Florida's political landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation since the 1960s. Once a Democratic stronghold, the state shifted towards Republican control, influenced by demographic changes, economic factors, and cultural shifts.
Key figures like , , and have shaped Florida's politics. As a battleground state with 29 electoral votes, Florida remains crucial in national elections, attracting significant campaign attention and resources.
Political Evolution in Florida
Florida's political shift
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The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original
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The Nature of Public Opinion – American Government (2e – Second Edition) View original
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Political Parties: What are they and how do they function? | United States Government View original
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The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original
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The Nature of Public Opinion – American Government (2e – Second Edition) View original
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Top images from around the web for Florida's political shift
The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original
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The Nature of Public Opinion – American Government (2e – Second Edition) View original
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Political Parties: What are they and how do they function? | United States Government View original
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The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original
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The Nature of Public Opinion – American Government (2e – Second Edition) View original
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Democratic dominance (1877-1960s) characterized "" era where conservative Democrats controlled state politics
weakened Democratic hold led to realignment of political parties
growth (1960s-present) utilized Southern Strategy to appeal to conservative voters
status (1990s-2010s) marked by close elections and alternating party control
Recent Republican lean (2010s-present) saw GOP control of state government with narrow margins in presidential elections
Growth of Republican Party
Demographic changes brought influx of retirees from Northeastern and Midwestern states and growth
Economic factors promoted business-friendly policies and low-tax environment
Cultural shifts emphasized and support
Urbanization and suburbanization fueled growth of conservative-leaning suburbs
National political trends influenced by and
Key figures in Florida politics
Jeb Bush (Republican) served as governor from 1999-2007 implemented and conservative fiscal policies
Charlie Crist began as Republican governor (2007-2011) switched to Democrat in 2012 known for moderate policies and
rose as Tea Party favorite became U.S. Senator since 2011
governed from 2011-2019 focused on job creation and tax cuts
Ron DeSantis current governor since 2019 pursues conservative policies and maintains national profile
Florida as battleground state
Large number of electoral votes 29 (as of 2020) makes Florida third-largest swing state
Demographic diversity creates microcosm of national population with varied regional interests
Close margins in presidential races exemplified by and consistent nail-biter results
Campaign resource allocation leads to heavy advertising spending and frequent candidate visits
Policy focus on Florida issues addresses environmental concerns () and senior citizen interests
Influence on party platforms seen in appeal to Hispanic voters and addressing climate change concerns