Progressive group aims to turn Florida House blue; GOP says 'no chance'

A progressive organization announced Thursday that it will target as many as 21 districts — including one in south Palm Beach County — in an effort to flip the Florida House to a Democratic majority in 2020.

If Swing Left is successful, it would mark a generational change in Florida government, and a crucial one for post-2020 Census redrawing of congressional and state legislative districts.

“After 2020 redistricting will happen and we also know Florida will likely pick up about two congressional seats, which really raises the stakes in terms of the importance of flipping the state legislature, or at least the state house,” said Swing Left political analyst Ryan Quinn.

He said the group has spotted 11 seats held by GOP lawmakers in districts that were won by 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. In addition, he said there are another 10 districts occupied by Republicans who won their posts in 2018 by slim margins, fewer than five points.

The latter group includes House District 89 in the Delray Beach area. That seat is held by state Rep. Mike Caruso, a Republican who won the post in 2018 by 32 votes.

“We see a plausible and very clear path to a majority in the state House,” Quinn said. “After 2018 we saw there is an appetite for a change in Florida.”

Swing Left’s plans were briskly dismissed by Joe Gruters, a state lawmaker who is also chairman of the Florida Republican Party.

“No chance. Zero percent,” he said. “We had two decades of Republican leadership in Tallahassee and the results have proven to be very successful for the state.”

Gruters said the GOP record of the “lowest unemployment ever” and a popular governor is unbeatable.

“Floridians across the state support the policies that have been pushed by the Republican legislature, sound fiscal policies and just a steady and balanced hand overall,” he said.

Gruters, in fact, said the GOP is looking to increase its margin in the state House and maybe the Senate, the chamber in which he represents a Sarasota district.

He said the Republican lawmakers designated to lead the Senate in 2021, Wilton Simpson from Spring Hill, and House, Chris Sprowls from Clearwater, have helped raise a combined $20 million for campaign coffers.


https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200116/progressive-group-aims-to-turn-florida-house-blue-gop-says-rsquono-chancersquo