TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Following the November election, the Florida Democratic Party saw lawmakers leave the political organization.

State Sen. Jason Pizzo, from South Florida, switched to no party affiliation. State Rep. Susan Valdes, in Hillsborough County, switched to the Republican Party. Another state house member also switched after Valdes.

On Friday, during a stop in Jacksonville, Gov. Ron DeSantis made a claim he had mentioned before about the state of the Democratic Party in Florida.

“This party is dead across the state of Florida,” DeSantis said.  

It’s a similar claim made by Pizzo while announcing his switch to no party affiliation.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said she has noticed increased support after about 25 town halls statewide this year and two recent special congressional elections. During that time, Fried said, she saw more funding and boots on the ground.

“I call B.S. for so many reasons. First and foremost, we have an energized base at this moment,” Fried said.

Fried said this is because of economic conditions over issues involving property insurance and uncertainty from tariffs.

“People are energized by what Democrats are going to do, not only here in the state of Florida, but Washington D.C.,” Fried said.
USF Political Science Emeritus Professor J. Edwin Benton questioned whether that momentum will carry over into the midterm.

“Democrats are not going to win office or get votes because that’s not a lasting effect,” Benton said.

He’s referring to some voters looking at Democrats only as dissent toward Republicans.

 “They’ve got to resonate the message, their policy programs, (and) the things they are endorsing,” Benton said.  

Benton also said some fear the party may be moving too far left, making it difficult to gain additional support, especially as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continue to hold a series of large rallies boosting their political power.

Fried believes there are many voices leading the national party.

“You’ve got Democrats all over the country who are speaking out against what is happening,” Fried said.

When asked about leadership of the state party, Fried said she takes responsibility for organizing voter outreach, listening to constituents along with elected officials, and organizing the party’s messaging. She said the key message from Democrats this year and into next year involves the economy.

“The fact that our state is unaffordable. That economic message continues into ’25 and ’26,” Fried said.

Orlando-based U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and Sen. Chris Murphy from Connecticut are scheduled to be in Sarasota over the weekend for a rally.

DeSantis and Fried also criticized some of the politicians who have switched parties recently. They both think it was done for each politician’s personal gain. DeSantis went on to say that he found the new GOP members mostly aligning with Democrats in Tallahassee.

The office of Rep. Valdes didn’t respond to News Channel 8’s request for comments.

The Florida Republican Party has more than 1.2 million more registered voters in the state than Democrats.