Official Statement: Florida's 2026 Midterm Elections

Yesterday, voters across the country sent a clear message about the direction of our nation. The shift in control of both chambers of Congress reflects a growing rejection of the divisive policies and reckless governance of the Trump administration. It also serves as a reminder that the American people still have the power to demand accountability and change through the ballot box.

Here in Florida, the results are more complicated. The election of Byron Donalds as our state's first Black governor is undoubtedly historic. But while his election makes history, in many respects, it also represents a continuation of the history Floridians have experienced for far too long. Governor-elect Donalds has pledged to continue the policies of his predecessor, policies that have weakened voting rights, undermined public education, and disproportionately impacted Black communities. We cannot ignore the significance of this historic milestone, but neither can we ignore the history of policies his administration has promised to carry forward. Making history is one thing. Changing the course of history is another.

We also fell short of making history with the election of Angie Nixon as Florida's first Black United States senator. But Angie's candidacy was about more than winning an election. From community organizer to statewide candidate, she showed young Black children across Florida that they, too, can aspire to the highest levels of public service. Her campaign energized voters and helped build momentum for victories further down the ballot. Unfortunately, it also exposed the shortcomings of a political infrastructure, including the Florida Democratic Party, that failed to provide the support and investment necessary to give her a real opportunity to win.

Instead, Florida elected a U.S. senator and attorney general both tied to the controversy surrounding $10 million intended to benefit vulnerable children, and an attorney general who declared more than 80 laws promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion invalid and has demonstrated a willingness to use the power of his office against political opponents. 

Florida entered this election with a Republican voter registration advantage of nearly 1.5 million voters, a seismic mountain to overcome. Yet, despite those odds, we saw competitive statewide races and meaningful victories that helped break the Republican supermajorities in the Florida Legislature. That shift creates new opportunities for accountability, collaboration, and progress on the issues that matter to our communities and we should be proud of that. 

We have been here before. In 2018, Ron DeSantis won by fewer than 32,000 votes, and instead of doubling down, too many national institutions pulled back from Florida. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake.

The takeaway from this election should not be that Florida is beyond reach. It should be that we have more work to do.

We must organize earlier, invest more, strengthen voter education, and remain engaged with communities long after Election Day. We cannot expect different results if we continue approaching Florida with the same short-term strategies and inadequate resources.

Florida is not simply a red state. It is an underorganized and underinvested state. The opportunity to build something different is right in front of us. What we need now is the willingness to make the investment and commitment necessary to get it done.

Florida is worth fighting for, and we have no intention of giving up on it.