After getting thrashed at the ballot box in Tuesday’s election, Florida Democrats are looking to rebuild for 2016 when there will be a presidential race and a U.S. Senate race.
Despite former Gov. Charlie Crist going down to defeat, none of her party’s other Florida Cabinet candidates even coming close to beating Republicans and losing seats in the Florida House, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant insisted her “bench is stronger” after the elections.
Tant sent out an email on Wednesday night to supporters admitting “last night’s results weren’t what we’d hoped for” but they “will never stop fighting for the people of Florida.”
“Charlie Crist and Annette Taddeo ran a campaign of optimism and compassion for the people of Florida,” Tant wrote. “Against the most difficult challenges, for the most important reasons, Charlie and his team worked their hearts out. I’m so proud of them — and so is every single Florida Democrat.
“But Florida Democrats aren’t resting,” Tant added. “Our bench is stronger today, with fresh faces to meet tomorrow’s challenges. We’re not giving up the fight, because the stakes are too high.”
Party Vice Chairman Alan Clendenin also tried to rally the troops after Tuesday’s results came in, emailing supporters and urging them to work for the future.
Talking to the Associated Press this week, former state Sen. Dan Gelber, who was closely tied to the Crist campaign, pointed toward possible future candidates for statewide office, including Gwen Graham who beat U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla. in a rare bright spot for Democrats. Gelber also pointed to mayors, including Alvin Brown of Jacksonville, Bob Buckhorn of Tampa, Buddy Dyer of Orlando and Jack Seiler of Fort Lauderdale, as possible future candidates.
But another Florida Democrat is also getting some attention as a future star and his team trumpeted his victory at the polls on Tuesday.
Despite representing a district where Republicans outnumber the Democrats, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., routed former state Rep. Carl Domino for a second term in Congress, beating him 60 percent to 40 percent.
Murphy’s team released a memo on Wednesday praising their candidates as a “prolific fundraiser” who was able to overcome Domino pouring $1 million from his own accounts into the campaign.
The Murphy team also noted they “ran a total of 13 ads, all of which were positive, highlighting his independent leadership and focus on local issues” while Murphy “did not mention his opponent’s name in a single spot.”
The Murphy campaign also noted that their candidate did far better than other Democrats in that Republican area.
“Murphy won all three counties in Florida’s 18th District,” the Murphy campaign noted. “He carried the Palm Beach County portion with 58 percent, St. Lucie County with 65 percent, and Martin County with 55 percent. Murphy became the first Democrat in a U.S. House race to carry Martin County in decades and the first in any federal race since Sen. Bill Nelson did so in 2006. Martin County is the 10th most Republican county in the state of Florida.”
Murphy’s team also noted he got 60 percent in the district while Crist garnered 46 percent. Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass, beat out President Barack Obama in the district back in the 2012 presidential election — a fact Murphy’s campaign was quick to note.
“Congressman Murphy was one of just nine Democrats nationwide to win in a district that voted for Mitt Romney over President Obama,” Murphy’s campaign pointed out. “Of these nine members, Murphy is one of only three remaining after 2014.”
Murphy also drew the praise of a former Republican presidential candidate this week.
No Labels, a group trying to claim the political middle and calling for bipartisanship, pointed to Murphy’s big win as a sign of optimism. Murphy drew the notice of former Gov. Jon Huntsman, R-Utah, the co-chairman of No Labels.
”Problem solvers are going to set the tone in the 114th Congress,” Huntsman said on Wednesday. “With the end of the divisive nature of an election season comes a fresh start and real opportunities to solve some of the nation’s most pressing problems. We’re looking forward to working with members of Congress like Murphy as part of a growing, bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to take on the issues that we know have consensus, like immigration and tax reform.”
Huntsman worked for President Barack Obama as ambassador to China. In 2012, Huntsman ran for the Republican presidential nomination, taking third place in New Hampshire but generally failing to make a dent in the primaries.There has been speculation that Huntsman could run again in 2016, either as a Republican or independent, but he has downplayed the possibility.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
