MIAMI — Florida Republicans are determined not to rest on their laurels after the GOP walloped Democrats during last year's state elections.
"But after DeSantis's nearly 20 point reelection victory and continued increases in GOP registration — they have gone from about 200,000 voters down to about 600,000 voters up in the past couple of years — it will be interesting to see how Democratic candidates and the Democratic Party treat Florida — will they invest time and money? — and how Florida votes," he said.
"Our leaders at the state capitol need to be mindful of that," he said of complacency."But I also feel that Florida is now going through a major influx of people like it did decades ago. And people come from different places where they don't share the same perspective. So there is, I won't say a risk, but a scenario where, maybe not in this cycle, but a couple cycles later, you're going to be back to a purple state.
For University of South Florida government professor emeritus Darryl Paulson, Florida Democrats have become"lost in the wilderness," particularly after 2022. But Paulson had a warning regarding the prospect of Republican infighting, with Sen. Rick Scott facing a primary opponent who has promised to spend $30 million of his own money against him. Scott will most likely encounter former Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in 2024.