Florida Democratic Party Announces Major Programmatic Growth and Staffing Up Year-Round Organizing Program Ahead of 2026

TALLAHASSEE, FL – One year out from the primary, the Florida Democratic Party is making major investments in statewide and regional staff to strengthen infrastructure and build the momentum needed to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.

“Floridians are being crushed by an affordability crisis, a broken and politicized education system, and skyrocketing costs for food, healthcare, and insurance,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried. “Voters deserve better than Republican corruption in Tallahassee and chaos in Washington. At FDP, we’ve been laser-focused on building the infrastructure we need to channel the energy on the ground.”

The Florida Democratic Party continues to make massive investments across the State to build infrastructure and elect Democrats in 2026 and beyond. We are not shying away from this moment — we are doubling down. We are thrilled to announce the hiring of over 16 staff that will run our signature, year-round organizing program, “Pendulum.”

“Pendulum represents Chair Fried’s landmark investment in FDP’s year-round organizing program. While Florida Republicans use their power to deactivate democratic voters, purge vote-by-mail rolls, and eliminate citizen-led initiatives, Florida Democrats will continue leading year-round voter contact, volunteer training, and candidate recruitment,” said Rachel Berger, Executive Director of the Florida Democratic Party.

From March to July of 2025, the Florida Democratic Party is proud to report: 

  • Contacted 1.2 million voters through volunteer door knocks and calls
  • Cultivated 3,200 volunteers
  • Engaged 32 county parties in vote-by-mail re-enrollment
  • Trained 47 local organizations to lead Voter Registration 
  • Hosted 30 Town Halls throughout Florida to hear directly from voters
  • Visited 8 rural communities from Cedar Key to Keystone Heights as part of our Front Porch Swing rural tour
  • Reached over 10,000 voters across digital events this year
  • Recruited 600 new Democrats to run for office throughout the state since November 2024, an increase of 50% since last cycle
  • Flipped a seat in Gulfport and protected Democrats in New Port Richey and Coconut Creek as part of our Take Back Local program
  • Flipped Escambia county blue for the first time in decades 

Furthermore, highlighting the Party’s strategic statewide investment, the FDP’s new hires and promotions include:

  • Elise Stuewe — Coordinated Director
  • Chris Byrnes — Field Director
  • Alexis Dorman — Voter Registration Director
  • Nora Viñas — Communications Director
  • Whitney Murray Brown — Press Secretary
  • Suzy Smith — Digital Manager, Communications
  • Dave Andrews — Data Director
  • Natalia Perez-Zuniga  — Deputy Finance Director
  • Matty Mendez — Digital Manager, Finance

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