The Florida Democrat Party (FDP) announced the hiring of seven regional field directors in preparation for the 2022 election cycle.
As reported by Florida Politics, Democrats will be looking to capitalize on grassroots organizing and, they say, will hope to “get a head start on high-profile 2022 contests.”
“The Florida Democratic Party is assembling a strong, battle-tested team that knows what has to be done to flip Florida blue. While it is not going to be easy, we are building a team that is ready for the challenge,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz. “With these hires, we are hitting the ground running and building the long term infrastructure and organizing apparatus that we need to defeat Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio and elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”
Florida Democratic Party Executive Director Marcus Dixon continued by saying this group of new hires is going to help “hold Republicans accountable” and add to the momentum Democrats are saying they are hoping to build on.
“I’m excited to have this caliber of talent committed to helping us turn Florida blue by focusing on registering voters, grassroots organizing that builds and rebuilds relationships with members of the community, holding Republicans accountable, and advocating for Democratic values,” said Dixon. “These hires show our clear commitment to creating the strongest and most effective state party in recent history before the 2022 elections.”
Democrats have been reeling in Florida for more than two decades, currently only holding one statewide election post, held by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. Fried announced her intentions to knock off Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in her June 1 gubernatorial announcement.
However, Fried will first have to beat U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist (D-10), who is also running for governor, and previously served one term as a Republican governor for Florida from 2007 to 2011.
Fried and Crist will be facing a vast uphill climb in fundraising with DeSantis’ war chest totaling around $40 million. Just earlier this year, in March, NPR ran a story about the FDP entitled, “The Florida Democratic Party Has a Problem: It’s Broke And Disorganized.” Additionally, the FDP has been previously described as “cash-strapped” and left some employees “unable to pay medical bills.”
The field directors hired by the FDP can be viewed on the party’s website.
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at the Florida Capital Star and the Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Background Photo “Florida Capitol” by DXR. CC BY-SA 4.0.
