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Politics

Final Senate committee OKs Gulf of America bill, ships it to Senate floor

Published

37 minutes ago

April 2, 2025

May Greene

The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee has cleared a measure (SB 608) to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, which would align the name with President Donald Trump’s executive order doing the same.

Already, Google Maps and Apple Maps have reflected the name change for U.S. users, while users in other countries see both names

“By renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, we are putting America first and honoring American greatness,” said Sen. Nick DiCeglie, the bill’s sponsor. “In communities up and down Florida’s Gulf Coast, we are incredibly prideful to say that we live in a paradise along the coast of the Gulf of America.”

The bill would change 92 statutory references in Florida law to refer to the body of water along Florida’s west coast as the Gulf of America. It cleared its first committee stop, Community Affairs, in mid-March.

An identical House version (HB 575) from Rep. Tyler Sirois is on the House special order calendar for Thursday after clearing two committees.

The legislation would comply with Trump’s Executive Order 14172, called “Restoring Names that Honor American Greatness.”

Trump ordered the federal government to “take all appropriate actions to rename as the ‘Gulf of America’ the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the State of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba in the area formerly named as the Gulf of Mexico.”

DiCeglie’s bill references the President’s directive, which says the move recognizes the “importance of the body of water to the United States.” Senate leadership is on board.

“American exceptionalism matters, and it’s important that we recognize the fact that America is the greatest country in the history of the world,” Senate President Ben Albritton said. “As patriots, we have a duty to honor our country’s greatness, and I am so thankful that President Trump has highlighted what is a fantastic opportunity to do just that and recognize the Gulf of America.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis already pushed the new name in an executive order (EO 25-13) as last month’s Winter storm approached the state.

The name change became official nationally in early February as Trump declared Feb. 9 “Gulf of America Day.”

If passed, the changes to Florida law would take effect July 1.

Sen. Joe Gruters is carrying a bill (SB 1058) in the upper chamber that would implement the name change in Florida public schools, requiring School Boards to “adopt and acquire” materials using the new name to “honor American greatness.”

It is awaiting second reading in the Senate.

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Politics

South Florida home sales prove dismal in March

Published

1 hour ago

April 2, 2025

May Greene

March home sales saw yet another slide in the South Florida market, with some counties seeing around 50% drop from a year ago.

It’s now been three straight months that single-family housing sales have plunged for Miami-Dade and Broward counties, according to the Elliman Report. Palm Beach County managed to avoid a drop in home sales in March, but just barely.

Broward was hit the worst in March. Closed signed contracts dropped 54.4% compared to March 2024. That’s a total of 217 home sales last month, down from 476 houses sold last year. The March figure was the exact same number as homes sold in February.

Home sales were nearly as ugly in Miami-Dade County. That county saw 513 signed contracts for single-family house sales, down from the 993 sales for the same time last year, or a 48.3% decline. Home sales were also down from the February’s mark of 522.

Palm Beach County didn’t see as dramatic a drop as those witnessed in Broward or Miami-Dade. But the market was by no means robust. There were 412 signed contracts for home closings in Palm Beach, up slightly from last year’s figure of 409 homes sold, or a 0.7% increase.

While the year-over-year comparison offered some glimmer of optimism, the monthly measure was not so uplifting. There were 438 homes sold in Palm Beach in February, marking a 6% drop month to month.

While the single-family home sales market is shaky in South Florida, the condo market is outright dire.

All three counties reported steep declines in March. The declines in condo sales were more profound than the single-family home market and reflect a prolonged slump, with Broward County turning in the worst performance. Condo sales plunged 67.8% year over year in March, dropping from 577 last year to 187.

Miami-Dade was nearly as bad, with a 65.8% plunge, going from 1,163 closings last year to 398.

Palm Beach County couldn’t avoid the negative side of the ledger, either. There was a 35.8% decline in condo sales in March, plummeting from 460 closings a year ago to 289.

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