The annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner is currently underway in Hollywood. Coming into this weekend many questions were being asked about the unity of the party, the effectiveness of fundraising and whether or not a coup would occur in the House caucus.

Allison Tant’s first quarter fundraising for the FDP was unimpressive but tonight’s J-J dinner has raised approximately $850,000. Any way you cut it, that is an impressive,  record breaking haul for a single-night state party event. Now the challenge for the Chairwoman will be to follow this successful night up with an infrastructure that is built to sustain and maintain this type of  operation for future party events and fundraisers.

Another winner today was  the House Democrats. Darryl Rouson, the House Democratic Leader designee  was placed squarely in the firing line as were the proposed changes to the rules of the Democratic caucus which we have reported extensively on this week.  Rouson has been the victim of some bad press recently related to his failure to pay taxes for several years. While the St Petersburg based legislator came under furious attack from multiple members of the caucus, Rosuon was not removed as Democratic leader but a full airing of grievances with him should make him stronger and the caucus more united going into the 2014 election cycle.

From what has been communicated to me, many are pleased at the openness of discussion not only about Rouson’s position but about the changes to caucus rules.

Unfortunately due to a professional soccer match tonight in Fort Lauderdale that I have to cover for a feature I am working on, I was unable to attend the Jefferson-Jackson dinner (I am actually posting this from the pressbox at Lockhart Stadium.) However, we should have much more coverage of the dinner and its aftermath over the next 24 hours.