By MICHAEL MOLINE , The Florida Phoenix, Nov 3, 2021. Gov. Ron DeSantis called Wednesday for new laws to make voting harder, including imposing felony penalties for “ballot harvesting,” creation of a special unit to investigate election fraud, and stricter deadlines for striking inactive voters off the rolls. The day after the Democrats lost the Virginia governor’s
By Andrew Jeong, The Washington Post, Oct 30, 2021. The University of Florida barred three faculty members from testifying for plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging a voting-restrictions law enthusiastically embraced by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), which activists say makes it harder for racial minorities to vote, in a move that raises sharp concerns about academic freedom and free
By John Kennedy, Capital Bureau, USA TODAY NETWORK—FLORIDA, October 8, 2021. TALLAHASSEE – When Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered Florida’s secretary of state to investigate Facebook, alleging it may have manipulated 2020 elections in the state, he made sure his donors didn’t miss the news. Forty-eight hours after the Republican governor dispatched Laurel Lee last month on a search for
By John Kennedy, Capital Bureau, USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA, Sept 4, 2021. TALLAHASSEE – With recent polls showing Gov. Ron DeSantis losing support among Floridians as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge, Florida Democrats sense a political opening. But DeSantis’ stumbles also are being greeted with a cold dose of reality among Democrats exiled from state leadership for more than
Editor’s note: Both Michael Grant (R) and Ben Albritton (R) are up for re-election in 2022. Currently, there are no Democratic candidates. Please consider running against them. Click HERE for more information. By Betsy Calvert, The Daily Sun Staff Writer, Sept 4, 2021. Local state legislators expect to try again in 2022 to enact a
By Fran Dance, Charlotte Dems contributing writer Port Charlotte, FL – On July 12th, US Representative Charlie Crist addressed 25 Charlotte County Democratic Party donors in a special meet and greet meeting via Zoom. He is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. Representative from Florida’s 13th congressional district, based in St. Petersburg,
By Bill Welsch, Charlotte Dems contributing writer In March 1857, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 against Dred Scott, an enslaved black man, who was seeking his freedom on the basis that his owners had moved him to a free state. The Court ruled that people of African descent “are not included, and were not intended
A Punta Gorda man is accused of conspiring to breach the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Charlotte Sun Staff Report, July 2, 2021 David Moerschel, 43, is the 18th member of the Oath Keepers organization to be arrested in connection with the riots, the Washington Post reported. He was charged with obstruction of justice/Congress, conspiracy
By Penelope Mayer, Charlotte Dems contributing writer, June 20, 2021 Currently our Precinct Captains and volunteers are engaged in a deep canvassing phone campaign with the 9000 registered Democrats who did not vote in 2020. We hope to learn why some of our Charlotte County Democrats sat out this very critical election, but in the
By Zac Anderson and John Kennedy, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, June 1, 2021 After a surprise 2018 win that made her a leading Democratic voice in Florida and a pandemic spent as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ chief antagonist, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried filed Tuesday to try to unseat the governor in 2022. Fried’s candidate filing was posted on the Florida Division of Elections website
By Zac Anderson and John Kennedy, Sarasota Herald Tribune, May 4, 2021 Nearly three decades after first winning elected office as a Republican, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist took the next big step Tuesday in his long and unusual political career by announcing a second bid for governor as a Democrat. Crist made the announcement on Twitter Tuesday
Join us for our next Englewood Democratic Club meeting held via Zoom! All you need is a computer (camera helpful, but not required), tablet, or your smart phone. We gather people across both Charlotte and Sarasota counties that make up our town of Englewood, to support environmental stewardship, accessible healthcare for all citizens, and the
By Fran Dance, Charlotte Dems Communications Committee Chair and contributing writer There are many opportunities for dynamic, viable Democratic candidates to win elected local positions, in addition to the major 2022 races for Governor, US Senator and US Representative. In 2022, these will include the Florida House seat, District 75 covering Charlotte County and the
Editor’s note: While Republicans in Tallahassee attempt to suppress Vote by Mail via SB 90, ostensibly to address election fraud; they will likely do nothing to address this alleged crime within their party. How two faced! By SAMANTHA J. GROSS and ANA CEBALLOS, Miami Herald, March 19, 2021 Florida Democrats on Friday called for Republican Sen.
Editor’s note: Total votes cast were 8,921, which was a strong turnout; attributed to an excellent get out the vote campaign by Alice and our sister Sarasota County Dems organization. Congratulations to all! This victory is an inspiration to Charlotte County Dems. We can win elections, too! By Craig Garrett, Charlotte Sun Staff Writer, March 9,
Editor’s note: SB 90 is on the Wednesday, March 10, meeting agenda of the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. This bill will limit the duration of requests for vote-by-mail ballots to all elections held within a calendar year of a request (currently 2 election cycles). It places unnecessary and unwarranted constraints on requests for mail in ballots and
By Carl Hiaasen, Miami Herald columnist. Readers may write to him at: The Miami Herald, 3511 NW 91st Ave., Miami, FL 33172. One of many historic footnotes to the tense November election was that Florida didn’t screw everything up for the rest of the country. For once, the ballot-counting here was mostly uneventful, uncontroversial and
IOn Saturday, January 9th the Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee elected new officers as well as new DNC Members. Manny Diaz (M) was selected to lead our party. Our vice-chair is Judy Mount (F), Cashmore Shaw (M) is secretary and Francine García (F) is treasurer. Congratulations to all! The new DNC members are: Sean
As a part of our mission to further connect Florida’s many Democratic groups, the Florida Organizers for Democratic Progress sent the FDP Chair candidates a questionnaire. We asked Democratic organizers around the state what they would like to know about the future Chair of Florida’s Democratic Party, and the responses from four of the candidates
Teresa Jenkins, Charlotte County Dems Chair addressed 3 questions to all 6 candidates. Below are their responses.
Editor’s Note: Since Terrie Rizzo announced she will not run for re-election, six candidates have announced their candidacy for Chair of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP). Below are the announcements by Dr. Cynthia Moore Chestnut and former Miami-Dade Mayor Mannie Diaz, followed by articles on candidates Dr. Janelle Christensen, President of the Democratic Environmental Caucus