So we did it! And it was not a small task. Coming off the end of a dismal campaign season in 2022 when 41% of state legislative races went uncontested, the Democrats in Florida put up a candidate in every single legislative race for 2024. It was the result of a lot of incredible people who work behind the scenes, some last minute generous donations, and a ton of hope.
So now what?
We have the numbers. But how do we get to the other side by winning those seats?
I may not be an expert on this…but maybe I do have some knowledge on how to get votes. I was the unknown woman who threw my hat in the race to run against the incoming speaker of the Florida house.
In 2020 in that race I was fighting what looked like an impossible battle. People were head over heels in love with the fact that our current house representative would become the next Speaker of the House. I was up against the Republican party’s golden child Mr. Chris Sprowls. It was a race the press loved, a race that was mentioned several times in articles across the country in some of the most popular online news sites including AP, the Washington Post, the Guardian, the NY Times… It was David vs Goliath, and it was going to be a tough battle.
Even Trump was alerted to my presence…
www.motherjones.com/...
But then election night came. Word on the street was that my opponent and his team were nervous. I had scored more votes on the early voting and the mail in voting than the Republican Party had anticipated.
Why?
Why would a nobody single mom who lost her job in the pandemic have enough pull to shake up the Florida GOP?
It wasn’t the down ballot efforts. That helped but there were just not enough Dems that came to the polls (if they had all come out I would’ve won so please keep up the GOTV). It wasn’t the fact that I sent out mailers and had commercials..I didn’t mail over 1000 flyers and never had the money for any advertising. It wasn’t that I showed up to parades or grabbed a megaphone and spoke in front of audiences. During that time we weren’t even allowed to gather because we were under strict Covid restrictions. And phone calls? My phone bankers were going to the Biden campaign.
So what was it? What did my campaign do differently that others had not done before?
The answer to that question for me came in the form of a stranger. A man I met at early voting who was carrying a flag with the words TRUMP written across it. He walked from the other side of the street to get to me.
“hey you!”
He ran up to me and I stopped. I had kids in tow and hands full of signs. I quickly shuttled my kids behind me. This guy looked upset.
“Hello”. I said with a smile on my face. Trying to calm him down.
He pointed at me and wagged his finger. I leaned back and couldn’t breathe. Then he looked at me with wide eyes and he said “You! I’ve never voted for a Democrat in my entire life, but today I voted for you. I believe in you I believe you can help us.”
I let out the air in my lungs and my entire body relaxed. I smiled. I spoke to him with tears welling up in my eyes “Thank you. And you’re right. I can help you. And I will.” We shook hands and he galloped off back to his corner where he resumed his screaming for voters to elect Trump.
That moment will forever be etched in my brain.
I discovered the most important element to my race. And it had really happened “on accident” due to the excess (according to my opponent) media coverage I received during my run. Before I ran I never knew who ANY of my representatives were or what they did. All I knew was that I needed help. And chances are that statement is true for most of your voters. People need to know who you are and that you will help them. And it’s your job to make sure they do!
If you search the internet for any Democrat candidate you will most likely see the same things they are all running on. Any race in any state. Certainly we have different things our districts need. Different fights we should be standing for.
How can any of us as candidates be selling the idea that we are the solution for our districts by telling voters the current Republican doesn’t help them.. when we may be positioning ourselves to do the exact same thing?
I am a Democrat and proud of it.
A member of the oldest active political party in the world.
The party that helped birth the opposing party.
I’m with the party that used to be known as the party of the “common man.”
Your voters need to know what we are fighting for in their neighborhoods. That we are still the party of the “common man”. I’m district 57. Which means I need to show up as district 57 for every single potential voter.
Get laser focused on your own area. And run your own race! Become an expert on the things your district needs.
How? Look back in history. Ask the people. Search the internet. Once you get it. You’ll get it! Then form your campaign with those things on the front pages of your website. PRO TIP: use your social media. Join neighborhood groups on Facebook and identify what issues everyone chimes in on.
And get together with all the candidates in your state to help each other! In blue 140 we have several daily chats and weekly meetings. Because we know we can’t do it alone. There’s power in numbers! Let’s use it.
Start standing out in the community that you are running in. Fix your stump speech to pierce hearts. Don’t just say the same speech as the candidates before. When you talk to people look them in the eye and tell them you understand.
Take pride in the fact that your party is the oldest political party in the entire world. Smile at the Republicans knowing that not too long ago they were you!
We have more in common than most people see. Go find common ground. And stand in it until you win it back. Stand until enough voters believe that you can help them. Stand and remain in that fight for that seat year after year until you get elected. This is how we have a true blue wave. THIS is how we win our country back!
Please help support my race!
secure.actblue.com/…
www.votekelly4florida.com
thank you!!
Kelly