Democrat Strategists Say Florida is “Slipping Away,” Donors Putting Money Elsewhere: Report

April 28, 2022 Updated 10:30 A.M. ET

FORT MYERS (FLV) – Democrat strategists told the Miami Herald that liberal grassroots groups are pulling back their efforts to sway voters in Florida. 

Liberal activists are reducing staff and scaling back voter-outreach efforts because of an unwillingness from out-of-state donors to pour resources into Florida, the Herald reports. 

Democrat strategists said efforts have shifted to other states because of Florida’s size and “recent disappointments.” They are worried the lack of donations and resources will snowball and make Democrats less competitive in future Florida elections. 

Former President Donald Trump won Florida in the 2016 Presidential election by 1.2 points and by 3.3 points in the 2020 election. 

The number of Republican registered voters also paints a picture of the gains conservatives have made in the former swing state. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday there are 120,000 more Republicans than Democrats registered to vote in Florida. 

“When I got elected governor, there were almost 300,000 more registered Democrats in the state of Florida than Republicans,” DeSantis said Monday. “Today, there are over 120,000 more registered Republicans.”

Polls show DeSantis leading Democrat opponent Charlie Crist by 8.8 points and leading Democrat opponent Nikki Fried by 12.8 points in the Governor’s race. 

“We never had more Republicans in the history of the state until I became Governor,” DeSantis said. “I think people do appreciate a free state and I think they appreciate a lot of what we’ve been able to do.”