Democratic donors hesitant on wading into Florida midterm fights

ORLANDO, Fla. – Some national Democratic donors are waiting on the sidelines in Florida, stirring concerns among Democrats in the Sunshine State who are preparing to take on Gov. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantisWhy can’t we mandate anything? Texas law opens door for other states to pursue abortion restrictions DeSantis fights court’s ruling allowing masks in schools MORE (R) and Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioPoll: Americans favor diplomatic engagement with Cuba As Biden falters, a two-man race for the 2024 GOP nomination begins to take shape The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by AT&T – Defiant Biden defends US exit from Afghanistan MORE (R-Fla.) in next year’s midterms.

The donor hesitancy comes as Democrats debate whether to invest in a state that has eluded their party in recent years. Florida Democrats suffered some of the worst defeats of any state party in the country last year, losing five seats in the GOP-controlled state House and two U.S. House seats that they had managed to flip in 2018.

Adding to their troubles was former President TrumpDonald TrumpIran president: Country ready to resume nuclear talks without Western ‘pressure’ Cheney, Thompson slam McCarthy’s comments about Trump, Jan. 6: ‘Baseless’ Trump in advanced talks to sell DC hotel: report MORE’s 3.3-point margin of victory in Florida — a relative landslide in a state known for razor-thin election results — and the fact that he managed to cut into President BidenJoe BidenMilley says civil war ‘likely’ in Afghanistan Southeastern parts of Louisiana could have power restored as late as Sept. 29 It’s time to transform our unemployment system MORE’s margins in Democratic strongholds like Miami-Dade County.  

“Democrats are being far more scrutinizing of Florida and the state of politics there,” one Democratic donor said. “We’ve suffered from a Charlie Brown syndrome in the state, where the football gets pulled out from under us, so I think we have to look at that with more scrutiny.”

At the same time, national Democrats have begun eyeing former Republican strongholds like Georgia and Arizona with more enthusiasm after the party scored critical victories in those states last year, prompting some Democrats to wonder whether Florida is worth the money.

“The last election showed that we don’t need to rely on Florida or Ohio – that the map has kind of changed,” another donor who has given to Democrats nationwide said. “Is there still a focus on beating Ron DeSantis and Marco Rubio? Absolutely. But I think we also need to be more discerning about where and how much to give.”

The 2020 election marked the first time in nearly three decades that Florida did not vote with the overall winner of the presidential race.

Instead, Biden’s win was propelled by gains in former “blue wall” states like Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as by victories in Arizona and Georgia, where Democrats also managed to win three key Senate races that helped them…