Florida will vote on marijuana, abortion in an election that will test GOP’s dominance

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s predetermination will trial whether nan authorities maintains its caller estimation arsenic a Republican stronghold, aliases whether Democrats make immoderate gains by tapping into nan support for abortion and marijuana ballot questions and nan caller power Vice President Kamala Harris brings to nan race.

Gone are nan days erstwhile Florida was looked astatine arsenic nan biggest prize among plaything states. After erstwhile President Barack Obama won Florida twice, erstwhile President Donald Trump carried nan authorities by a whisker successful 2016 and past by a overmuch larger stock successful 2020. In 2022, Republicans took each 5 statewide seats connected nan ballot by landslide margins.

Still, location is simply a batch of buzz complete law amendments that could protect abortion authorities and legalize recreational marijuana, pinch some sides of each rumor pumping millions of dollars into advertising. Democrats support nan ballot measures and dream they boost turnout to springiness them astatine slightest a chance stopping Trump’s 3rd consecutive Florida triumph and keeping U.S. Sen. Rick Scott from winning a 2nd term.

The only statewide agency connected nan ballot is Scott’s Senate seat. Scott is being challenged by erstwhile Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Murcarsel-Powell successful a title that’s been overshadowed by nan statesmanlike predetermination and nan abortion and marijuana ballot questions.

Even if Trump and Scott are victorious successful Florida, Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried said nan predetermination will beryllium a immense occurrence if nan amendments walk and nan statement flips capable legislative seats to return distant nan Republicans’ supermajority.

“Look wherever we were successful of November 2022. We had nan largest nonaccomplishment that Florida Democrats person ever experienced,” Fried said. “Nobody anticipated that we would moreover person this speech today, that nan polls are showing that we are tight, that location was moreover a anticipation that Florida would beryllium successful play. Everybody counted america out.”

Still, it’s an uphill climb. The amendments request support from astatine slightest 60% of voters, and there’s capable money being spent against them that it could create doubts among voters who usually support nan issues, said Florida-based Republican governmental strategist Jamie Miller.

“As a wide rule, amendments walk if there’s nary existent effort against them and they neglect erstwhile location are existent efforts against them,” Miller said.

Miller besides believes Democrats are motivated to ballot against nan Republicans they don’t for illustration alternatively than beryllium inspired by their ain candidates.

“I spot excitement against Donald Trump and against Rick Scott, but that arsenic a wide norm successful nan authorities nan size of Florida is not capable to get you crossed nan line,” he said.

Scott served 2 position arsenic governor, winning each pinch little than 50% of nan vote. In 2018, he defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson successful a title decided by 0.2 percent points. But Florida authorities changed. The past clip Scott was connected nan ballot, Democrats outnumbered Republicans successful nan state. Republicans now person a million-voter advantage.

Scott, 1 of nan richest members of Congress, pumped millions of dollars of his ain money into nan race, arsenic he has pinch his erstwhile 3 elections. Far outspent, and pinch small money coming successful from nationalist Democrats until nan past fewer weeks of nan race, Murcarsel-Powell struggled to summation attention.

While Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis wasn’t connected nan ballot, he spent clip campaigning against nan abortion authorities and marijuana amendments. DeSantis moreover utilized authorities agencies to conflict nan amendment, pinch nan Agency for Health Care Administration group up a website and aired TV ads providing accusation connected abortion and nan Department of Health tried to extremity tv stations from airing a pro-amendment ad.

The abortion amendment would protect nan authorities of women to person an abortion up to nan constituent nan fetus tin past extracurricular nan womb. Florida now bans abortion six weeks aft conception, erstwhile galore women don’t recognize they are pregnant.

Voters overwhelming approved aesculapian marijuana successful 2016. This twelvemonth they’re being asked to legalize recreational marijuana. The marijuana manufacture has spent tens of millions of dollars connected nan campaign, while DeSantis has raised money against it and criticized it often during charismatic events.

Very few, if any, of Florida’s 28 legislature seats are competitive, but nan authorities will elite astatine slightest 1 caller personnel to Congress. Former Senate President Mike Haridopolos is favored to switch retiring Republican Rep. Bill Posey. He’s being challenged by Democrat Sandy Kennedy successful a beardown Republican district.

Republicans will support patient power of nan Legislature. Democrats will see it a awesome triumph if they flip capable seats to region nan supermajority GOP clasp successful nan House and Senate.

One of nan legislative seats being heavy targeted is held by Republican Sen. Corey Simon, a erstwhile Florida State and NFL shot prima who is being challenged by nationally known civilian authorities lawyer Daryl Parks, who is nan erstwhile partner of civilian authorities lawyer Ben Crump.