Senate Democrats reaffirm Lauren Ebook as caucus Chief, shake off pink wave – Florida Politics

Two weeks after Senate Republicans gained their first supermajority in a decade, the minority caucus has reaffirmed Lauren Ebook as Democratic Chief for an additional time period.

In a ceremony Monday, as lawmakers return to Tallahassee to organize for the 2023 Legislative Session, Democrats unanimously elected Ebook as Chief and Sen. Jason Pizzo as Chief Professional Tempore for the 2022-24 time period. Together with her re-election, Ebook now shepherds a flock with three-quarters the members she had earlier than the election earlier this month.

Looming over the ceremony had been Democrats’ resounding losses throughout Florida within the 2022 Normal Election two weeks prior. Republicans grew their majority from 24 of 40 to twenty-eight of 40, selecting off Sens. Loranne Ausley and Janet Cruz and giving them another Senator than wanted for a two-thirds majority.

“We could also be down, however we actually should not out,” Ebook informed her caucus, “and what issues now, my pals, is how we rise.”

Enacting a imaginative and prescient pushed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Legislature handed legal guidelines on elections and culture war points round education. Democrats stiffly opposed the measures in useless.

Pizzo mirrored on their legislative losses and outlined the mission for the Democratic Caucus going ahead.

“We 12 endeavor to guard the underserved and forgotten, expose inconvenient truths, defend all women and men, resist a sample of revisionist historical past — which seeks solely to appease different sensitivities by bleaching the battle and achievements of your ancestors and the stark actuality that it was a lot more durable for a lot of of your moms and dads to be right here and seated on this, the higher chamber of the third largest state within the nation.”

Ebook described a “struggle” that has endured over a number of months.

“Battles that started within this chamber spilled out into Senate districts throughout the state,” she continued. “And though we fought laborious to defend Floridians rights and freedoms to be a powerful voice for working folks, we’ve got suffered nice losses, massive losses which can pressure a basic shift in the best way we function on this very battlefield.”

With their supermajority, Republicans will be capable of shut Democrats out of a lot of the legislative and debate course of, together with in last-minute amendments. It marks Senate Republicans’ first supermajority for the reason that 2010-12 time period.

Former Democratic Chief Oscar Braynon emceed the ceremony, a lot of which additionally addressed gun violence. Fred Guttenberg, the daddy of Parkland sufferer Jaime Guttenberg, addressed the caucus with a gap prayer he mentioned was extra a mirrored image on his religion he has shied away from since Jaime’s dying.

“I hope that below the management of my pal, Senator Lauren Ebook, that you just all do no matter it’s essential to to maintain the present administration from forcing harmful adjustments that can result in extra gun violence and extra funerals associated to gun violence,” Guttenberg mentioned.

Republicans, like Senate President-designate Kathleen Passidomo, attended the assembly, as did Democratic members of the Home, like Chief-designate Fentrice Driskell. Friends included dignitaries like former Sen. Invoice Montford, whose successor, Ausley, misplaced Senate District 3 to Republicans for the primary time in many years.

Regardless of their statewide losses up and down the poll, Democrats maintained their religion in Ebook and her capacity to barter with Republicans. With Passidomo and Ebook, each Senate caucuses will probably be led by girls for the primary time in Florida historical past.

Whereas it’s Ebook’s second time period as Democratic Chief, Monday marked her first ceremony Ebook obtained honoring her coronation. Ebook ascended to Democratic Chief with three days remaining within the 2021 Common Session after the caucus voted to remove former Sen. Gary Farmer from the place.

Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Miami Gardens Democrat returning for his second time period within the Senate, informed members that Ebook was a powerful alternative.

“Once I journey throughout the state, I typically hear from individuals who say that the Legislature is overwhelmed by partisan tensions,” Jones mentioned. “Confirming Senator Ebook will assist to win again confidence that we will work collectively to do the suitable factor.”

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