🎃 Join 3 million other Floridians and vote early!

Inside: why you should vote, who you should vote for, + a surprise 🍋!

Oct 31, 2024

10/31/2024

Good morning – and happy Halloween!

Benji and I recently said bye 👋🏽 to DC and moved back down to Central Florida, about 20 minutes east of where I grew up. I’ll save the details for a future newsletter, but long story short, we’re expecting!

We’re still adjusting to our new neighborhood, but definitely miss the communal nature and Halloween festivities of Lafayette Park, our former stomping grounds. If you’re looking for something to do tonight, I recommend taking a stroll through the neighborhood where thousands of families are expected to flood the streets in celebration of America’s spookiest holiday.

Speaking of spooky… you know what’s scarier than fake blood and horror films? Sitting out of a pivotal Election that will decide the future direction of our country, State, and local communities.

Over 3 million Floridians have cast their ballots early. If you haven’t voted yet, there’s still time!

The polls close this Saturday, in most Florida counties, before they re-open on Election Day, November 5th, the LAST day to vote.

Get a list of your County’s Early Voting locations by visiting your local Supervisor of Elections website. The ballot is long this year. Make sure you know what’s on it before you head to the polls.

Still undecided?

Follow this flowchart and simple guide.

Why does this Election matter?

Like every election, this one will shape our future and decide which path we’ll take as Americans. Will we choose to decline further into incivility and unaffordability, or end the chaos and work together to reshape our country into one that is fair, affordable, and safe for all?

This election, we have the power to choose who represents us at the federal, state, and local level. Who we choose will directly determine America’s collective priorities for the next four years.

At the Federal level:

Who we elect as President will set a new, overarching agenda and tone in January. Our nation will not survive if we continue to allow hostility to distract us from core issues, like an economy and lax regulatory system that’s hurting hard-working families and individuals.

Trump propels hurtful, divisive rhetoric to divert attention from his own policies that have contributed to a stifling and suffocating economy, where most have limited economic mobility. Trump’s still-intact tax law (expires in 2025) and refusal to properly regulate corporations has shifted excess costs onto everyday Americans, where bail-outs and incessant rate increases have become the norm.

Congress is in a stalemate with slim margins in both chambers, but depending on the Election outcome, our federal representatives will be able to either fulfill or block the desires of the next Presidential Administration (and controlling Party).

And don’t forget, federal representation also influences our court system, which has been on a rampage lately, reversing decades-old decisions that previously promised opportunity and safety to America’s most vulnerable populations.

At the State level:

Republicans hold a supermajority in the Florida State Legislature, meaning they can use the severe party imbalance to pass skewed legislation (and ignore helpful legislation sponsored by Democrats) without modifications or intervention.

Recently, Republicans have used their power to:

implement a punitive and restrictive 6-week ban on abortions (which we have an opportunity to invalidate by voting Yes on Amendment 4)
scrub the existence of homeless people in public spaces
ban local rent control measures
raise the allowed interest rates on pay-day loans to as high as 36% (APR)
bypass raises for public school teachers
deny climate change from State law
outlaw local heat standards and minimum wage requirements

I could go on, but the Republican supermajority endangers all Floridians. This short-sighted legislative approach punishes people instead of encouraging supportive economic and regulatory environments that solve critical issues.

At the Local level:

Our local communities are most impacted by decisions made in City Hall and County Chambers. While most local governments operate in a non-partisan manner, there is usually a majority voting bloc that drives direction.

Tallahassee: there is a big battle between Commissioner Curtis Richardson and former Commissioner Dot Inman-Johnson. The theme of this race is control. The consistent 3-2 vote split on the City Commission represents a lack of cohesion and is a barrier to progress. Here’s a list of pros vs. cons for each candidate, but generally speaking, if you want to keep Tallahassee the same, vote for Richardson. If not, vote for Inman-Johnson.
Orange County: while I’m still new to the area, one of the most apparent issues is development. So much new construction, with little forethought, has led to infuriating congestion, bloated roads, and the rapid disappearance of rural lands. Candidates running to serve on the Orange County Commission will set new rules on development that could lead to more livable communities or extend the trend of mass-produced, single-family housing developments.

With our vote, we can invite a new America that places ideals like economic stability and community over special interests. I can’t wait for the day that Florida and America embraces affordable, sustainable development and a more robust transit system to better connect friends and families and stimulate, while protecting, rural economies.

Already voted?

Great – now help get out the vote!

✅Remind your family and friends to go vote.

✅Donate to a campaign! Today is the last day for campaigns to raise money. (Suggestion: Nate Douglas, a Gen-Z policy researcher running in one of Florida’s most flippable seats to help break the Republican supermajority)

Shelby's Campaign Diary

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