FL Democrats Launch Historic 'Blue Shift Florida'

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Florida Democrats made history this week with the announcement of their latest project, "Blue Shift Florida." The plan could play a critical role in impacting state politics in Florida for years to come.

Blue Shift Florida is a statewide effort that has exhausted $15 million to get off the ground running. The organization represents the Florida Democratic Party’s first-ever statewide coordinated campaign. With record investments in organizing, voter registration, voter protection, and data infrastructure, Blue Shift Florida has promised to build the foundation for Democratic unity, and institutionalize our vision to build a Democratic Party that can compete and win in Florida in 2022.

"Nothing like this has ever been done in Florida," said Democrat Party Chairman Manny Diaz, "The record investments that we are making are part of a long-term strategy to unite and mobilize all Florida Democrats. Blue Shift will build the foundation to institutionalize unity among all our candidates, county party organizations and stakeholders, year-round work and staffing during on and off years, develop a joint strategy and budget, and foster a team organizational approach where all participants assume responsibility and benefit together."

The organization has caught so much attention that even nationally recognized politicians are coming out in support of the effort. Gubernatorial candidate and current US Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL) has rallied in support of the cause, "Elections in Florida are about turnout, reaching voters in every corner of our Sunshine State. Blue Shift marks the earliest start to a coordinated Democratic statewide effort, ever. United, we will run the most coordinated field campaign Florida has ever seen, win up and down the ballot, and prove that this remains the most competitive swing state in the country."

"Florida Democrats are united in battling the barbaric Republican policies that punish communities of color, women, LGBTQ+ families, and children. We will achieve this by rallying behind a Blue Shift Florida grassroots campaign that competes across the state with major investments in voter registration and protection efforts to win in 2022 and beyond," stated Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. "While Republicans strip women of their reproductive rights and ignore families' kitchen table needs, Democrats fight to lower costs, tackle climate change, keep the pandemic at bay and create high-paying jobs. Blue Shift Florida will deliver that winning message throughout our election season."

Senate Minority leader and potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate Lauren Book believes the new Democrat Party plan will "pave the way for those winning Democratic messages to reach voters."

"As Republicans continue their efforts to strip Floridians of our rights and freedoms, Democrats are uniting, organizing and making record investments to build a solid foundation for victory. Florida Democrats fight every day to provide economic relief to Floridians struggling with the growing affordability crisis, to expand Medicaid, fully fund public schools, keep our communities safe, promote equality, and protect women's reproductive rights. Blue Shift Florida will pave the way for those winning Democratic messages to reach voters, motivating them to the ballot box in 2022 and beyond," stated Leader Book.

Blue Shift will be funded with contributions from the Florida Democratic Party, U.S. Senate candidate Val Demings, the campaigns of gubernatorial candidates Charlie Crist, Nikki Fried, and Annette Taddeo, the leadership committees for Florida Senate Democrats and Florida House Democrats, the campaigns of Cabinet candidates, labor unions, and other state and nationally affiliated organization.

Jim McCool

Jim is a graduate of Florida State University where he studied Political Science, Religion and Criminology. He has been a reporter for the Floridian since January of 2021 and will start law school in 2024.