Sunshine State Republicans blew past a key milestone and are now touting a 1 million voter registration advantage over Democrats.
The achievement announced by the GOP Sunday caps off a stunning transformation for a once quintessential battleground state where Democrats previously long held the advantage.
“Our success goes beyond just numbers,” Florida state GOP Chairman Evan Power said in a statement. “It’s about a vision to make Florida the beacon of freedom for the rest of the country.”
In just 2018, Democrats had more than 250,000 more registered voters than Republicans, according to the Florida Division of Elections.
Registered Republicans eclipsed them in late 2021, amid the party’s growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As recently as 2018, Republicans had 5.26 million registered voters to the Democrats’ 4.3 million, per the FDE. There are 13.4 million registered voters in Florida.
Republicans across the state hailed the milestone Sunday.
“Six years ago, registered Democrats outnumbered registered Republicans by almost 300,000 — and Florida had never had more registered Republicans than Democrats in its history,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X.
“Now, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 1 million voters, which is a sea change that few thought possible (and contrary to the many predictions that FL would become a blue state). Leadership matters. Bold colors, not pale pastels.”
DeSantis barely won the 2018 race for governor, 49.6% to 49.2%. Then during his 2022 reelection campaign, he easily cruised to victory 59.4% to 40%, outshining Republicans nationally that year who underperformed expectations of a red wave.
The Florida GOP tied its voter registration feat to major Republicans in the state including DeSantis, Trump and Attorney General Ashley Moody.
Despite the drubbing of 2022, Florida Democrats have put on an optimistic face about their chances of breaking through in the Sunshine State.
They’ve poured resources into former Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell’s (D-Fla.) challenge against Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.). Prior to dropping out, President Biden suggested he could win in Florida.
“Here in Florida, you’ve had a real dose of ‘Trump-ism,’” Biden said during a fundraiser back in January, per a White House transcript.
“We have to organize, mobilize the vote. I think we can win Florida. I think the Democrats can win in Florida.”
Biden, 81, lost Florida to former President Donald Trump 47.9% to 51.2% back in 2020. The last Democrat to carry the state was former President Barack Obama in 2012.
One of the issues Democrats are hoping could be a boost in Florida is abortion, which is set to be on the ballot for a referendum in the Nov. 5 election.
Voters in the state will decide whether they want to enshrine abortion rights into the state constitution and override the state’s ban on the procedure after six weeks of gestation, with a few carveouts in place.
To succeed, the referendum needs 60% of the vote. Other red states such as Ohio and Kansas have seen voters turn out in droves to support abortion rights.
