Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

USAFRetired_Liberal

(4,167 posts)
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 10:54 AM Jun 2021

What the hell happened to Florida

The last few years Florida has seemed to take a hard right direction and it doesn’t make sense. From 1992-2016 Florida seemed to be the most purple state that voted for both Republicans and Democrats statewide and the margins were very very close.....at the same time it’s population has grown, normally when a state’s population grows it becomes bluer (Arizona, Texas, Georgia, Colorado, Virginia) and when it shrinks it becomes redder (Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan), but Florida seems to have defied that trend

61 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
What the hell happened to Florida (Original Post) USAFRetired_Liberal Jun 2021 OP
so many people there worship donald trump like a god. But, there are a lot of liberals there, too mucifer Jun 2021 #1
K&R!!! n/t RKP5637 Jun 2021 #4
It seems that America's Finest MAGAts gravitate to Florida, whether young or old. TheBlackAdder Jun 2021 #32
49.6% voted DeSantis. 49.2% voted Gillum (Democratic). Hortensis Jun 2021 #43
Gerrymandering! n/t RKP5637 Jun 2021 #2
Yep, and Texas Gov. Abbott just announced a fall special session just to walkingman Jun 2021 #7
Didn't he defund the legislature? Mad_Machine76 Jun 2021 #45
He is threatening to withhold salaries of those that walked out to stop the voter suppression walkingman Jun 2021 #52
Just because somebody is disabled Mad_Machine76 Jun 2021 #54
Statewide races are unaffected by redistricting. Nt FBaggins Jun 2021 #10
voter suppression is I'm thinking Death Sentence innacted that in FL to a t uponit7771 Jun 2021 #31
ES&S voting machines. gab13by13 Jun 2021 #3
I can seen that because Republicans are great at projection USAFRetired_Liberal Jun 2021 #6
Many of us here looked at that. The states with wide margins for democrats in the polls BComplex Jun 2021 #14
Good question. My speculation: maybe FL's growth is due to spooky3 Jun 2021 #5
NM and AZ Elessar Zappa Jun 2021 #13
Cuban, Venzuelans - RW refugees from LW governments Klaralven Jun 2021 #24
I have the same take. Was writing my post while you were posting! mnhtnbb Jun 2021 #28
But what I don't get is that if they are from those type of governments USAFRetired_Liberal Jun 2021 #34
They are opposed to the dictatorship of the proletariat, not to the dictatorship of the capitalists Klaralven Jun 2021 #42
All they need to hear is "socialism" and their heads are filled with Castro and Chavez JHB Jun 2021 #48
I've read that the Cuban population in Florida is much more conservative mnhtnbb Jun 2021 #25
That's my speculation as well. More right wing voters are moving to FL In It to Win It Jun 2021 #18
No income tax will attract more RW voters to the state Klaralven Jun 2021 #27
I think that has a lot to do with it csziggy Jun 2021 #56
I meet many newbies moving down from the North and MOMFUDSKI Jun 2021 #59
FL continues to age relative to other states FBaggins Jun 2021 #8
Except the New York/New Jersey seniors who move to Florida are generally Democratic. mnhtnbb Jun 2021 #26
They don't make up as much of FL's population as you might think FBaggins Jun 2021 #44
I assume many snowbirds voted in Florida pstokely Jun 2021 #58
Aging population? EYESORE 9001 Jun 2021 #9
Oligarchs, Batistas, and RW propaganda. moondust Jun 2021 #11
I live here. Its paradise. But my whole town are trumpers. Saoirse9 Jun 2021 #12
Is there an established dem messaging machine where you live? tia uponit7771 Jun 2021 #30
Yes there is. We have a county Democrats group. Saoirse9 Jun 2021 #33
Is the dem group able to flood at least one issue zone where you live? I'm in a backward red state uponit7771 Jun 2021 #35
I really don't know the answer to that Saoirse9 Jun 2021 #61
One factor is that Тяцмр motivated a lot of previously disengaged asshats ... Whiskeytide Jun 2021 #15
A lot of older people that tend to be more conservative? Luciferous Jun 2021 #16
I believe more right-leaning voters are moving to Florida and, to a lesser extent, left-leaning In It to Win It Jun 2021 #17
I've lived in FL since 1992 mcar Jun 2021 #19
Archconservative/fascistic Republican control of the state legislature? Hortensis Jun 2021 #20
Hispanics aren't conservative everywhere. Elessar Zappa Jun 2021 #22
Of course. And that's the point, isn't it? Hortensis Jun 2021 #37
Of course! Elessar Zappa Jun 2021 #39
Fear of dying as cbabe Jun 2021 #21
Stupidity pills in the water? nt Wicked Blue Jun 2021 #23
Bad campaigining and not speaking to Hispanic communities first with their issues. Democratic party uponit7771 Jun 2021 #29
Not speaking to them first? Mad_Machine76 Jun 2021 #46
Correct the day of the woke white dem consultant for Hispanic communities is over.... uponit7771 Jun 2021 #60
The village idiot of states. Sneederbunk Jun 2021 #36
when it comes to understanding Florida stillcool Jun 2021 #38
Their biggest industry is tourism, second only to retirees. Neither necessarily vote blue PortTack Jun 2021 #40
Here's one theory: dawg Jun 2021 #41
The last few years????? ananda Jun 2021 #47
Katherine Harris, Brooks Brothers Riots, Terri Schiavo ChubbyStar Jun 2021 #51
Exactly! ananda Jun 2021 #55
I think the problem has more to do with your premise than the state of Florida. Act_of_Reparation Jun 2021 #49
There are certain spots that are trendy for disenfranchised rw'ers. WarGamer Jun 2021 #50
I think a lot of them want to save on taxes helpisontheway Jun 2021 #53
Many people that move there are older than other states and do so for low taxes JI7 Jun 2021 #57

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
43. 49.6% voted DeSantis. 49.2% voted Gillum (Democratic).
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 01:40 PM
Jun 2021

Sure, some MAGATs are moving to FL because press on DeSantis's doings, and of course Trump's, deceives them that this is a hard-right state.

We actually know two, whom our friends update us on now and then, a pair of gay white and Hispanic guys angrily and bitterly fleeing a dark-red (!) county in socialist California for retirement in south FL, which they clearly see as a safe place where they'll be surrounded by virtuous, patriotic, MAGAT lovers like themselves.

Florida is still purple, tho, and over time more conservatives will either die or move back to their home states in their frail years than are being drawn by political passions -- and will stay. Lots of people who move to FL also discover they made a mistake and leave. I'm guessing that insane-level partisan hostility is going to become the #1 worst reason.

walkingman

(7,505 posts)
7. Yep, and Texas Gov. Abbott just announced a fall special session just to
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:00 AM
Jun 2021

deal with gerrymandering. 2022 is gonna be ugly.

walkingman

(7,505 posts)
52. He is threatening to withhold salaries of those that walked out to stop the voter suppression
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 04:05 PM
Jun 2021

bill. He is calling a special session to make sure that gets done and then another one later in the fall for gerrymandering. Our entire Texas Leadership are the personification of the tRump GOP. An absolute bunch of hillbillies. I know some people feel bad for Abbott because of his legs (that is a story in itself) but I consider him a dickless piece of shit and could care less.

USAFRetired_Liberal

(4,167 posts)
6. I can seen that because Republicans are great at projection
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 10:59 AM
Jun 2021

They cry about Dominion because they know what they do with ES&S

BComplex

(7,977 posts)
14. Many of us here looked at that. The states with wide margins for democrats in the polls
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:11 AM
Jun 2021

that had ES&S machines ended up going for the republican candidate.

Many of us wonder about that since the republicans are such masters of projection and shitfuckery.

spooky3

(34,300 posts)
5. Good question. My speculation: maybe FL's growth is due to
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 10:58 AM
Jun 2021

RW retirees moving there (less of a factor in other growing states) and an increase in Latinx population, some of whom have macho attitudes.

Elessar Zappa

(13,649 posts)
13. NM and AZ
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:11 AM
Jun 2021

have a very large amount of Hispanics and they voted almost 70% for Biden. I wonder why it’s different in Florida?

USAFRetired_Liberal

(4,167 posts)
34. But what I don't get is that if they are from those type of governments
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 12:15 PM
Jun 2021

Then they should know what political party has authoritarian tendencies....

JHB

(37,128 posts)
48. All they need to hear is "socialism" and their heads are filled with Castro and Chavez
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 03:34 PM
Jun 2021

It doesn't matter that Republicans call the kind of economy we had during the Eisenhower administration "socialist", and that Democrats are trying to make the country more like the one they fled to instead of fled from.

They hear the magic word and the button is pushed.

mnhtnbb

(31,315 posts)
25. I've read that the Cuban population in Florida is much more conservative
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:56 AM
Jun 2021

and leans right. I'm also aware of moneyed Venezuelans having moved to Florida and they are really right wing.

csziggy

(34,119 posts)
56. I think that has a lot to do with it
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 05:00 PM
Jun 2021

Retirees moving to Florida because we have no income tax, just sales and property taxes - and the property taxes have nice homestead exemptions plus the state tries to limit what the counties can charge.

Before 1970, Florida had so few Republicans that we didn't even have Republican primaries. For most races, if you wanted to have a say, you had to be registered Democratic since they were decided in the primaries. Between the backlash to the Civil Rights Act and Republicans moving into the state, in 1966 we had our first Republican governor since Reconstruction, Claude Kirk, and the number of Republicans has increased ever since.

Once Jeb Bush was elected in 1999, gerrymandering in 2000 and 2010, the legislature being controlled by Republicans, Florida has not had a fair election for over twenty years. And the Florida Democratic Party just doesn't seem to be very effective at fighting them.

MOMFUDSKI

(5,186 posts)
59. I meet many newbies moving down from the North and
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 05:47 PM
Jun 2021

MANY are RW nutjobs. These days one must have a coupla bucks to even consider moving to Florida and there you go. Just met a couple at our condo pool today from Chicago. My husband and I talked at length with them. They actually bought a condo here 15 years ago and he is now retired but she is still working. Got around to "did you get your vaccines?" and he (retired cop) said he respects the HIPPA laws (now you are insulting my intelligence) and didn't want to say. So there was the answer. We said we got ours. The wife got hers probably because of her job telling her to. I say to myself - OK, RW/copper/trumper and hope I don't run into him ever again at the pool. But I know exactly who he is and that we have ONE MORE trumper neighbor. UGH

FBaggins

(26,693 posts)
44. They don't make up as much of FL's population as you might think
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 03:12 PM
Jun 2021

and/or the ones who choose to move to FL are redder than the ones who choose to stay in NY.

NY seniors voted for Biden by four points, but FL seniors voted for Trump by ten points.

EYESORE 9001

(25,808 posts)
9. Aging population?
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:02 AM
Jun 2021
The proportion of Florida’s population that is 60 and
older is growing more rapidly than other components
of the population. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates
that 32.5 percent of Florida’s population will be 60 and
older by the year 2030, an increase of 34 percent from
2012.

https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2016-11/Florida%20Epi%20Profile%20Final.pdf

I realize that becoming more conservative with age is not a foregone conclusion, but it happens with a good deal or regularity.

Saoirse9

(3,662 posts)
12. I live here. Its paradise. But my whole town are trumpers.
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:08 AM
Jun 2021

I lost my best friend and a few other friends because of trump.

Family here (loads of cousins) are all into trump.

Heart breaking. It isn't just RWers moving here. My friends and family have lived here all of their lives.

Saoirse9

(3,662 posts)
33. Yes there is. We have a county Democrats group.
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 12:15 PM
Jun 2021

But it isn't enough to overcome the right wing mind set.

It will always boggle my mind how people can defy logic and facts to worship the Fuckface von Clownstick.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
35. Is the dem group able to flood at least one issue zone where you live? I'm in a backward red state
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 12:20 PM
Jun 2021

... with too many dem leadership can flood a zone with an defined issue.

It was this way in TX too; a mixed voting area and dems not able to flood that area with an issue.

I'm thinking maybe its money but more think its we're not on message outlets enough to do it like the GQP does.

Saoirse9

(3,662 posts)
61. I really don't know the answer to that
Sun Jun 6, 2021, 02:33 PM
Jun 2021

Not intimately familiar with how they work.

I started to get involved when 45 was still in office but had to give it up when work interfered.

Whiskeytide

(4,459 posts)
15. One factor is that Тяцмр motivated a lot of previously disengaged asshats ...
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:13 AM
Jun 2021

... to register and vote in 2016. These people are mostly from the rural areas of the state who had not voted in years, or perhaps had never voted, because no one in politics had ever spoken to them in their language before.

In It to Win It

(8,139 posts)
17. I believe more right-leaning voters are moving to Florida and, to a lesser extent, left-leaning
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:15 AM
Jun 2021

voters are moving to other states.

Over the last few election cycles, the vote counts captured by Republican candidates seem to steadily increase cycle-after-cycle and vote count for Democratic candidates seem to remain stagnant.

mcar

(42,206 posts)
19. I've lived in FL since 1992
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:26 AM
Jun 2021

When we moved to this rural retirement county to work, it was southern Democrat. Every elected official was Democrat. It also was the only county to vote for Ross Perot so the seeds were there.

I'd see all these letters in the local paper about the UN overthrowing the government, messages in contrails, and other wacky stuff. Then, billboards started popping up with all kinds of anti Bill Clinton propaganda. "Rush is Right" bumper stickers proliferated.

By the time Jeb! Bush was elected governor in 1999, the country's elected officials started trending Republican. All the execs at the small hospital where I worked changed from Dem to Rep to have more influence over the hospital's fate. I'd hear them discussing Limbaugh's show all the time. While there were always a lot of churches here, more and more fundy churches popped up and were very successful while the mainstream churches lagged.

In my community, it was all about taxes and abortion. Nothing else mattered. The school district couldn't build new schools that were desperately needed because the retirees wouldn't even vote for a half penny sales tax increase. They constantly complained about having to pay to fund schools in their property taxes, since their kids were grown.

The cult isn't of Trump; it's of the current form of Republicanism. It's been growing more and more autocratic for decades.

Florida reflects the U.S., in a very real way. The creep of Republicanism, and now the creep toward fascism. The FL Democratic Party has not done a good job communicating the very real values of Democrats and let Republicans get away with idiocy like "Dems are going to take your gunz!!11" We didn't help ourselves with the whole defund the police nonsense.

My .02 on the issue.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
20. Archconservative/fascistic Republican control of the state legislature?
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:37 AM
Jun 2021

Of course, a lot of RWers in general, already influenced to far-right and extremist beliefs in this century, have gone batshit, up-for-atrocities crazy.

Otherwise, the most pertinent population change was in somewhat increased Hispanic participation, who overall average conservative. The majority chose Trump.

OTHER otherwise, 47.9% of Floridians voted Democratic in 2020, every vote a rejection of the hard right.

Elessar Zappa

(13,649 posts)
22. Hispanics aren't conservative everywhere.
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:50 AM
Jun 2021

Huge majority of Hispanics in NM, AZ, NV and CA voted Biden. Texas and Florida was where they voted more conservative. Not sure why that is.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
37. Of course. And that's the point, isn't it?
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 12:37 PM
Jun 2021

To refuse to demonize someone, or over 5 million someones in this case, because of what state he lives in, or skin color or ethnicity?

cbabe

(3,438 posts)
21. Fear of dying as
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 11:44 AM
Jun 2021

fish swim in the streets of Miami. The existential threat of physical death in an aging population and way of life death with climate change. Leaving many crazed and crying out for a strong man savior.

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
29. Bad campaigining and not speaking to Hispanic communities first with their issues. Democratic party
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 12:00 PM
Jun 2021

... needs to acknowledge this and stop whistling past the graveyard when it comes to Florida

Mad_Machine76

(24,353 posts)
46. Not speaking to them first?
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 03:27 PM
Jun 2021

That's the problem? What are their specific issues of concern? Just about everything Democrats support is generally good for all communities. Republicans generally don't want any (non-citizen) Hispanics to have public assistance, to vote, or to even have a good chance to become a citizen. What do the Republicans offer them that Democrats don't? Is it because of religion?

uponit7771

(90,225 posts)
60. Correct the day of the woke white dem consultant for Hispanic communities is over....
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 08:09 PM
Jun 2021

... for Florida there needs to be on the ground community people working with the Democratic party for messaging.

For multiple community leaders and some people who live there the Democrats were missing in Florida.

I understand what you're saying especially when Putin's whore was incredibly racist against Hispanic people of color but if we don't have a message for those communities other than we're better than the racists then we still lose

PortTack

(32,605 posts)
40. Their biggest industry is tourism, second only to retirees. Neither necessarily vote blue
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 01:06 PM
Jun 2021

AZ, TX, VA, GA,are gaining in population due to tech companies. Techies are naturally liberal in their views and voting habits

ChubbyStar

(3,191 posts)
51. Katherine Harris, Brooks Brothers Riots, Terri Schiavo
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 03:58 PM
Jun 2021

Shit has been crazy in Florida for more than 2 decades.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
49. I think the problem has more to do with your premise than the state of Florida.
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 03:44 PM
Jun 2021

I am thinking simple population growth doesn't quite explain the demographics shifts in those states. We'd have to find some research on the matter, but I imagine it would have to do with that growth being attributable to migration (as opposed to live births), and where these new residents are coming from.

This is all anecdotal, but I grew up in New England and graduated college in the early 2000's. The high cost of living and scarcity of good-paying jobs for young people entering the job market made southern states like Virginia and Texas (which has long been courting big businesses to set up shop in their state) appealing destinations for young professionals.

Florida, meanwhile, remains a retirement state.

WarGamer

(12,103 posts)
50. There are certain spots that are trendy for disenfranchised rw'ers.
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 03:47 PM
Jun 2021

Idaho was big in the 90's and 00's...

Now every unhappy rw'er from LA, Chicago and the Northeast runs to FL.

helpisontheway

(5,004 posts)
53. I think a lot of them want to save on taxes
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 04:21 PM
Jun 2021

We thought about it for a bit because Florida would not tax my husband’s military retirement. It was also because of the beaches and other things to do. Thank goodness we did not move there. Yes, VA taxes my husband’s military retirement but it is a much better place to live. First of all we are BLUE and have stayed that way since President Obama flipped it. Plus we have beaches and tourist attractions too. Our beaches are not as pretty as the Gulf coast of Florida but at least we have one.

JI7

(89,172 posts)
57. Many people that move there are older than other states and do so for low taxes
Sat Jun 5, 2021, 05:13 PM
Jun 2021

and fewer regulations.

Unlike some other states where people move there for jobs in growing industries like tech where it usually leads to more liberal population.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»What the hell happened to...