There are few events in the history of our country where everyone can remember where they were and what they were doing when it happened. Donald Trump’s election is one of them. In the last century, no Republican has won the White House without winning Florida. Only once in the last 60 years has the winner of Florida not gone on to win the White House. As the largest county in the largest swing state in the nation, Miami-Dade is the most important county in the country when it comes to denying him a second term. It is on us to lead the charge.

In July, I started as the Executive Director of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party. I first moved to Miami in 2012, and spent four years at Homestead Senior High School. As a public school teacher you spend every moment of each day thinking about potential. Through a number of roles during that time and since, I have come to believe equally in the limitless potential we have in Miami and the hard work needed to help us bring it out.

We are down to ten candidates who qualified for the next Democratic Presidential Primary debate to be broadcast live from Houston. Televised on ABC and Univision (with Spanish translation), we invite voters to join us at select venues in Miami-Dade.

It’s no exaggeration to say the 2020 U.S. Presidential election is the most important election of our lives. Previous generations have stood up at moments like this. We must do so as well.  

But for us in Miami, this is especially true. Miami-Dade County is one of a select number of places across the country that can play an outsized role in determining the outcome.  The reason: Miami-Dade County is the biggest county in the biggest swing state in the country. 

If the Democratic nominee wins big in Miami-Dade, it can play a key role in winning Florida. And if the Democratic nominee wins Florida, the White House will be won too. More than a century has passed since the last Republican won the White House without Florida.

Miami, FL – On August 20^th, forty-one House Democrats proposed a special session addressing gun violence in Florida. Republican leadership in both the House and Senate quickly dismissed the idea, rejecting an opportunity to immediately address Florida’s gun violence epidemic. 

Miami, FL – The Miami Herald recently reported Lt. Governor Núñez and Doral Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez participated in an event with the anti-immigrant group “Federation for American Immigration Reform” (FAIR) as part of Trump’s Hispanic Outreach.  FAIR has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for their extremist anti-immigrant and anti-Latino agenda. 

Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, 3rd from right, at event with anti-immigrant hate group FAIR

On Saturday, August 17, the Florida Democratic Party Rules Committee approved an amended resolution sponsored by Miami-Dade Democratic Party Chair Steve Simeonidis that would allow unaffiliated voters to vote in Democratic Primaries. Florida is currently a closed primary state. If an unaffiliated voter wants to participate in a primary, they currently would have to update their registration 29 days prior to the primary election. This barrier disenfranchises millions of unaffiliated voters, a growing number of which are young people and Hispanics.

The resolution now goes to the Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee in October.

In 1984, the Republican Party imposed what became known as the global “gag rule”, prohibiting federal funds to support health organizations that discussed family planning, the use of contraceptives, or access to abortion.  It has since been overturned by every Democratic president, and reinstituted under every Republican administration.  Extensive research on these thirty years has been clear: when funding is reduced for health-focused organizations that so much as discuss family planning, there is the unintended consequence of an increase in abortions due to more unplanned pregnancies.

WE HONOR THE VICTIMS OF THE EL PASO AND OHIO SHOOTINGS AND PROTEST INACTION ON GUN CONTROL BY STATE AND NATIONAL LAWMAKERS

The Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Miami Dade, the People’s Progressive Caucus of Miami Dade, Alianza for Progress, Young Progressives of America, The Maurice A. Ferré Puerto Rican Democratic Club and Florida Immigrant Coalition will hold a protest to demand action.

On Tuesday, August 6^th, organizations, groups and individuals will gather at 6:30 PM in front of the Freedom Tower 600 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, to honor the victims of this weekend’s shootings and to protest the inaction from local and national lawmakers on gun reform.