While South Florida DemocraticĀ U.S. Rep.Ā Patrick Murphy is gathering statewide attention today as he becomes the first candidate to officially declare his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Marco Rubio, the liberal wing of the Democratic Party isn’t part of the cheering section for the two-term congressman.
The Progressive Democratic Caucus announced this morning the results of a survey they recently took in which Orlando areaĀ U.S. Rep.Ā Alan Grayson wasĀ its pick to become the party’s 2016 nominee, taking 63 percent of the vote in an informal survey. Other Democrats receiving a “significant number of votes,” including Miami state Sen. Dwight Bullard, Tampa-areaĀ U.S. Rep.Ā Kathy Castor, andĀ U.S. Rep.Ā Ted Deutch, who represents parts of Palm Beach and Broward counties.
“Leadership matters, especially now when issues such as climate change and income inequality are affecting Florida voters,” Progressive Caucus Chair Susan Smith said in a press release. “As this vote indicates, Progressives are clearly looking for a bold champion who will inspire and engage voters. We can’t afford to run former Republicans or corporate Democrats who consider themselves “centrists” but who are really “Republican lite.” If we do that, we lose.”
When asked for comment, Smith said that neither Murphy nor Tallahassee areaĀ Rep. Gwen Graham fit the qualifications of what progressives are looking for in a candidate.
“We don’t have the luxury of putting up candidates who don’t know how to fight for their constituents,” Smith says in her statement. “Grayson is known as the “congressman with guts” for a reason. He is a proven leader that the DPCF would be proud to support in the 2016 Senate race.”
Although conventional wisdom has it that Murphy’s centrism will trump Grayson’s fire liberalism in a general election, the dynamics in a Democratic Party primary will be quite different. Although the progressive caucus got no traction backing Nan Rich for governor last year, Alan Grayson is independently wealthy and has a nationwide group of donors.
“Thereās a real dramatic difference between myself and other candidates in terms of actual accomplishments,ā Grayson boasted to the Hill back in February, telling the website that he has passed 31 amendments in the past two years, and had 15 of his bills incorporated into laws that were signed by President Obama.
āIām not going to single out anybody in particular, but the fact is, Iām not just a progressive Democrat, but a progressive Democrat who has demonstrated how to get things done in a difficult political environment here,” he said.Ā “Slate magazine called me the most effective member of Congress, and that puts me in a fundamentally different position than other potential candidates, whether weāre talking about Patrick or Gwen.ā
Susan Smith wanted to emphasize that they are not endorsing Alan Grayson, or anyone else for Senate at the moment. “We would like to see a good, vibrant primary. We think that’s good for the Democratic Party.”
