MIAMI — With early voting underway, the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus releases its latest round of endorsed candidates. The full list of our endorsed candidates is here.

“The momentum is on our side this year and we are turning Florida blue,” says Kristen Browde, President of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus. “Our endorsed candidates are pro-equality and pro-common sense. Our voters are enthused and excited for the changes to come in Florida!”

State House

John Hill, District 48
Adriaan DeVilliers, District 71
Lesa Miller, District 72
Derek Reich, District 73
Nancy Simpson, District 74
Tony Dunbar, District 75
Alberto Hernandez, District 86
Sienna Osta, District 87
Debra Tendrich, District 89
Joe Caselli, District 90
Jay Shooster, District 91
Katherine Waldron, District 93
Rachelle Litt, District 94
Jim Brenner, District 100

State Senate

Vance Ahrens, District 19

Aaron Hawkins, District 31

Hernando County

Luciano Vignali, County Commission District 3

Manatee County

Glenn Pearson, Manatee County Commission, District 1
Diana Shoemaker, Manatee County Commission, District 3
Sari Lindroos-Valimaki, Manatee County Commission, District 7, At-Large
Heather Felton, Manatee School Board, District 1
Charlie Kennedy, Manatee School Board, District 3

Palm Beach

Joel Flores, County Commission District 3
Maria Sachs, County Commission District 5
Bobby Powell, County Commission District 7

Sarasota

Barbara Ford-Coates, Sarasota County Tax Collector
Shari Thornton, County Commission Seat 3
Alan Sprintz, Hospital Board, At-Large, Seat 1
Dale Anderson, Hospital Board At-Large, Seat 2
George Davis, Hospital Board At-Large, Seat 3
Vicki Nighswander, Hospital Board Central District, Seat 1
Sequoia Felton, Sarasota City Commission, Seat 1

# # #

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus has chapters across the state, from Miami to Pensacola. The Caucus is chartered by the Florida Democratic Party. Our members serve as elected representatives of Democratic Executive Committees, as members of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), as local elected and appointed officials, and as delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Today, the Florida Democratic Party launched takebackfl.org — a 67-county candidate directory featuring our Take Back Florida Distinction candidates, our Take Back Local slate, and Democrats up and down the ballot.

The website features an interactive map and organizes candidates by county. It’s a one-stop-shop to learn more about Democrats running for office, with links to donate and sign up to volunteer.

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus is proud to announce partnerships with its local Chapters to open Get Out the Vote Centers in both Hillsborough and Broward Counties.
The official opening of the Broward County center, in Wilton Manors, is set for Friday afternoon, September 20, 2024, and will be under the leadership of Dolphin Democrats President Alfredo Olvera, while the Tampa office, known as Casa Kamala, will hold its opening party Tuesday September 24. Chapter President Luis Salazar, who is also Vice President of the State Caucus, will take the lead in Hillsborough.

The offices are designed to provide voter registration information and serve as gathering points for LGBTQ+ Democrats. They will be open daily between now and Election Day.

Reminder: the deadline for new voter registrations in Florida is October 7, 2024 (29 days before election day.) If you will be 18 on or before election day and are not registered, you can register online. Registration and voting is limited to U.S. Citizens.

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus will meet Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Orlando for a fall meeting, to be addressed by leading Democrats and candidates from around the nation. The meeting, with a hybrid option, is scheduled to run from 10:30 AM – 4:15 PM, and is scheduled to include a keynote address from Rep. Michele Rayner, a strong voice in the Florida legislature and appearances by Sen. Shevrin Jones, the out LGBTQ+ leader of the Miami-Dade Democratic Executive Committee, as well as other key party leaders.

Caucus President Kristen Browde smiled when asked who else was scheduled to speak. “We have one confirmed national superstar who will join via Zoom, and others from whom we expect to hear, including our next Senator, Debbie Mucarsel Powell.

The meeting will focus on the principal goal of the Caucus – to #TakeBackFlorida by breaking the DeSantis led domination of the state legislature, as well as strategic options for future campaigns.

Members have already received personalized links and invitations – if you haven’t received yours, contact info at lgbtqdems.org.

We are thrilled to announce that Actor and Advocate BD Wong will be joining us at the national launch of Out for Harris, this Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 1 PM in Wilton Manors.

 Please join the leadership of the Caucus, of LGBTQ+ Organizations from across Florida, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz and hundreds of LGBTQ+ activists at the event

 Sign up at https://www.mobilize.us/floridadems/event/676610/

Candidates across Florida running with the endorsement of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus triumphed in the Florida Democratic Primary, held today, August 20, 2024. Not only did U.S. Senate candidate Debbie Mucarsel-Powell easily win the nomination of the Democratic Party, 24 of 27 Congressional candidates moved on to face Republican opponents in November. And Miami-Dade Mayor Danielle Levine-Cava not only won her officially non-partisan primary, by exceeding 50% in an election with multiple opponents, Levine-Cava avoids a November election and is awarded re-election.

“We celebrate these tremendous victories,” said Kristen Browde, President of the Florida LGBTQ+ Caucus. “We look forward to helping those champions of equality who received our endorsement, and and the three additional Democratic nominees win in November, as voters across the state join in the effort to take back Florida. We thank everyone who ran at every level, and promise to work non stop to elect Democrats at every level.

The Caucus endorses candidates seeking federal and statewide office. Its 21 local chapters endorse candidates for the legislature and local offices.

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus celebrates Vice President Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Kristen Browde, the President of the caucus said, “Kamala Harris has made a great choice. She’s a prosecutor, Tim Walz is a teacher, a sharp contrast to the fiction writers on the other side. Harris and Walz are the perfect Democratic ticket to keep our strong economy on the move, protect access healthcare, and, importantly, ensure LGBTQ+ rights. Democrats, Independents, and even Republicans are excited for the 2024 election to secure our future. We are not going back!”

The Florida LGBTQ+Democratic Caucus celebrates Vice President Kamala Harris selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Kristen Browde, President of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement:

“Kamala Harris has made a great choice. She’s a prosecutor, Tim Walz is a teacher, and that’s a sharp contrast to the fiction writers on the other side. Harris and Walz are the perfect Democratic ticket to keep our strong economy on the move, protect access to healthcare, and, importantly, ensure LGBTQ+ rights. Democrats, Independents, and even Republicans are excited for the 2024 election to secure our future. We are not going back!”

The local chapters of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus have begun announcing their endorsements for the August 20 Primary election. “Our chapters, those closest to the races, select the best candidates for state legislative, county and local races,” said Kristen Browde, President of the Caucus. “These candidates were chosen because they are those we know will work to insure equality for all Floridians.”

These endorsements follow the Caucus announcement of federal and statewide election endorsements, and the unanimous endorsement of our next President, Kamala Harris, released in the past two weeks. More chapters are expected to report their local endorsements in the coming days.

41 endorsements have been officially reported so far. * denotes an incumbent:

Haley “Hale” Morrissette for Florida House, District 2
Lisa Newell for Florida Senate, District 1
Ron Helms for Escambia County Commission, District 4
Stephanie Arguello for Seminole County School Board, District 3
Nate Douglas for Florida House, District 37
Sarah Henry for Florida House, District 38
Deborah Poulalion for Seminole County Supervisor of Elections
Andrew Warren for return as State Attorney, 13th Judicial Circuit
Rocky Brancato for Public Defender, 13th Judicial Circuit
Susan Valdes for Florida House, District 64
Nick Clemente for Florida House, District 66
*Rep. Fentrice Driskell for reelection Florida House, District 67
Lisa Carpus for Florida House, District 68
Patricia Alonzo for Hillsborough County Commission, District 2
Jonathon Chavez for Hillsborough County Commission, District 4
Sean Shaw for Hillsborough County Commission, District 6
*Craig Latimer for reelection as Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections
*Cindy Stuart for reelection as Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court
*Nadia Combs for reelection to Hillsborough County School Board, District 1
*Jessica Vaughn for reelection to Hillsborough County School Board, District 3
*Henry “Shake” Washington for reelection to Hillsborough County School Board, District 5
*Lynn Gray for reelection to Hillsborough County School Board, District 7
*Amy Mercado for reelection as Orange County Property Appraiser
Anne Douglas for Orange County School Board, District 4
Anthony Nieves for Florida House, District 47
Carmen Torres to succeed her husband in the Florida Senate, District 25
*Johanna Lopez for reelection to the Florida House, District 43
*John Mina for reelection as Orange County Sheriff
Kelly Semrad for Orange County Commissioner, District 5
*LaVon Bracy Davis for reelection to Florida House, District 40
Matthew Grocholske for Orange County Soil & Water, Seat
Melissa Vickers for Orange County Public Defender
Nate Douglas for Florida House, District 37
*Rita Harris for reelection to the Florida House, District 44
*Scott Randolph for reelection as Orange County Tax Collector
Stephanie Vanos for Orange County School Board, District 6
*Tom Keen for reelection to the Florida House, District 35
Wes Hodge for Orange County Supervisor of Elections
*Geraldine Thompson for relection to the Florida Senate, District 15
*Linda Stewart for relection as Orange County Commissioner, District 3
*Monique Worrell for relection as State Attorney, 9th Judicial Circuit
*Nicole Wilson for relection as Orange County Commissioner, District 1