Democrats’ 2024 Nightmare Confirmed by Voter Registration Data.

The Florida Democratic Party’s Voter Registration Problem is Getting Worse

The latest data from the Florida Department of State shows that Republicans now outnumber Democrats in the state by over 470,000 voters. This is a significant shift, as the GOP only took the lead in registration in the former purple state in 2021.

What’s Causing the Widening Gap?

The decline in registered Florida Democrats is the primary reason for the widening gap. The party’s registration rolls swelled in advance of the 2020 presidential election, only to consistently decline in the following years. According to Florida’s Voice, the Florida Democratic Party has lost a whopping 134,583 voters since late 2022.

Florida Republicans have lost voters since last year as well, but only a fraction of what the opposition has lost. Only about 18,000 voters were removed from the GOP rolls in the same timeframe. The GOP’s registration advantage in the Sunshine State has escalated this year, growing by over 17,000 in April alone.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

The historic GOP success in Florida has led many to identify the party’s leader, Governor Ron DeSantis, as the agent of a political transformation in a historically competitive swing state. DeSantis described the Florida Democratic Party as a “dead, rotten carcass” in one February interview.

The growing Republican registration advantage has led some to count on Florida as a reliably red state in the 2024 presidential election. Those predictions will likely solidify if DeSantis throws his hat in the ring for the GOP presidential nomination, as he is expected to do soon.

Is There Hope for Democrats in Florida?

Despite the worsening registration deficit, the reports of the Florida Democratic Party’s demise may be premature. Democrat Donna Deegan flipped the mayoralty of Jacksonville this week, taking control of a city that was previously the largest (in terms of municipal population) held by Republicans in the nation. However, the GOP maintains control of both houses of Florida’s state legislature.

Conclusion

The latest voter registration data confirms Democrats’ worst nightmare has come true for 2024. The Florida Democratic Party’s registration problem is getting worse, and the GOP’s advantage is growing. It remains to be seen if Democrats can turn the tide in the coming years.

• Republicans now outnumber Democrats in Florida by over 470,000 voters
• The decline in registered Florida Democrats is the primary reason for the widening gap
• The historic GOP success in Florida has led many to identify Governor Ron DeSantis as the agent of a political transformation
• Democrat Donna Deegan flipped the mayoralty of Jacksonville this week, but the GOP maintains control of both houses of Florida’s state legislature

Stay tuned for updates on the political landscape in Florida as we approach the 2024 presidential election.