Members of the Florida Democratic congressional delegation are fighting back. The group said Tuesday they willl support voters’ rights to have their ballots count in a Jan. 29 statewide presidential primary, in lieu of a later caucus of candidates' supporters as just ordered by the Democratic National Committee.
“We cannot go along with anything but the state-run primary set for next January,” the 10 Democratic lawmakers led by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson said in a joint statement issued today. “We strongly encourage all Democrats to vote for their preferred nominee in that primary, regardless of whatever penalties the DNC might enact."
“The vote is going to matter - period,” the lawmakers said.
Florida’s Democratic congressional delegation is comprised of Nelson and U.S. Reps. Allen Boyd Jr. of Monticello, Corrine Brown of Jacksonville, Kathy Castor of Tampa, Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Ron Klein of Boca Raton, Tim Mahoney of Palm Beach Gardens, Kendrick Meek of Miami, Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston and Robert Wexler of Boca Raton.
The Dems' statement comes after the DNC under Chairman Howard Dean voted to strip the state of its delegates to the national convention if the Florida Democratic Party refuses to hold a caucus on Feb. 5 or later, instead of a binding primary on Jan. 29. The primary date is set by a new law passed recently by the Florida Legislature and signed by Gov. Charlie Crist.