Florida Democratic Party: We Want Black and Progressive Votes but Not Their Candidates
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In 2018 Florida Democrats will have the opportunity to nominate two Afro-Americans to statewide offices: Mayor Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee for governor and State Rep. Sean Shaw for attorney general. Both are exceptional candidates.
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The race for governor is clearcut: Gillum, a compelling orator and bona fide Democrat, stands out in a four-way race that includes former Miami Beach mayor Philip Levine, former Congresswoman Gwen Graham, and entrepreneur Chris King.
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There are 3.4 million blacks in Florida, nearly 17 percent of the population. They vote overwhelmingly Democratic and closely align with the progressive wing.
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The charismatic Gillum gives the Democratic party its best chance to win the governorship which has been in Republican hands for 20 years. He would motivate voters who normally shun the polls in off-year elections. It also offers the Florda Democratic party to right past wrongs and truly represent its constituency.
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The fallacious notion, long perpetrated by the party apparatus, that a Democrat needs to be a centrist marginalizes black candidates and white progressives. That’s been the modus operandi under the last five party chairpersons who are either elitists (Alison Tant and Stephen Bittel), conservative (Rod Smith), or self-serving (Scott Mattox and Karen Thurman).
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All shared one trait: they were
supremely ineffective.
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Succeeding the disgraced Bittel is Terrie Rizzo who headed the Palm Beach Democrats. She defeated Stacy Patel who was backed by progressives.
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Rizzo says she will “reach out” to progressives. Sorry, lady, that’s not enough. White progressive and black voters will not be voting for Republican Lite candidates in this election cycle or any future one for that matter.
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Then there are hundreds of thousands of progressives registered as No Party Affiliation. They, too, don’t buy into the failed centrist right philosophy of
the state party.
