The Democratic Party's influence in Florida has significantly dwindled, and the party wants to ensure it's not completely wiped out. To counter the growing influence of Republicans, the Democratic Party has launched the "Defend Our Dems" program.
The initiative was launched this week, and it seems to protect incumbent Democrats who are either currently running in closed races or for re-election.
The program will provide grassroots organizing and fundraising support from the Democratic Party for the following lawmakers ahead of the November 5th election: Rep. Darren Soto (D), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D), state Rep. Allison Tant (D), state Rep. Tom Keen (D), state Rep. Lindsay Cross (D), and state Rep. Katherine Waldron (D).
Moreover, the program will also help "defend" State Attorney candidates Monique Worrell (Circuit 9) and Andrew Warren (Circuit 13). The Democratic Party argues that both Worrell and Warren were wrongfully removed from office as an act of political retaliation by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R). Subsequently, a federal judge ruled that Governor DeSantis' decision to remove Warren violated the First Amendment.
In a statement, Democratic Party of Florida Chairwoman Nikki Fried explained that "the Defend Our Dems slate features some of the best public servants the Florida Democratic Party has to offer, and we're proud to give our support to them." “This November, we have a chance to break the Republican supermajority in the Florida legislature and make Hakeem Jeffries Speaker of the House — but to do that, we first have to protect these seats," she added.
“We also have a chance to right the wrongs of the DeSantis administration by re-electing the duly-elected State Attorneys Ron threw out in a fit of political retaliation," she continued, noting that "Monique Worrell and Andrew Warren represented their constituents faithfully and were wrongly removed from office, and Florida Democrats will do everything in our power to re-elect them on November 5.”
