Democrats need to pick up 5 seats to win control of Florida Senate

Andrew Gillum with Audrey Gibson and Gibson’s father

Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Florida, will get to make appointments to many state boards and judicial positions if he is elected on Tuesday. Some of the most important would be the three Florida Supreme Court justice offices that will become vacant on January 8, 2019.

But if the Florida Senate is still under Republican control, Gillum could have a tough time getting his appointees confirmed.

Tomorrow, the Florida Democratic Party has a chance to retake the Senate after 25 years of being in the minority. The Democrats need 21 of the total 40 seats.

According to the Florida Politics blog: “Republicans currently hold a 23-16 advantage in Florida Senate, with one vacancy. Democrats plan to take the chamber back has been clear for months — flip Tampa Bay and field fresh, credible challengers in Gainesville-based SD 8, Lakeland-based SD 22 and Miami-Dade-based SD 36. Win five, win the Senate.”

If the Democrats take the Senate, the new president of the chamber will be Sen. Audrey Gibson of Jacksonville.