After ballot box shellacking, Florida Democratic Party chair quits

In the wake of November’s disastrous midterm elections for Florida Democrats, the state party chairman has abruptly resigned.

Manny Diaz, the former Miami mayor who two years ago vowed to revive the Florida Democratic Party as he took office, resigned Monday as calls for his resignation grew louder.

Diaz’s move comes two months after Florida Democrats locked up the 2022 midterms as the once-crucial general election battleground state turned a deeper shade of red.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis won re-election by a historic 19 points over Democratic challenger Charlie Crist, and in the process flipped once-blue Miami-Dade County. The GOP also secured a super majority in the Florida legislature, and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio was re-elected by more than 16 points.

DESANTIS TOUTS ‘WON FOR THE AGES’ AS HE AND RUBIO SHADE FLORIDA RED

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivers a victory speech after overwhelmingly defeating Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rep. Charlie Crist during his Election Night Watch Celebration at the Tampa Convention Center on November 8, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images) (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

In his resignation letter to Democrats, Diaz pointed the finger as he argued why he was unable to follow through on his plans to move the party forward. He hit out at activists, party members and a local union, saying they didn’t work hard enough to register and turn out to vote.

“During my tenure, I hoped to address these issues and build a unified party without silos, focused exclusively on our goal – electing Democrats,” Diaz wrote in his statement, which was first reported by the Florida Phoenix. “Instead, I found resource constraints and a long, systemic and deeply entrenched culture resistant to change; where individual agendas are more important than the team; where self-interest dominates and bureaucracies focus on self-preservation. “

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“We have a lot of social media activists, not volunteers up our sleeves. We communicate virtually, not in person,” he charged.

Former Miami Mayor Manny Diaz resigned on Monday, January 9, 2023 as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party. Brynn Anderson/AP Photo (AP)

He also faulted national Democrats for collecting millions from Florida donors but not spending that money in the Sunshine State, noting that “it’s impossible to build or ‘rebuild’ an organization without resources.”

But Diaz’s departure comes after many complaints from Florida Democrats about his leadership of the state party and after Republicans outpaced Democrats in party registration early in the 2022 election cycle.

Diaz’s move now leaves the state party rudderless as it desperately tries to rebuild.

Former state Sen. Annette Taddeo, who briefly ran for governor before unsuccessfully challenging GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar in the midterms, is a possible contender for state party chair.

“I am humbled by the overwhelming number of calls I have received in recent days, and as I always do, I will consult with leaders across the state, especially our grassroots, as I consider every option going forward,” she tweeted Monday. at night.

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And Jeremy Matlow, a Tallahassee city commissioner who won re-election in November, tweeted late Monday that “I humbly submit my name for consideration as chairman of the Florida Democratic Party.”

Paul Steinhauser is a political reporter based in New Hampshire.