In some states, the state Democratic Party chooses nominees for statewide election via convening a convention. In other states like Florida we have a primary process. Some states have a mixed process and in others, the party tends to stay out of primaries. While no model is perfect, Florida Democrats have amassed the single worst record in state races east of Mississippi River since 2000. Republicans have won 93% of the races for Governor and Cabinet since 2000 and 67% of state legislative elections in this period.
Yet despite this record of futility — which, if it occurred in any other state party or line of business would lead to terminations and a revamping of the entire system — Florida Democrats have persisted in employing the same tactics, the same ideas and often the same operatives. This year some of the same party elites that have played a large role in this culture of defeat have essentially anointed nominees (most notably for Governor) but for other offices as well. Perhaps this allows the party to avoid certain pitfalls of the primary campaigns but also leads to a less open process.
The question is simple: Should the Florida Democratic Party be responsible for choosing its party’s nominees, or should they take a hands off approach towards primaries? Please vote and leave your comments in the thread below.
The Florida Squeeze 
Again as I put in the thread about House District 114 primaries or only preferable in some cases. You seem to want to argue with me about the Tallahassee House seat in the primary in 2010 but I think most people would agree that primary was justified. I would also make it very clear that we have house and Senate members that are not towing to the party line that need to be taught a lesson.
The party needs to have more control over the nominating process. Having a gubernatorial primary now is illogical and it’s causing more problems for us down the road. It is also allowing the Republicans to come in and manipulate the process our nominating process.
I would urge Nan Rich to enjoy retirement and get out of this race. She served well in the past and let that be that. Time for new leadership and Charlie Crist is that leader.
Should the party select candidates at a convention? No I don’t believe in that process because that allows activists to take control. Part of the Republicans problems in other states come from nominating extreme people at party conventions.
We should have a nominating process where the party vets candidates and allows them to run. You can have primary but the candidate should be party approved.
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Florida is too large and manifold a place to have its Democratic primaries micromanaged from a small capital city, especially one hundreds of miles away from the population centers — where the Democratic base happens to reside.
Tallahassee is great, I live here and like living here, but the lives and attitudes of Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade primary voters bear little relation to those of the folks on Bronough St. (friendly and intelligent as they may be) and vice versa. It’s extremely difficult to turn voters out in order to run up the score in those counties like we must if we are to start winning statewide again.
The Florida Democratic Party is an organization that is bound up with my identity and which I am proud to belong to. But just as people like you tell us to stop rhapsodizing about Askew, Graham and Chiles in our work, you all must give up the illusion that the brain trust in Tallahassee will be the tip of the spear re: the Democratic resurgence that is all but certain in the next 3-5 cycles.
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I would also make it very clear that we have house and Senate members that are not towing to the party line that need to be taught a lesson.
So you are saying the party should sanction primaries against them?
The party needs to have more control over the nominating process. Having a gubernatorial primary now is illogical and it’s causing more problems for us down the road. It is also allowing the Republicans to come in and manipulate the process our nominating process.
What are you talking about? This is just drivel honestly.
I would urge Nan Rich to enjoy retirement and get out of this race. She served well in the past and let that be that. Time for new leadership and Charlie Crist is that leader.
New leadership and Charlie Crist in the same sentence? Really?
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Where have you been? Charlie Crist is not new to politics……either democratic or republican. He is the old horse who just keeps changing parties until he gets what he wants. And the party leaders kowtow to him like he’s their savior. I can almost guarantee he will lose the general election if he wins the primary. There are a lot of republicans who really hate him so he won’t get any crossover votes. Wake up.
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Are you kidding me? With the track record the FDP leadership has at this point, I would not let the party choose which restaurant I go to for dinner next Saturday night! Maybe Charlie should have stayed in retirement instead of muddying the waters by claiming he is now a Democrat. He has nothing to support his newly adopted positions. Actions speak louder than words and Nan Rich has been fighting the good fight all of her political career. She has a long track record of votes to stand on. Mr. Christ has only a photo op with President Obama! Charlie has shown time and time again throughout his right wing career that he cannot be trusted. I, for one, am a Democrat who will stand with Nan. You can say she can’t win all you want, but when the votes are counted, it still comes down to who got out and voted! Activist vote. I hope all you Christ supporters will at least be good enough Democrats to come out in November and support our Democratic candidate, chosen by the people, Nan Rich!
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The less the party is involved in this stuff the better. Let them focus on the general election and stay out of primaries.
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Should we have primaries? Yes, but the restriction on the party endorsements in primaries must be lifted. The FDP must be allowed to openly endorse in House, Senate and Cabinet races.
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The FDP must be allowed to openly endorse in House, Senate and Cabinet races.
Terrible idea. This would consolidate all the power with party staff, party vendors and party officers. If someone could say on their literature in a primary “endorsed by the Florida Democratic Party,” it would in fact make the process if not undemocratic prone to extreme manipulation.
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thanks. can we just change it to the Florida People’s Party, and select a Glorious Leader now? or, do we have to wait for Crist to ascend to power and carry out this insane suggestion above to obliterate any remaining pieces of democracy? at least now, the party has SOME semblance of respect.
just imagine the ads…
just imagine the bumper stickers…
just imagine the law suits…
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This party is the last group of people who should be picking candidates.
It would be like allowing the captain of the titanic select officers for other ships.
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Anyone who votes yes on this is probably just a party staffer or vendor. Such an obvious answer.
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There is no party..The party is over. Crist said the forward he is now dedicating to FDP
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The party hacks have lost enough through they years. No need to let them ruin us again. Too many people at the grassroots access are submissive to party hacks in Tallahassee all of whom are making big $$$ of these things!
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The party has tried to force Crist down our throats. He is making a fool out of himself, yet we are simply handing the keys over to him. The party is desperate, think about what happens if he loses? Disaster!
He is making gaffe after gaffe and yet the field has been cleared for him. Can you imagine if he debated Nan? He would get trounced.
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What is the point of a political party if it does not have control over its own nominating process?
You may have a personal vendetta against Charlie Crist at the same time as having a desire to see Democrats in both House and Senate escape any sort of accountability but that is not where most Democrats are. Most Democrats want a gubernatorial nominee that can win and a legislative delegation that reflects their values.
You seem to want the opposite. Reminiscing about the old days when the Democrats controlled all these rural seats as you go on about in many of these nonsensical historical posts with members who would fit nicely into the Republican caucus. We actually have members right now from safe Democratic seats that would fit nicely into the Republican caucus if they didn’t have to face the prospect of primaries and reelection as Democrats.
Think long and hard about the example I gave you from 2010. Think long and hard about the representative I referenced from Tallahassee now in her third term and is voting properly on just about everything. She did not vote that way her first two years in the Legislature. Even you acknowledge that. Even you admit her voting record changed after the 2010 primary.
Now think about the governors race. You have at the top of this article referenced that Democrats have lost over 90% of statewide races. You claim we want to do the same thing over and over again yet the candidate we have proposed is completely different to any other candidate we brought. He has actually won several times state wide. He had NOTHING to do with all the loses you reference.
You can criticize the party but the fact that the leaders in our party want to change things and nominate someone completely different who has a proven track record winning elections shows that you and your allies are the ones who wants business as usual. You are the one saying we shouldn’t be putting primaries up against incumbent Democrats for state legislature yet we should have some sort of open process dominated by activists who really don’t know much about electoral politics for statewide elections.
It is well known you have a great relationship with some of the legislators and legislative types and probably just want to see the status quo there. You probably feel welcome because you can come back to the Capitol anytime after years of being away and still know everybody there who is a Democrat. Time hasn’t moved in that place. But the party itself has recruited young talent people who came out of the Obama campaign and know how to win and are hungry to win. Charlie Crist showed his loyalty to the Obama ticket in 12 and he is as good a Democrat is any now.
You are a smart guy and I would strongly suggest you do some soul-searching and reassess your position and get on the team instead of throwing stones at the team bus.
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I don’t think I was ever offered a seat on the bus. As for the rest of what you say, you are certainly entitled to your opinions and wild interpretations of things.
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Political parties should have a certain degree of control over the nominating process. But as Kartik points out this particular political party has nothing but a track record of losing and as he’s pointed out in previous articles they keep the same consultants and vendors around for every election cycle. So in this case I think the party should have no influence and I voted no.
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This party should be doing three things consistently.
1- recruiting candidates
2- raising money
3- developing the grassroots infrastructure
Considering they don’t do any of it well, what business do they have playing in primaries?
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thanks, Alan.
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Fuck you Tant! You’re driving our party to shit. I’ve literally seen better organization from a group of pre-schoolers trying to figure out who’s turn it is to pick their nose.
And Sink, great job there running on chained-CPI.
when is the FDP going to get its proverbial shit together and start running PROGRESSIVE campaigns. this age old bullhockey of quasi-dem mostly repuke is killing us. its killing the hopes we have internally as a party. and its killing our TURNOUT.
why would anyone vote in a non-presidential year if they dont see any real change? its not an incentive to your average dem to go to the poll and decide to make their party more conservative. instead, they stay home, and let these tea-tards remind us again for 2,4, or 6 years why our party in FL sucks ass at connecting where the rubber meets the road.
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