Florida Democrats head into their marquee “Leadership Blue” weekend seeking direction and unity as internal power struggles and fading influence cast a long shadow over the party’s future.
Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), both seen as possible 2028 presidential contenders, will headline the gala on Saturday, highlighting the party’s push to reenergize Florida Democrats and recalibrate at the Florida Democratic Party’s largest annual fundraising and strategy event.
Beshear stands out as one of the rare Democrats to win and hold office in a Republican state. He secured a second term in Kentucky in 2023 with broad bipartisan appeal.
“Gov. Beshear is living proof that the right leader with the right message can break through partisan politics in the South,” Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said in a statement. “His steady, principled leadership is an inspiration to red state Democrats everywhere.”
The “red” acknowledgment is notable as Florida was once considered a pivotal swing state, but it has steadily shifted toward the GOP in recent years. Democrats have endured a string of major defeats, from Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) winning reelection by nearly 20 points in 2022 to Donald Trump’s landmark 2024 win, when he became the first Republican to carry Miami-Dade County since 1988.
“Beshear is a great person for our party to be featuring right now, but I’m still unsure if it will lift our spirits here,” said a Democratic strategist based in Miami, speaking on the condition of anonymity to reflect candidly on the situation. “The state party is a hot mess and the morale is pretty bleak,” the person said.
In late April, Florida Democrats faced a startling shake-up when former Republican congressman and outspoken Trump critic David Jolly announced his switch to the Democratic Party and his plans to run for governor. Shortly thereafter, Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo, who is launching a 2026 gubernatorial campaign, declared the party “dead” in the state and changed his registration to independent.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) has already announced his candidacy on the Republican side of the aisle, while multiple other candidates, including the governor’s wife, Casey DeSantis, are rumored to be running as well.
Once viewed as a leading contender on the national stage, Florida’s Democratic Party now grapples with back-to-back disappointing election results, scarce financial resources, and internal disagreements about how to regain relevance in the state.
“As much as state Democrats are trying to spin Pizzo’s departure as a reflection of his own self interests, it’s also an indication that the Democratic Party brand is one that no one in Florida wants to endorse,” said a former chief of staff to a Florida Democratic member of the House of Representatives. “I just don’t know how they recover after losing so much ground.”
A major source of frustration among Democrats in the Sunshine State is the state party’s ineffective efforts to register voters, especially as Republicans built a 1.2 million voter lead.
In 2023, Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature passed a law banning third-party groups from registering voters. Since the law’s implementation, Democratic voter registration has slowed dramatically, widening the GOP’s lead and compounding organizational struggles.
“It’s truly a missed opportunity. The party should have taken legal action against the legislature’s restrictions on third-party groups assisting with voter registration,” the Democratic strategist said. ”That’s what an effective party does.”
The strategist also highlighted the substantial funds the party spent in two April congressional special elections. Although Democrats lost both races, competing for seats formerly held by GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz and Michael Waltz in reliably Republican districts, by 15 points, the results were ultimately viewed as a relative overachievement.
“The fact that this money wasn’t used to invest in voter registration infrastructure and messaging is just malpractice. Instead, we have the party patting themselves on the back for a 15-point loss. It’s an absolute joke,” the strategist added.
With roughly 1,000 attendees expected, the weekend’s fundraiser will offer an early look at the Florida Democratic Party’s 2025 strategy, which includes a multimillion-dollar push to hire community-based organizers, boost vote-by-mail participation, grow the Democratic voter base, and identify strong candidates to run for office, according to reporting from Politico.
All eyes will be on Josh Weil, who has announced his candidacy in the state’s special Senate election, aiming to unseat incumbent Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL). Weil, a schoolteacher, previously ran in a special House election earlier this year following Waltz’s departure to join the Trump administration. Despite raising approximately $10 million in that race, Weil was defeated by now-Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL).
“We have to build back into every corner of the state and be a party for every Floridian,” Weil said, speaking to Politico.
FLORIDA DEMOCRAT JOSH WEIL, WHO GAVE THE PARTY HOPE IN SPECIAL ELECTION, LAUNCHING SENATE BID
Florida Democrats and party strategists conveyed concerns that much of the focus has been rooted in the belief that Trump’s popularity would eventually unravel under the weight of his own policies.
“There’s this expectation that tariffs will spark economic backlash and seniors will see dwindling retirement savings, and while that could happen, it’s not the way Democrats will win back the state,” the Democratic strategist said.
“We need to figure out what it is that we are for, instead of focusing solely on who and what we are against.”