GOP dumps money into red state as midterm panic threatens key lever of power: report

Florida Republicans are expected to hold the state Legislature, but are working hard to keep their supermajorities as the midterms appear to be breaking heavily Democratic, Politico reported on Monday.

Republicans have drawn millions from business interests and megadonors such as Miami hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin, who has given $8 million this cycle to the state GOP’s legislative leadership funds. Senate Republicans have also put over $14 million into TV ads in a few contested South Florida, Tampa and central Florida races, according to AdImpact. House Republicans are telling voters they’ll tackle affordability, which President Donald Trump has described as a "Democratic hoax."

Politico added that Republican candidates face the same forces hitting races nationally: gas prices, the Iran war and economic worry. The outlet reports independents are shifting toward Democrats and that Republicans won’t have the turnout edge they had in the last two elections, including when Gov. Ron DeSantis won by nearly 20 points.

Democrats could win enough seats to end the GOP’s four-year supermajority.

Florida, while Republican-leaning for decades, has in recent years seen a turbocharge of GOP voters ever since President Donald Trump made the state his home base, going from a state that Democrats could sometimes compete in to a state where the GOP consistently wins statewide elections by double digits.

Republicans remain favored overall in statewide races, as Sen. Ashley Moody attempts to fend off a challenge from progressive Democrat Angie Nixon, and Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds seeks the governorship against former Republican Rep. turned Democrat David Jolly. However, the contest could be closer than in recent years, and the effects could spread downballot.

Florida Democrats have already managed some victories since President Donald Trump regained office, including recapturing the mayor's office in Miami for the first time in three decades.