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Voter Registration: Democrats' Advantage Grows To Nearly 800,000 Voters

Over the course of 2009, Floridians continued to join the Democratic Party in record numbers, ending the year with Democrats having a nearly 800,000 person voter registration advantage. According to the Florida Division of Election data, by registering 144,468 new voters last year, Democrats widened our advantage by 43,443 voters in 2009. As Democrats continued to out register Republicans every month since the 2008 election, this voter registration gap will continue to be a major advantage for Florida Democrats in 2010 and beyond.

With nearly three times the number of Florida Hispanic voters joining the Democratic Party and just three percent of African-American voters registering as Republicans in 2009, Florida's changing demographics will ensure that the Democratic Party will continue to grow moving forward. While Democrats have been successful at registering voters in all age groups, the nearly 16% advantage among voters under 35 is striking.

Party Fundraising: Democrats Enter 2010 With $1.04 Million Cash On Hand Advantage

The past year was a banner fundraising year for the Florida Democratic Party, where we shattered not only our historical averages, but also the goals we set as we entered the 2010 election cycle. In 2009, the Florida Democratic Party raised a record $6,764,946, almost twice our historical average for a non-election year.

More importantly however is the amount of money the Florida Democratic Party saved in the off year in order to have the resources needed to elect Democrats across the Sunshine State. By being fiscally responsible with our party's donations, we enter 2010 with $2,630,067 cash on hand. After the RPOF announced that their party entered 2010 with just $1.59 million on hand this past weekend, we now know that the Florida Democratic Party has an eye-popping $1.04 million cash on hand advantage.

Anti-incumbent Environment Good For Florida Democrats

Floridians know that Tallahassee is a mess. The Republicans who have dominated Tallahassee for the past 11 years have taken our state down the wrong path, the Republican culture of corruption reigns supreme in our state's capital, and the Republicans' failed policies are not only responsible for our economic crisis, but it is clear that the Republicans have no new ideas or plans on how to attract new jobs or industries to Florida.

In 2009, the Florida Democratic Party had great successes in holding Republicans accountable for their failed ways. For the first time in Florida history, a Speaker of the House resigned in disgrace, being brought down by a major corruption scandal. Charlie Crist's poll numbers have crashed as Floridians woke up to the fact that he continues to put his political ambitions above our state. And, the Republican Party just ousted their Chairman.

The chaos in the Republican Party of Florida, combined with Floridians looking to throw the metaphorical "Republican Bums" out of office, confirms that the national anti-incumbent environment works to the advantage of Florida Democrats.

As we move into the most important election year in over a century in Florida, the Florida Democratic Party will continue to hold the Republican politicians in Tallahassee accountable for their failed policies.