MIAMI.– Governor Ron DeSantis warned Florida Republicans that having more registered voters does not guarantee a victory if his supporters remain at home, after acknowledging that the party’s early voting is below his expectations less than a week before the November 3 elections.
The president made the statement on Wednesday in Crystal River, after participating in Brooksville in a proselytizing activity in support of Congressman Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate to succeed him against Democrat David Jolly.
DeSantis affirmed that Republicans need to improve mobilization and prevent discontent with the national situation from driving them away from the polls. He also promoted Amendment 3 on property taxes as another reason to participate.
Less enthusiasm than in 2022
The governor compared the current atmosphere with that of his re-election four years ago, when, as he recalled, his followers showed an especially intense willingness to vote. DeSantis assured that he sees lower participation among young Republicans and middle-aged adults.
In particular, he pointed to parents in their 30s and 40s who mobilized around controversies over schools, masks and restrictions during the pandemic.
The call also seeks to protect the continuity of its state agenda. DeSantis endorses Donalds and presents the election of the next governor as a decision about the direction of Florida after his two consecutive terms.
What the numbers really say
Florida Politics on Wednesday placed the cumulative participation at around 3.7 million people. Approximately 40% were registered Republicans, 39% were Democrats, and 21% were unaffiliated voters or those belonging to other parties.
The proximity becomes relevant because Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than 1.5 million registered in the state. However, participation percentages identify the affiliation of those who came to vote, not the preferences marked on their ballots.
Therefore, these figures do not allow us to affirm that Donalds or Jolly lead the scrutiny. They also do not anticipate how many supporters of each organization will participate on election day. The result will also depend on the independents, the partisan intersections and the final mobilization.
There are still opportunities to vote before Tuesday. Florida’s mandatory early voting period ends Saturday, although counties may offer additional days.
In Miami-Dade and Broward, the centers will remain open until Sunday, November 1.
