‘Don’t sleep on Florida this election cycle.’ LGBTQ+ Democrats and allies open South Florida voter mobilization office

It was almost time for happy hour, but the crowd was told there wasn’t much time.

And the 75 or so people — including a member of Congress and three east Broward mayors — packed into the side room of a restaurant and bar Friday afternoon weren’t there for end-of-the-week libations.

They were all about the work, specifically political outreach to voters between now and Election Day. With a little more than six weeks until Nov. 5, and with voting-by-mail about to begin, they were pushed to do more than hang out with other Democrats at the end of the work day.

“These events are wonderful, and I thank you for being here, thank you for creating visibility” by taking pictures to post on social media and show friends, said Alfredo Olvera, the Broward state Democratic committeeman and president of the Dolphin Democrats LGBTQ+ political club.

That’s not nearly enough, he said: “If we don’t make phone calls, if you don’t walk (door to door), if we don’t write thank you notes, nothing is going to happen.”

His mission was to amp up the people who gathered at the newly opened Democratic Get Out the Vote Center in Wilton Manors, one of several in Broward. The center, sponsored by the Dolphins and the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, is aimed at mobilizing LGBTQ+ voters, a central component of the coalition Democrats depend on to win elections.

“You need to use this center. Otherwise it doesn’t make any sense for us to be here,” Olvera said. “We have an assignment to do. And it’s not by staying home.”

Elected officials and candidates, both LGBTQ and straight, offered a similar message.

“What do you think about this election so far? Not enough work is getting done,” said Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton.

Everyone in the room is sure to vote, he said, but that’s not good enough. Newton said, urging attendees to reach out to all their friends and neighbors and, if need be, “drag them to the polls.”

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, said a robust turnout in Broward could help reverse years of defeats at the hands of Florida Republicans.

“We have to make sure that we cover Broward County in opportunities to get people turned out to vote. Why? Because we are the bluest county in this state and we have to make sure we run up the score here,” she said.

Wasserman Schultz talked up a prospect that few analysts see as likely: Vice President Kamala Harris defeating former President Donald Trump in Florida.

“Don’t sleep on Florida this election cycle. We have to make sure that we do everything we can to prove the doubters wrong and to make sure that on November 5th, that we are the surprise of the United States of America,” she said. “Yeah, we’re the underdogs. There’s no question we’re the underdogs here. But the LGBTQ+ community knows how to fight and they know how to win like underdogs.”

Wasserman Schultz also said that U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. — who most independent analysts see as likely to win — can be defeated by former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, the Democratic candidate.

“It is a one- or two-point race, my friends. Debbie can win. Don’t — don’t — discount that race, get fully involved. There are canvases going on for DMP all weekend long. Please join one of them. Come to one of our offices, get on the phone ,and start helping to turn out the vote for her,” Wasserman Schultz said.. “We need to turn all of these Florida voters into believers, because we’ve had so many years of losses statewide, we can make sure that we punch her through.”

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor, implored people to make sure voters don’t just vote for president and high-profile offices and go home.

“As you go down on the ticket, it’s really, really important because we are the people that impact your day-to-day life,” said Trantalis, who is running for reelection.

Democrats have had election-season offices before in Wilton Manors, the unofficial capital of the LGBTQ+ community in South Florida. This year, a second office is being established, opening Tuesday in Tampa.

Jason Loring, president of the LGBTQ+ Log Cabin Republicans of Broward County, said he wasn’t familiar with what the Democrats groups did on Friday, and declined via text to comment.

Kristen Prata Browde, president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, also said with enough work Democrats have reason for optimum, and invoked Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to motivate the volunteers. “There’s not much time. But we are going to take back Florida.”

Anthony Man can be reached at moc.lenitnesnus@nama and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.