Politico notes yesterday Senator Nelson’s announcement:
By announcing on Monday his intention to filibuster Gorsuch, Nelson raised questions about the judge's path to 60 votes and revealed a shift in political fault lines in the confirmation fight. Faced with the prospect of a primary challenge in the event he didn’t filibuster and the likelihood of a tough general election campaign against GOP Gov. Rick Scott either way, Nelson chose to lock down his left flank.
“Bill Nelson is usually a centrist on issues like this, but he may be influenced by talk of him having a primary opponent,” said state Sen. Randolph Bracy, who’s considering a primary challenge of the senator.”
Pam Keith, another potential opponent said:
“Bottom-line is that the base is far more strident than they are,” Keith continued, adding that rank-and-file Democrats have much to lose if their elected officials help Trump. “The grassroots could give a damn about ‘collegiality' or decorum in the halls of Congress. I think the leaders are learning that the appetite for outright obstruction is as high on our side as it ever was for the Tea Party.”
I am sure some will argue Nelson was going to do this anyway. There is, of course, no way of knowing for certain.
There are 4 statewide offices elected in Florida at the State Level, in addition to the two Senate seats.
Here is how Democrats have done in Florida since 2000:
Florida Statewide races since 2000The very fact that liberals in Florida are talking about a primary for Nelson might seem delusional given this record. But in the aftermath of 2016 progressives are tired of running moderate Democrats in Florida. Neither of the last two candidates for Governor, Alex Sink nor Charlie Crist, were remotely liberal. The smart money from DC told Floridians that they were the only ones who could win. The same logic lead to the closing of ranks behind Patrick Murphy, who was endorsed here in the primary and who gave money to Mitt Romney in 2008 (The primary liberal candidate was in truth arguably a lunatic).
In mid-term elections the Democratic problem has been constant since 1998: we have run bland moderates and as a result have not been able to turn the vote out in the big three southern counties: Broward, Palm and Dade.
Susan Smith, head of the Florida Progressive Caucus, has noted an enormous increase in turnout for her meetings, and for Party meetings in general. This increased activism carries with it an increased focus on what our Party leaders are doing, and a reduced tolerance for leadership that wants continue with business as usual.
I am actually pretty wary of a Primary Challenge to Nelson: but the mere fact that there is a threat of one suggests the Democratic base has been transformed by the election of Donald Trump.