Florida Democrats broke the Republican supermajority in the state House Tuesday, as candidates in Central Florida flipped nearly all of the seats needed to end the reign.
Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties saw Democratic defeats across several races: GOP Reps. Erika Booth, Doug Bankson and Rachel Plakon were unseated, while outgoing Reps. David Smith, Susan Plasencia and Paula Stark had their seats snagged by Democrats.
The House needs 80 seats for a supermajority. Tuesday kicked off with Republicans holding 82 seats and Democrats 34. Seven seats were needed to end the GOP supermajority.
Central Florida Democrats alone flipped six of them.
Washington, D.C.-based Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee says the House overhaul gives Florida Democrats the leverage needed to fight “extreme Republican leadership” in the state.
“Florida Republicans have abused their power for years to push an unpopular and dangerous agenda, including attacking voting rights and rigging their congressional maps,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a statement. “Now that we have broken the supermajority in the House, Democrats are better positioned to fight back against rampant extremism and protect against attacks on our democracy.”
“Since the August primary, our coordinated campaign has knocked on more than 1.2 million doors and made 5.25 million calls to voters across Florida,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said Tuesday. “That work helped drive a nearly 20-point swing toward Democrats statewide compared to the 2022 midterms, with Democratic turnout surpassing even 2018 levels.”
Four district Democrats secured already-blue seats. Rep. RaShon Young defeated Republican Tuan Le in House District 40; Orange County Democratic Party chair Samuel Vilchez Santiago defeated Republican Jorge Malavet in House District 43; former Kissimmee commissioner and Mayor Jose Alvarez defeated Republican Michael Cruz in House District 46; and Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet defeated Republican Bonnie Jackson in House District 42, succeeding Democratic state Rep. Anna Eskamani.
The Democratic swing included a major upset in House District 39 (northern Orange and southwest Seminole counties) with Winter Garden physician Jarod Fox taking a 55% win over the Republican incumbent.
Democratic state Rep. Leonard Spencer defeated Orange County GOP chair Erin Huntley in House District 45, which covers southwest Orange County (and the highly sought after Disney World region) and parts of northern Osceola.
Democrat Jane Aman, a University of Central Florida English lecturer, bested Republican teacher Robert Prater in House District 37.
Democrat Anthony Nieves will fill the vacant House District 47 seat previously held by Rep. Stark after she failed to get back on the ballot.
Democrat Darryl Block, a Sanford attorney, defeated two-term incumbent Plakon in House District 36, covering nearly all of north Seminole County: Lake Mary, Sanford, Geneva, Longwood and Winter Springs.
Democrat Nik Dean, a medical malpractice attorney, defeated Republican Emily Duda Buckley in House District 38, which covers parts of Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs, Oviedo and Casselberry.
Democrat Eric Gray, who leads the Christian Service Center, beat out Rep. Erika Booth in House District 35, covering east Orange and Osceola counties.
