Candidate Info

How Many Seats Do We Need to Win to Gain Real Power in the Florida Legislature? 

  The Florida house is comprised of 120 seats. These seats are held for 2 years.  So every election, just like the U.S. House, every Florida House seat is on the ballot.   Right now, 85 seats are Republicans, and 35 seats are Democrats. That is a large gap. The good news: this election we have more Democrats running for these seats than in decades past.  We all have to do our part to flip as many seats as we can.  We need to flip 26 seats to take the majority in the Florida house.   

The Florida senate is comprised of 40 seats, right now 27 Republican, and 13 Democrat. These seats are for four year terms (the U.S. Senate terms are 6 years each.) So, every two years, half of the senate seats are on the ballots. We need to pick up 8 seats to get the majority in the Florida Senate.  Again, we have more Democrats running for the Florida Senate seats than we have had in decades.  It’s up to each of us, to vote for our candidates, and encourage others to do the same!  Florida has been under Republican rule for 30 years.  They keep telling us that they will work on making our lives better; but clearly once they get elected, they no longer care about those promises!  It’s time for a Blue Wave Florida!  

How Many Seats Do We Need to Win to Gain Real Power in the U.S.  Legislature? 

We are so close on this one.  Let’s talk about the U.S. House first and why it matters.  Right now, the Republicans have 217 members, the Democrats 214 members, Independents 1,  and there are  3 vacancies.  We pick up 4 seats and we have the majority and the speakership in the House. 

Key facts about the US House:  

1. Investigates the Executive Branch. 
2. Passes legislation by a simple majority vote.
3. All tax and spending bills start in the House.  
4. Conducts impeachment trials. Simple majority passes. 

U.S. Senate elects 2 Senators per state.  Currently Republicans have 53 and Democrats and Independents (they caucus together) have 47.  We only need 4 flips to take the control in the Senate. 

Key Facts about the US Senate: 

1. The Senate confirms all Judicial nominees including the Supreme Court.  (The Supreme Court has ruled against civil rights legislation, abortion rights,  and immigrants rights. Their rulings have a tremendous effect on the citizens of this country.)
2. Confirms Presidential Appointments
3. Passes legislation by a two/thirds (67 members) vote. 
4. Conducts Impeachment trials (it does take 2/3 vote to impeach in the Senate.) But the trials will happen. 
5. Works with the House to pass budgets, legislation, and declare War (which the current Republicans never did; they just allow Trump to do what he wants.)