Why these white Republicans are protest-voting in Florida's midterm election - Miami Herald

Florida’s Republicans are voting for Democratic candidates in the 2026 midterm election, driven by frustration with the party’s dominance and policies, according to the Miami Herald. Palmetto Bay resident Tom Gray, an 81-year-old Republican, has voted for Democrats three times in his 50-year political history, including for Kamala Harris in 2024 and Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly and U.S. Senate candidate Angie Nixon in 2026. Gray cited anger at the Republican Party’s “overdoing” of policies affecting South Florida’s immigrant communities and rising living costs, saying, “They’ve overdone going after the people that are the heartbeat of South Florida. Throwing a lot of them away is pretty heartless.”

Despite Trump’s absence from the ballot, Gray views the midterms as a referendum on the man in charge. Democrats face a registration disadvantage in Florida, but crossover votes could tip statewide races. Polls from the University of North Florida, Stetson University, and the James Madison Institute show Democrats gaining more Republican support than Republicans securing Democratic votes. The University of North Florida found 11% of Republicans planning to vote for Jolly, compared to 5% of Democrats for Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. However, polls by St. Pete Polls indicate Jolly and Donalds received similar shares of cross-party voters.

Frustration with One-Party Rule

Gray’s shift reflects broader discontent among white voters, who comprise 78% of the party’s base in Florida. His vote for Democrats is rooted in opposition to Trump’s policies, including his deportation agenda, and concerns over economic pressures. “Anything is better than Trump,” Gray said, noting his decision to support Democratic candidates “because it’s really just anger at the party.”

Polls Show Shifting Tides

Recent surveys highlight the volatility of cross-party voting. Byron Donalds, a Black Republican candidate for governor, has sought to mobilize Black Democrats, but polls show mixed results. The Miami Herald reported that “it remains unclear who will benefit more from the pivotal voters opting for candidates outside their party registration.”

Source: Miami Herald

Trump and DeSantis Meet Amid Shifting Tides

Supporters of President Donald Trump reacted during a midterm campaign rally to support Republican candidates running in Florida, including Republican gubernatorial nominee Byron Donalds, the source article notes.

Worth a look