Republicans control Florida's Legislature, Supreme Court, Governor's Mansion and Cabinet posts.

Florida is now a Republican stronghold. The GOP has super-majorities in both houses of the Legislature and controls the state Supreme Court, the Governor’s Mansion and all the Cabinet posts. Now the Florida Democratic Party is trying to become competitive again.

Not so long ago, Florida was considered the biggest swing state in the nation. It went twice for former President Barack Obama, in 2008 and 2012. But last November’s elections were a disaster for Democrats. Even the blue counties got redder. And now GOP State Chair Christian Zeigler is looking to control city and county commissions.

Here’s State Democratic Chair Nikki Fried at a Democratic fundraiser in Tallahassee earlier this month:

“We are never, ever, ever having a November ‘22 ever again. Ever.”

Fried took over the Florida Democratic Party in February and is making a lot of changes. For one, she says, the party is reclaiming all the functions it had outsourced -- especially voter registration. Two, she says the party isn’t waiting to organize for the 2024 elections, as had been its wont. Fried laid out her goals, already stumping for Tallahassee Representative Allison Tant.

“The floor is to make sure we get people like Allison re-elected,” Fried said. “That we flip 6 to 8 seats to get us out of the minority. That we reduce voter registration by at least 30 percent gap. That we have a constitutional ballot initiative for reproductive health care that passes -- and it’s going to pass. That we re-flip our blue counties to being actually blue. And that’s the floor.”

Democratic strategist Steve Schale praises Fried’s focus on voter registration.