Florida GOP tops Democratic registered voters by 1 million in political milestone

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The number of registered Republican voters in Florida officially surpassed Democrats by more than 1 million on Sunday, a milestone reflecting political shifts in the Sunshine State and the largest margin for the GOP since the late 1980s.

The newest figures – based on up-to-date numbers from county election supervisors – showed 5.33 million active Republican voters, compared to 4.33 million Democrats – a difference of 1,000,024 voters early Sunday. That means Republicans make up nearly 37% of Florida’s voters, compared to about 29% for Democrats.

A significant number of voters in Florida, 3.92 million, or just over 34%, are affiliated with no political party or the minor parties.

These are among the factors that drove Republican gains, or held back Democrats, according to interviews with experts and voters:

Shifting political views across Florida, once considered a battleground swing state, where Republicans now control the governor's office, both houses in the Legislature, both U.S. Senate offices and 18 of 30 congressional seats. This is notable among Hispanic voters, especially in South Florida, who have newly embraced conservative themes and championed the GOP’s descriptions of Democrats as socialists.
A Republican-backed law, which took effect last year, cracking down on outside voter registration organizations, which historically enrolled Black, Hispanic and college-age voters. These are groups that traditionally skew Democratic. The law imposes expensive fines up to $250,000 on groups that miss tight new deadlines or employ felons or non-citizens to help register voters. Most such third-party organizations have effectively shut down their operations in Florida.
Florida becoming a destination for conservatives moving from elsewhere in the United States. The state’s population has passed 23 million for the first time, adding roughly 600,000 people who move to Florida every year for the past decade, according to the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Progressives, especially LGBTQ families, who moved out of Florida over GOP-backed laws and policies that made them uneasy, or residents who struggled with rising housing and insurance costs. About 450,000 each year move out of Florida, according to the chamber’s figures.
Florida is a closed primary state, meaning a voter can’t cast a ballot in a Republican or Democratic primary unless the voter is registered in that party: Some voters change party affiliation strategically – which is allowed – to vote for or against candidates they otherwise couldn't. The state’s Democrats canceled Florida’s presidential primary in March.

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