Welcome to

Florida Democrats didn’t do as well as the national party… but they did score some unexpected wins on Tuesday. Luis Navarro… the executive director of the state party… says they captured seven additional seats in the House of Representatives and the office of Chief Financial Officer on the state cabinet.

“Yesterday was a huge day for us. I mean, it’s the first state cabinet position that we’ve won since 1998. First time a non-incumbent has won a state cabinet position since 1990. The reelection of Bill Nelson, obviously. Picking up two, possibly three congressional seats… we’re now engaged in a recount in district 13. That on top of the seven house seats. Obviously, it was a good day for Florida democrats.”

Democrats are still outnumbered in the house, the senate and the state cabinet, but Navarro says they’re starting to make some inroads into a state government that has been ruled by the GOP for eight years.

“I think it sends a message that, you know, voters want to see greater accountability in Tallahassee, you know. Alex Sink and these seven house members are going to be very instrumental in making sure that lower insurance rates and a reformed education policy… a reformed FCAT… are high priorities in Tallahassee.”

Tuesday’s election was important for the House Democrats because they now have one third of the seats in the house… which is enough to block GOP leaders on procedural votes. For the past four years, the GOP had so many votes in the house that they could ignore the Democrats.