Former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D) is seeking the Florida Democratic Party Chair. After it was reported last week that Democrats wanted Fried as the Florida Democratic Party chair, the former gubernatorial candidate has now announced that she will run for the position.
Fried vacated the Agriculture Commissioner position to run for Florida Governor. However, Fried was defeated by Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D) in the primary.
Since being defeated, Fried had reaffirmed her stance of wanting to help Democrats defeat Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) and Republicans in the sunshine state. Now, Fried enters a race with four other Democrats that will determine the future of Florida's Democratic Party.
Fried took part in an afternoon call on Sunday with an estimated 60 Democrats, announcing her intention to run for the position and urging for support.
"My decision is not one made lightly," Fried commented to POLITICO's Florida Playbook. "It comes after months of listening to friends, advisors and Democrats across the state. Florida Democratic Party Chair was not the path I had originally envisioned for myself, but too much is at stake to sit on the sidelines - from women's rights, economic opportunity and climate change to affording housing, protecting our democracy and education," she added.
Also vying for the position is Florida state Senator Annette Taddeo (D), who unsuccessfully ran against both Fried and Crist in the Democratic primary. Taddeo has already amassed a number of endorsements from prominent Democrats in the state like Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D), Darren Soto (D) and Anna Eskamani (D) along with endorsements from other leaders like Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
Some in the party however have sought different leadership, and they joined forces to send a letter to Fried, asking her to join the race.
The race for the position comes after Mayor Manny Diaz (D) resigned from the position after the 2022 election.
Fried commented that Democrats will "rededicate ourselves to voter registration, training and growing our progressive coalitions. I am determined to rebuild the trust of national committees and I will dedicate the full weight of the party to qualify candidate recruitment and to reforming our antiquated weighted voted system and bylaws which too often exclude rather than include."
Fried originally told The Floridian that she would not seek to lead her political party, but has since changed her mind.
