In 2010, Florida Democrats, already a minority in the state House and Senate, lost even more seats in the tsunami that demolished the party nationwide.
That loss seemed to awaken complacent Democrats in Florida, who for the first time in a long while got active, holding rallies led by Awake the State and others, protesting the GOP-led government of Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature.
The activist group Awake Pinellas is getting busy again. They've called for a protest on Friday at the St. Pete office of House Republican Jeff Brandes, which they're dubbing an "(un)welcome home party," what with the Legislature ending its regular session on Friday night (though Brandes and everyone else in the Legislature may be back in Tallahassee at that time, as a special session has been called to deal with redistricting).
Brandes beat out Democrat Bill Heller in a tough race for the HD-56 seat a year and a half ago. But that seat (now known as District 68) remains one that state Democrats will target this fall.
Democrat William Nobles announced last year he would run for the Democratic nomination in what is now HD 68. There's also an independent in the race, Matt Weidner, who CL spoke with recently in discussing a foreclosure bill in the Legislature (he's an attorney who works on such cases). Weidner seems impressive, but running as an independent? That might be an uphill battle.
This article appears in Mar 8-14, 2012.