Florida Democrats,

First, happy Labor Day to the millions of Floridians who contribute to our labor force day in and day out across the state. Thank you to our healthcare, public transit, postal, firefighters, police officers, teachers, and all who keep our state running!

Today is also an important Election Day. We have Special Elections happening in Orange County for SD-15’s LaVon Bracy Davis and HD-40’s RaShon Young. If you’re in West Orange County, here is how you can find your polling place or join in in an election night watch party.

I also want to thank everyone who joined us for our August Pendulum Statewide All Dems Call last Tuesday. We had over 200 democrats join us to hear about upcoming opportunities to engage here in Florida and were grateful to be joined by our candidates for today’s Special Elections, as well as Popeye Osceola from the Miccosukee Tribe to share important updates on the fight against "Alligator Alcatraz".

I was grateful to be able to join the call from Minneapolis where the DNC was hosting their fall meeting, and am grateful to be able to share that the DNC and Chair Ken Martin continue to echo just how important Florida and the South are in the future of our party nationally. I hope you all know they see the great work we’re doing. I know today and always I am proud to be a Florida Democrat and to fight alongside all of you.

Sincerely,

Chair Nikki Fried

9/2 at 6pm SD15 and HD40 Election Night Watch Party | Link to Register

9/13-9/14 Statewide Weekend of Action | Link to Register

9/16 National Voter Registration Day I Stay tuned for more info!

Click here to view more ways to get involved in your local community!

Field Updates

We’re growing Democratic power in Florida by re-enrolling voters in Vote-by-Mail—starting now, not in 2026. When they’re enrolled in Vote-by-Mail, Florida Dems turn out at over 95%, and every day counts to build the turnout engine we need to win. The Pendulum Project is how we get it done: one conversation, one enrollment, one voter at a time.

On-Demand Vote-by-Mail Phonebanks

You don’t have to wait for a Statewide Weekend of Action to help Florida Democrats re-enroll in Vote-by-Mail. Our On-Demand Virtual Phonebanks are open—so you can call voters on your schedule, from anywhere. Every conversation helps keep our voters engaged and ready to win.

Start making calls

Join Our Next Statewide Weekend of Action, September 13-14!



This is another crucial moment to help Florida Democrats re-enroll in Vote-by-Mail and get ready for the elections ahead. Every voter we reach now strengthens the foundation we need to win in 2026 and beyond. | Sign up to join our statewide phonebank | Host your own phonebank

Want help organizing a phonebank or canvass, have ideas for our year-round organizing program, or just want to connect with our new Statewide Field Director, Chris Byrnes? Email Chris or Schedule a 1:1 Meeting

Voter Registration

Coming Up September 16, 2025 | National Voter Registration Day 🗳️

From Saturday, September 13th to Friday, September 19th the Florida Democratic Party is hosting an NVRD Week of Action. This NVRD we will be registering voters all across the state and anyone (DEC, club, caucus, or volunteer) can stand up an event!

Those interested in hosting an event for National Voter Registration Day should check out the NVRD Resource Guide and register their event using the form here. Registering your NVRD event should only take a couple of minutes and will add you to the list of people receiving specialized voter registration guidance ahead of NVRD. 

We’re Hiring | Campus Voter Registration Fellows ⭐️

The FDP is hiring Campus Voter Registration Fellows on college campuses across the state. Campus Voter Registration Fellows will assist the FDP in helping register youth voters statewide. They will be responsible for 10 hours of direct campus contact a week and will have the opportunity to attend up to 5 hours of organizer development trainings. 

Those interested should complete the application form here by Friday, September 5th at 11:59 P.M. EST.

Interested in Registering Voters? | Check Out the Voter Registration Toolkit

The VR Toolkit has everything you need to know on how to get trained to register voters in your community!

Data and VAN

Voterfile Update

We received and uploaded the voter file from the Division of Elections into VAN. VAN is now up to date through 8/1. 

Updated New Dem Targets!

With that you can find the latest batch of newly registered Democrats in VAN by going to: My Voters > Targets > New Dem Targets: 7/1 – 8/1.

Other Data Resources

Access all forms, guides, and training recordings here:

2025 FDP Data Hub

VAN Training Roadmap

Your community has asked, and we have answers! The new “What Dems Did For You Last Week” is live on Social Media!

Your community has asked, and we have answers! Each week, we are now sharing on social media what our elected officials are accomplishing against incredible odds. Just this week we’ve seen:

• Rep. Frederica Wilson toured Borinquen Medical Centers in North Miami, a pillar of care in South Florida, to meet with key leadership and build Democratic alliances with quality healthcare providers, ensuring that patients receive quality care. 
• Rep. Lois Frankel visited with local Veterans in Palm Beach County to listen to their stories, answer questions, and discuss how to continue improving the VA system and local services.
• Rep. Maxwell Frost hosted a Virtual Town Hall on immigration to discuss the impact of the latest immigration policies from the Trump Administration and the fight ahead to protect our immigrant communities in Central FL.
• Rep. Darren Soto teamed up with Rep. Maxwell Frost, UnidosUS, local leaders, and Hispanic organizations for a roundtable discussion on the dangerous implications for Central Florida & how cuts to Medicaid, ACA, SNAP, education, and vital services will impact the Hispanic community.
• Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith and State Rep. Anna Eskamani worked with local volunteers to monitor and recolor the Pulse memorial rainbow crosswalk that was covered up by FDOT.
• State Sen. Tina Polsky celebrated the first annual Florida Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day, sponsoring vital legislation aimed at protecting our communities and children from substance abuse.
• State Rep. Lindsay Cross was named as a 2025 Housing Champion by the Florida Housing Coalition for helping to pass the “Yes in God’s Backyard” affordable housing provision in SB1730. This legislation provides new tools for local governments and faith organizations to tackle the affordable housing crisis in Florida communities.

Please share these posts widely so Floridians can see how Dems are working for them. 💪

Have you heard? We’re live on Substack! ✍️

Think of it as your all-access pass to the organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing that’s happening every day to protect democracy in Florida.

This won’t be your typical political newsletter. We’re giving you the real story from the volunteers knocking doors in 95-degree heat, to the legislators battling it out in Tallahassee, to the staffers who make sure all the moving parts actually mov.

Redistricting Toolkit

Ron DeSantis is trying to rig the system—again. Pushing to draw district lines in the middle of the decade is expensive, unnecessary, and anti-democratic. Drawing district lines now will cost Florida taxpayers millions of dollars that would be better spent addressing the state’s affordability crisis.

Check out our toolkit here, to start organizing a proactive public pressure campaign in your community. Need support or guidance? Reach out to us at press@floridadems.org.

If you would like to receive our weekly talking points, please email us at press@floridadems.org.

Candidates and Campaigns

Thinking About Running For Office? | Run For Office Form

Running for office takes a lot of courage. We want every candidate to know we see you, we’re rooting for you, and we’ve got your back. Complete the form to stay in the loop on how we support our candidates!

Looking To Volunteer, Intern, or Work For a Campaign? | Resume Bank Form

Are you passionate about making a difference and ready to take action? Whether you're looking to volunteer, intern, or be hired as staff for a Florida candidate, when you submit this form, your resume will be available to Florida candidates and their campaigns who will reach out if your skillset is a match for their needs!

Bi-Weekly Office Hours | September 9th* @ 3 PM - 4 PM EST | Register Here 

Hosted by the Florida Democratic Party 

The FDP's candidate support team is available every other Monday from 3 PM - 4 PM EST to answer your questions, whether you're considering running for office or already running! *Next Office Hours have been scheduled for Tuesday September 9th.

Building Your Fundraising List | September 2nd @ 2 PM EST | Register Here

Hosted by ActBlue 

Join ActBlue for the second session of their three-part webinar series, focused on digital fundraising for down-ballot candidates. The series is built for beginner digital fundraisers who want to grow their digital fundraising skills and raise money they need to win. In this series, you will learn how to make a great digital fundraising ask, how to grow and maintain a fundraising list, and how to leverage Raise, ActBlue’s new streamlined fundraising tool for campaigns raising under $25k. This session will focus on how to build your fundraising list!

So You Want to Run for Office? | September 4th @ 1 PM EST | Register Here

Hosted by the National Democratic Training Committee

If you are considering a run for elected office but haven’t made the commitment to run or filed your candidacy, this training is designed for you! This training will guide you through the steps to take to run for office to prepare you to launch your campaign successfully!

Join this training to learn the following:

• Explain best practices for choosing which office to run for
• Identify what support you'll need from your team
• Prepare for sharing your decision to run with friends and family

What is Get Out the Vote? | September 8th @ 7 PM EST | Register Here

Hosted by the National Democratic Training Committee

If you're new to mobilizing voters and preparing them to drive turnout for an upcoming election this training is for you! This session is focused on guiding you through GOTV purpose, timing, and everything in between to ensure your voters are ready to show up at the polls! 

Join this training to learn the following:

• Understand GOTV-specific terminology
• Recognize components of a successful GOTV plan
• Examine key logistics for a successful GOTV operation

Party Affairs

Final Certification and Recertification Submissions Due 9/9

We need every DEC Chair, State Committee Member, State Caucus President, Chapter Caucus President, and Club/Caucus Leader to take purposeful action each day to ensure that all certification and recertification documents are signed, completed, and uploaded by the final deadline: September 9, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Upcoming Events

Fl LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Summer Conference on 9/12-14 | Register Here

Hosted by Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus

We are so excited to uplift this year’s LGBTQ+ Caucus’s summer conference in Tampa! The weekend kicks off with a welcome reception in Ybor City, followed by a full day of panel discussions, conference sessions, and our signature Saturday evening dinner, and wraps with a high-energy drag brunch. Speakers for the weekend include President of the National Federation of Stonewall Democrats Jeremy Comeau, Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, and Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate David Jolly.

Lawton Chiles Gala on 9/28 @ 6PM | Buy Tickets Here

Hosted by Alachua County DEC

Alachua County is putting on its 26th annual Lawton Chiles Gala at the Hilton University of Florida, which will include some excellent programming and a silent auction! Speakers include US Representative Maxwell Frost and Gubernatorial Candidate David Jolly.

Halloween Masquerade Ball on 10/4 @ 6pm | Buy Tickets Here

Hosted by Pinellas County DEC

Pinellas County's Halloween themed Masquerade ball is sure to be a blast, and will include cocktails dinner, music, masks, and a lineup of great speakers!

Victory Blue Bash on 10/4 @ 7pm | Buy Tickets Here

Hosted by Orange County DEC

Orange County's annual Victory Blue Bash is always a great time! This year's event will be held at the Winter Park Events Center and is set to honor America's workers.

Want to have your event highlighted in our next newsletter? E-mail partyaffairs@floridadems.org!

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