Florida is no longer out of reach for Joe Biden and Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, as Joe Trippi discusses in his latest podcast. This community is helping that effort by contributing to 140 Blue Florida and funding candidates in every district.
On June 14, Florida State Chair Nikki Fried said “Democrats made history today” by contesting “every seat in both chambers of the legislature.”
What she didn’t say was this never would have happened without the Herculean efforts of 140 Blue Florida, including Dr. Fergie Reid, Margie Stein, and Daily Kos, including ZenTrainer, Bethesda 1971, but especially those of you who recommended stories and raised $23,000, nearly half of the funds to pay the full filing fees of 36 candidates, and a portion nearly 30 others.
The Florida Democratic party did not pay a dime to any of these candidates, nor did they recruit any of over 50 candidates 140 Blue Florida recruited for previously uncontested seats.
And incredibly, two of these Democratic candidates are not receiving the support you might expect from Florida Democratic leadership. In one case, Democratic Commissioners in Miami-Dade County have endorsed the Republican running against her.
They are:
Therese Wakefield Gamble, in an August primary against pro-Trump “Democrat” Kim Daniels.
Jackie Gross-Kellog in the general election, against Republican Vicki Lopez.
It is critical for these candidates to raise funds early to preserve their viability. Raising $20-30,000 quickly will cement these as (true) Democratic seats.
This is Therese’s ActBlue Page
This is Jackie’s ActBlue Page.
Therese Wakefield Ganble:
In the August primary, Therese Wakefield-Gamble is taking on Pro-Trump incumbent “Democrat” Kimberly Daniels, arguably a Democratic, African-American version of Boebert or Greene, whose “greatest hits” include “I thank God for slavery...if it wasn’t for slavery, I might be somewhere in Africa worshipping a tree.” And “You can talk about the Holocaust, but Jews own everything!” ZenTrainer laid out Daniel’s entire disgraceful records in her Saturday story, In what world is this woman a Democrat? Daniels, also a preacher, sermonized in 2018 about “witches and warlocks … trying to bring confusion to this great man [Trump],” calling for them to — appropriately enough — be “fired.” I wrote about her four years ago, when we defeated her, but in 2022, the Republicans created a gerrymandered district just for her and she won.
Jackie Gross-Kellog:
In the general election, progressive Democrat Jackie Gross-Kellog is opposing incumbent Republican Vicki Lopez. Incredibly, Lopez has the support of the Miami-Dade Democratic Commission Chair and Co-Chairs, and the Florida Democrats tried to make sure she had no Democratic opponent. Thanks to Fergie Jr., Margie Stein et al. Jackie joined the race a week before the deadline. This is a very flippable district. Democratic registration is 57-40% over Republicans and Joe Biden won the district by 12 points in 2020. Lopez only won because of the DeSantis wave in 2022. Lopez poses as a moderate because of a handful of votes, but she is a DeSantis supporting Republican. She voted for a bill prohibiting gender affirming care and for reducing the size of juries on death penalty cases, She has a 92% score from the NRA and has been endorsed by Florida Right to Life. Oh, and she’s an ex-felon. Jackie Gross-Kellog, on the other hand, is a true progressive, supporting women’s reproductive rights, public education, sensible gun control, environmental protection, workers rights, equal rights for all and other progressive issues.
Funding these candidates generously will send a message to the Florida Democratic Party that they cannot get away with supporting Republican candidates and “Democratic” candidates who are Trump-supporting, slavery-excusing Trump supporters.
Please give what you can ($5, 10, $25, $50). If you are a “Kossack of Means” consider giving the $1,000 limit (along with friends and family if possible).
Therese’s ActBlue Page
Jackie’s ActBlue Page