As Republicans set their sights on Northeast Florida, a group of young Democrats is preparing to fight back.
More than 50 people are expected to attend the annual convention of the Florida Young Democrats from Friday through Sunday at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront to discuss the future of politics, activism and electoral participation.
The choice of Jacksonville "shows a display of confidence in the younger voters of our city, and this decision is emblematic of just how important Jacksonville will be in turning Florida blue this November," convention chair Cole Gabriel, president of the Jacksonville Young Democrats, said in a news release.
But the challenges lying before Democrats are significant. Although Florida has been considered a swing state nationally, Republicans have controlled the governor's office and Legislature since 1999. And when Duval County voted for President Joe Biden in the last election, it was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate had won the county since 1976.
On their website, the Young Democrats refer to midterm elections next fall as "the fight of a lifetime."
"Young people will be the most important group in making sure that we don't have another four years of Republican leadership that targets LGBTQ+ citizens, erases history from school curricula, and ignores the real issues that our citizens face in Florida," the group says.
The organization represents people ages 14 to 40 and also supports young candidates and candidates who support the interests of young people.
Training on the weekend will include social media and communications, labor organizing (featuring Starbucks union organizers in Jacksonville) and tactics for engaging young people in diverse communities.
Among the expected guests are Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and state Sen. Annette Taddeo, both candidates for governor, as well as Florida Democratic Party Chairman Manny Diaz and several other candidates for statewide and congressional offices.
