Nikki Fried beats Annette Taddeo for state Dem chair, promises reforms

Some local Dems say there needs to be change in Miami-Dade, too

Nikki Fried, the former commissioner of agriculture and consumer affairs who lost the gubernatorial primary last year to Charlie Crist, was voted chair of the Florida Democratic Party Saturday over former Sen. Annette Taddeo, who won her primary but lost the congressional race to Maria Elvira Salazar.

Pobre Annette. What is she going to run for next?

Fried, who got 52% of the vote, immediately promised reforms to the party that saw huge losses in the 2022 midterm elections. Such huge losses that it forced Manny Diaz to resign as chair last month. There were three other candidates, but it was always a race between these two women.

“I’m not even going to say we’re turning a chapter,” Fried told state party members at their meeting in Maitland Saturday, comparing the Democratic Party to the Titanic. “Thirty years of losses? The book is closed.”

The 45-year-old — who, as the only statewide elected Democrat, was a loud and consistent voice against Gov. Ron DeSantis — pledged to keep holding DeSastre’s feet to the fire and put a target on Rick Scott‘s back. She wants to rewrite the bylaws, increase blue voter registration — which is in decline as Republican registrations surge — and sow the field with a bench at local races.

But first, she wants to unite the party, which has been practically crippled by infighting for years.

“This is our time to rebuild the Democratic Party, and to do it together,” Fried said in a statement Saturday afternoon, in the wake of the vote. “To expand opportunities for our movement and our Party by expanding our volunteer and voting base, giving power back to the grassroots leaders, and protecting, electing, and re-electing Democrats across the state.

“While today is a big win for our team, the change we need in Florida does not come from this election, change comes from getting up every day with a mission and purpose, daily acts of service, and empowering those who serve with you,” she said, thanking her team and supporters. “Today, we were reminded once again that we are a big tent party, and that together we can reclaim that fundamental truth — that out of many, we are one.”

But unifying the party is not going to be easy, considering that Fried has been under fire for supporting a Republican friend over a Dem opponent. Also, a bunch of influential blue legislators — including State Rep. Anna Eskamani of Orlando and Sens. Lauren Book and Jason Pizzo — endorsed Annette.

“Thank you @Annette_Taddeo for your leadership in running for @FlaDems Chair,” Eskamani tweeted. ” It was a close race and I remain committed to fighting for everyday people and holding corporations accountable despite whatever direction our state party decides to go. Onward!”

Taddeo, 55, could not be reached for comment Sunday. And her voice mail was full. But she tweeted her congratulations to Fried and made it seem like she is ready to get to work. Taddeo is always doing the work.

“As I said yesterday, no matter the @FlaDems election outcome, my commitment to coming together to elect Democrats up & down the ballot has never wavered and remains as strong as ever,” she wrote, also thanking her “strong coalition of supporters all across Florida.

“I’ll keep fighting to ensure GenZ, progressives and voters from minority communities aren’t left out and that we start winning elections once again!”

Ladra does not expect her to fade away. Not the woman who said, the night that Salazar beat her, that she doesn’t “need a title to get shit done.” Not the woman who tweeted up a storm Friday, posting a photo of a ooops text from then FDP chair Juan Peñalosa and using it to show the level of disrespect and infighting that exists among Dems.

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win,” said the inexhaustible Taddeo. “The SAME braintrust that bankrupted the FDP, committed PPP fraud, and left full time FDP employees with no healthcare will fight you, whether it’s the operatives or those that will do or say anything to keep the undemocratic status quo.

“I’m not new to this,” she said, y no tiene pelos en la lengua. “When I realized that our Party kept losing because it only listened to the consultant cartel & the dozen people with the most votes, I worked behind the scenes for yrs to bring Democracy to the Democratic Party & when I had the opportunity, I voted to fix it.”

Is she talking about Christian Ulvert, her former consultant with whom she has parted ways? He has his hands so deep in the party that he could be blamed for the losses as much as Diaz or anybody else.

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Maybe Taddeo wants to take on the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, which many local Dems think also needs an overhaul. Some have called for Robert Dempster to resign. He refuses. Although Taddeo has been there and done that, it’s a whole new world.

With the 2024 presidential election looming, the Dems are going to need all hands on deck. And if they can’t co chair the FDP maybe they can work together in another way.

Ladra will say it again: It’s a shame that they can’t co-chair. Can you imagine how freaked out the Republicans would be? Fried should rewrite that bylaw so that this opportunity is not lost in the future.

Hear and see both women’s speeches on Saturday on Facebook.

Annette Taddeo, Florida Democratic Party, Nikki Fried

Nikki Fried beats Annette Taddeo for state Dem chair, promises reforms added by Ladra on February 26, 2023
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