Fentrice Driskell lands trove of labor, environmental group endorsements

House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell is rolling out a new round of endorsements in her race for Senate District 16.

The most significant is from the Florida AFL-CIO, one of the state’s largest and most impactful labor unions, representing about 1 million union members across a network of 500 local unions.

The group tends to favor Democratic candidates. Driskell faces fellow Democrat Michele Rayner, a member of her current House caucus, in an open Primary this August, so the group’s support for Driskell over Rayner is particularly notable.

In addition to the statewide AFL-CIO, the West Central Florida Labor Council, one of its local chapters, is also endorsing Driskell.

Other union backing comes from Tampa Firefighters local 754, the Suncoast Police Benevolent Association and the Teamsters Local Union 79.

The Suncoast Sierra Club is also backing Rayner.

Driskell and Rayner are running to replace Sen. Darryl Rouson, who is leaving office due to term limits.

The August Primary for SD 16 will be open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation, because no Republican entered the race. The seat is heavily Democratic, with 47% of the district’s voters registered to the Democratic Party, compared to just 23% who are Republicans.

Driskell’s endorsements check a few different boxes for her campaign. Where most of them give leftist voters something to support — with union and environmental nods — the Suncoast PBA could offer incentive for the district’s Republicans to support Driskell over Rayner.

Driskell also has a big fundraising advantage in the race, with nearly $190,000 raised to her official campaign account this cycle, compared to just shy of $87,000 for Rayner.

Driskell also has a little over $335,000 on hand in two affiliated political committees, Fentrice for Florida PC and How We All Win. Rayner, meanwhile, only has about $42,000 available in her affiliated political committee, Florida Always and Forever Ours, a name chosen carefully to create a fun acronym: FAFO.

Despite the funding advantage, polling has suggested a potentially close race. A poll taken in mid-May found Rayner narrowly leading Driskell at 26% support to 22%, but with a significant share of voters (41%) still on the fence. And the poll tested messaging in the race, finding Driskell’s support increasing as biographical information was given.

It’s worth noting that message-testing polls should not be used as an exclusive measure of a candidate’s position in a race because biographical information is not given at the ballot box.

A previous poll, taken in April, found Rayner with a larger lead, at 31% to 19%. But that poll was taken only among Democrats. Its numbers are largely moot with the Primary now open to Republican voters. The more recent poll was taken among all voters, offering a more precise snapshot of voter sentiment in the Tampa Bay area-based district.

Driskell entered the contest with strong support from party leadership and a fundraising network capable of sustaining a long campaign. Rayner, a civil rights lawyer with deep ties to progressive activists, will likely continue consolidating support from the party’s left flank. Her grassroots ties in the community are also likely to mobilize voters on her behalf.