Representative says Florida turning from purple to pink

State Rep. Sam Garrison gave the Federated Republican Women of Fleming Island his view of the governor’s race and trends affecting statewide politics during the group’s Thursday, Oct. 20 meeting at the Magnolia Point Clubhouse in Green Cove Springs.

Garrison, who is in line to be the Speaker of the House in 2026, said the Sunshine State is trending Republican.

“We used to be a purple state,” he said. “I like to say now I think we’re officially a pink state. I’d like us to be a red state, but we’re heading in the right direction.”

Garrison credited Gov. Ron DeSantis with the party’s advances in Florida.

He said when the governor took office in 2019, there were 250,000 more Democrats than Republicans registered in the Sunshine State. Now, Republicans outnumber Democrats by 280,000.

“People really appreciate the job he’s done,” the Fleming Island representative added.  

Garrison said registration and voting trends are shifting significantly in two areas: Orlando and Miami.

“Ten, 15, 20 years ago, Seminole County, Orange County, that area was reliably Republican, and Miami-Dade was reliably Democrat,” he said. “Over the last five or six years, we’re seeing a real shift in that. Seminole County and Orange County are blue counties at this point. We’re seeing Republicans make substantial gains in Miami-Dade to levels that would’ve been just dreamed about five or six years ago.”

Garrison added that it is difficult to pinpoint the reasons behind Democrat gains in Central Florida, but he said Republican gains in South Florida are directly attributable to Hispanic voters, particularly immigrants from Central America.