Several of Florida’s top Democrats are getting the spotlight at the convention this week, as Democrats try to reclaim any sort of relevancy in what was once the nation's largest swing state.
Florida in recent election cycles has moved away from its swing status to become more red. It has become the center of the GOP ecosystem, with even former President Donald Trump making it his post-presidential home. Last month, Republicans from Florida were all over the Republican convention — including Gov. Ron DeSantis — and got tons of main-stage speaking spots, too.
It won't be anywhere near the same level at the DNC, and it doesn’t help that many Democrats had to forego the Chicago bash due to poor timing — Tuesday is the state’s primary. Yet there will be at least two prominent Floridians expected to hit the DNC’s main stage. One is Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former DNC chair. She'll be onstage tonight to talk about "how MAGA Republicans used Florida as a testing ground for the extreme Project 2025," her campaign said.
On the main stage later in the week will be Rep. Maxwell Frost of Orlando, the first Gen. Z member of Congress who’s part of the Harris campaign advisory board. ( Mediate first reported the Frost news .) Frost is also confirmed to be taking part in the daytime caucus and council meetings, alongside “DemPalooza” events that are open to the public.
There's some other Florida pols to be on the lookout for. State Sen. Shevrin Jones will speak on the “Chop It Up” Black male engagement panel today with DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. He’ll be on another panel Wednesday focused on LGBTQ+ representation and state policies that have sought to limit LGBTQ+ rights. Jones has been to the White House numerous times and is on the president’s board of advisers for historically Black colleges and universities.
Rep. Lois Frankel’s office said she was showcasing the party’s “Promise to Women in America” at several forums addressing pressing issues for women, from paid leave to reproductive health. She’ll also be speaking at the DNC women’s caucus event. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is also addressing Florida and Georgia delegation events.
Other members of the Legislature attending include House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book, and state Sens. Tracie Davis (who’s a delegate) and Lori Berman.
Members of the Florida Democratic Party are also heading into Chicago, said chair Nikki Fried. She’s going along with senior leadership, though the campaign teams are staying behind for the primary. “It's diverse on ages, on races, on gender and different involvement — from electeds, to grassroots, to leaders in the party,” she said. “So it's a pretty eclectic group that is really reflective of who we are.”
Florida Democrats are trying to use the convention as an organizing moment. They plan to wear pink on Wednesday in support of abortion rights, with the state fighting over a proposed amendment that would wipe out DeSantis' six-week abortion ban. Voters will get their shot to weigh in on the measure in November.
And despite the state's diminished battleground status, its delegation breakfast remains a big draw. This morning’s featured a long lineup that included Fried, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pitzker and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. National Democrats want to keep an eye on the Sunshine State — both because it might one day reclaim its swing state glory, and because of its huge primary delegate haul in 2028 and beyond.
A version of this story first appeared in Florida Playbook. Sign up here to receive the Sunshine State's must-read newsletter every weekday.
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