Dolphin Democrats

Politics in the Broward County LGBTQ+ Community

Endorsements

Candidate Forum: State Senate D-35 & Tax Collector

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📣 Join us for the Dolphin Democrats Candidate Forum! State Senate D-35 & Broward County Tax Collector 🐬🎉
We invite you to come out and meet the candidates who are committed to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
🗓 Date: July 2, 2024
⏰ Check-In Time: 6:00 PM
📍 Location: Pride Center
The State Senate D-35 is an open seat and for the first time, we will be electing someone to Tax Collector in Broward County. This will be a great opportunity to meet and hear from all the qualified candidates for both seats before our endorsement meeting. Let’s come together, get informed, and make our voices heard.
Your participation is crucial in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.
See you there!

2024 Endorsement Process

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The Dolphin Democrats will start the 2024 Endorsement cycle at the July 8th Membership Meeting. You must be a member for at least 30 days before the endorsement meeting to be able to vote for any candidate. We encourage our members to read about the endorsement process in Article XII (pages 16-19) of our bylaws.

Here is a tentative list of all the races that we might endorse; a final list with dates will be sent to all voting members after the June 15th Candidate Qualifying deadline. Due to the large number of candidates, we will also facilitate some of the endorsements via Zoom meetings.

August 20th Primary Election
Tentative Endorsements
State Senate District 35
State House Districts: 98, 99
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Sheriff
Tax Collector
Supervisor of Elections
County Commission District 7 & 9
School Board Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, & 9

Tentative Recommendations
17th Circuit Judge Groups 1, 18, 38,
County Judge Groups 6, 10, 16, 25 & 32

November 5th General Election
Tentative Endorsements
State Senate Districts 35 & 37
State House Districts 100, 102, 103 & 105
County Commission Districts 1, 7
Municipal Endorsements: Cities to be announced

We would like to remind our members that Joe Biden has been endorsed by the Florida Democratic Party; therefore the Dolphin Dems automatically endorse him as well.   In addition, all Federal races like Congress & Senate are endorsed by the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Members.

We look forward to your participation in the endorsement process this year.

Alfredo Olvera – President

 

March Election Municipal Endorsements – Coconut Creek

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The Dolphin Democrats will be endorsing candidates to the March 14, 2023 Municipal Election.  The endorsement meeting will take place at the Annual General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023.

Candidates from Coconut Creek Commission Seats A & D have presented their questionnaire. You can ready the completed questionnaires HERE.

Only Dolphin Democrats members who have joined on or before January 10, 2023 will be eligible to vote on the endorsement.  A candidate must get 2/3 of the votes to be able to win the endorsement.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected] 

2022 General Election Endorsements & Recommendations Card

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The Dolphin Democrats Campaign & Election Committee, the Board or Directors and members have endorsed and recommended the following candidates for the Tuesday, November 8, 2022 General Election.

IMPORTANT DATES: 

  • Last day to register to vote: Tuesday, October 11, 2022
  • Verify your voter registration, voting location and check your sample ballot by clicking HERE
  • Vote-By-Mail:
    • Last day to request a ballot is Saturday, October 29, 2022
    • Make sure to mail your ballot at least 10 days before election day
  • Early Voting:
    • From Monday, October 24th thru Sunday, November 6th
    • You can drop you Vote-By-Mail ballot at any early voting locations
    • Click HERE for early voting locations
    • Early voting locations will be open from 7:00am – 7:00pm
    • Some early voting locations might not be the same, or open on election day
  • Election Day
    • Tuesday, November 8, 2022
    • Polls will open from 7:00am – 7:00pm
    • Click HERE to find your voting location on election day

ENDORSEMENTS

FEDERAL CANDIDATE

  • U.S. Senate
    • Val Demings
  • U.S. Congress
    • Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick – D-20
    • Jared Moskowitz – D-23
    • Frederica Wilson – D-24
    • Debbie Wasserman Schultz – D-24

STATE CANDIDATES: 

  • Governor & Lieutenant Governor
    • Charlie Crist & Karla Hernandez
  • Attorney General 
    • Aramis Ayala
  • Chief Financial Officer
    • Adam Hattersley
  • Commissioner of Agriculture
    • Naomi Esther Blemur (Not endorsed by Dolphin Dems or FL LGBTQ+ Dems, but part of unity ticket)
  • State Senate
    • Tina Polsky – District 30
  • State House
    • Linda Thompson Gonzalez – District 100
    • Hillary Cassel – District 101
    • Robin Bartleman – District 104
    • Marie Woodson – District 105

BROWARD COUNTY MUNICIPALITIES 

  • Cooper City
    • Jeremy Katzman – Commission D-1
  • Dania Beach
    • Luis Rimoli – Commission At-Large
  • Fort Lauderdale
    • Ken Keechl – D-1
    • Yvette Dubose – D-3
  • Hollywood
    • Kevin Biederman – Commission D-5
  • Margate
    • Joanne Simone – Commission Seat 5
  • Oakland Park (Vote for 2 candidates)
    • Tim Lonergan – Commission At-Large
    • Letitia Newbold – Commission At-Large
  • Plantation
    • Nick Sortal – Mayor
    • Denise Horland – Council Group 2
    • Louis Reinstein – Council Group 5
  • Pompano Beach
    • Barry Moss – Commission D-5
  • Sunrise
    • Jacqueline Guzman – Commission Seat D
  • Tamarac
    • Mile Gelin  – Mayor
    • Alexandra Alvarez – Commission D-2
    • Carol Mendelson – Commission D-4
  • Wilton Manors (Vote for 2 candidates to commission)
    • Scott Newton – Mayor
    • Paul Rolli – Commission At-Large

BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

  • Rodney Gabriel Velez – District 1
  • Ruth Carter Lynch – District 5
  • Steven Julian – District 6
  • Allen Zeman – District 8 At-Large

RECOMMENDATIONS

JUDICIAL RECOMMENDATIONS

  • COUNTY COURT
    • Suzette O. Hyde
  • CIRCUIT COURT DISTRICT 17
    • Gary M. Farmer – Group 23
    • Tamar Hamilton – Group 51
  • FLORIDA SUPREME COURT 
    • Justice Jorge Labarga – Vote YES to retain
    • Vote NO on other Justices
  • FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
    • Ed Artay – Vote NO
    • Vote YES to retain other Judges

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

  • Vote NO on all 3 amendments

BROWARD COUNTY CHARTER QUESTIONS 

  • Vote YES on both questions

Here is a printable version of all our endorsements and recommendations: 2022 General Election_ Endorsements Recommendations

Endorsements & Recommendations Announcement

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The members of the Dolphin Democrats endorsed and recommended the following candidates running for office on November 8th.  We would like to thank all the candidates who participated in the process, our members who attended the endorsement meetings, the Board of Directors and the Campaign & Elections committee for their hard work.

Congratulations to all the endorsed and recommended candidates. We look forward to support these pro-equality candidates in the November 8th election.  Please stay tuned for volunteer opportunities to help getting out the vote.

ENDORSEMENTS
Tina Polsky for State Senate District 19

Hillary Cassel for State House District 101
Robin Bartleman for State House District 104

Jeremy Katzman for Cooper City Commission District 1

Luis Rimoli for Dania Beach Commission At-Large

Ken Keechl for Ft. Lauderdale Commission District 1
Yvette DuBose for Ft. Lauderdale Commission District 3

Kevin Biederman for Hollywood Commission District 5

Joanne Simone for Margate Commission District Seat 5

Tim Lonergan for Oakland Park Commission At-Large
Letitia Newbold for Oakland Park Commission At-Large

Nick Sortal for Plantation Mayor
Denise Horland for Plantation Council Group 2
Louis Reinstein for Plantation Council Group 5

Barry Moss for Pompano Beach Commission District 5

Jacqueline Guzman for Sunrise Commission Seat D

Mike Gelin for Tamarac Mayor
Alexandra Alvarez for Tamarac Commission District 2
Carol Mendelson for Tamarac Commission District 4

Scott Newton for Wilton Manors Mayor
Paul Rolli for Wilton Manors Commissioner

Steven Julian for School Board District 8

RECOMMENDATIONS
Gary Farmer for Circuit Judge Group 23
Tamar Hamilton for Circuit Judge Group 21
Suzette O. Hyde for County Judge Group 15

We will have our full list of endorsements that will be emailed to all our members in the next few dates.  Please make sure you have a plan to vote. You can vote-by-mail, voter early or vote on election day.

2022 Primary Election – Endorsements & Recommendations Card

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The Dolphin Democrats members, Campaign & Election Committee and Board of Directors have decided to endorse and recommend the following candidates:

U.S. Senator: Val Demings
Congress, District 23: Jared Moskowitz & Ben Sorensen
Congress, District 20: Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick
Congress, District 24: Frederica Wilson
Congress, District 25: Debbie Wasserman-Schultz

Governor: Nicole “Nikki” Fried (Support)
Attorney General: Aramis Ayala
Commissioner of Agriculture: Ryan Morales
State Senator, District 35: Lauren Book
State Representative, District 97: Kelly N-L Scurry
State Representative, District 98: Patricia Hawkins-Williams
State Representative, District 105: Marie Woodson

Circuit Judge 17th Circuit, Group 9: Lauren Melissa Alperstein
Circuit Judge 17th Circuit, Group 14: Alejandro “Alex” Arreaza
Circuit Judge 17th Circuit, Group 23: Gary M. Farmer, Jr.
Circuit Judge 17th Circuit, Group 51: Tamar N. Hamilton
County Court Judge, Group 15: Suzette O. Hyde
County Court Judge, Group 26: Mardi Anne Levey Cohen

County Commission, District 8: Bobby DuBose
County Commission, District 9: Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas

School Board, District 1: Rodney Gabrielle Velez
School Board, District 5: Ruth Carter-Lynch
School Board, District 7: Nora Rupert
School Board At Large, District 8: Allen Ridgdill Zeman

Funding School Safety and Essential Educational Related
Expenditures through a One Mill Property Tax Levy: VOTE YES

Click this link to print a PDF version of the endorsement card: DD_2022_VotingGuide

Dolphin Dems Round 3 Of Endorsed Candidates

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On Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Dolphin Dems is announcing its first round of endorsements for the primary midterm election.  After careful review of the questionnaire, support and records, the members voted to make the following endorsements:

Candidates With a Primary: 

Rod Velez for School Board District 1

Ruth Carter-Lynch for School Board District 5

Allen Zeman for School Board District 8 At-Large

We would like to thank the candidates for completing our extensive questionnaire, the Campaign & Endorsement Committee for all their hard work and to the members who attended this endorsement meeting to vote for the candidates.

We are proud to endorse these candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to full equality for LGBTQ+ Floridians.

Dolphin Dems Second Round Of Endorsed Candidates

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On Wednesday, July 20, 2022 Dolphin Dems is announcing its first round of endorsements for the primary midterm election.  After careful review of the questionnaire, support and records, the members voted to make the following endorsements:

Candidates With a Primary: 

Marie Woodson for State House 105

Kelly N-L Scurry for State House 97

Patricia Hawkins-Williams for State House 98

We would like to thank the candidates for completing our extensive questionnaire, the Campaign & Endorsement Committee for all their hard work and to the members who attended this endorsement meeting to vote for the candidates.

We are proud to endorse these candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to full equality for LGBTQ+ Floridians.

Candidate Endorsement – Round 2 – July 20th

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You are invited to participate in the  Dolphin Dems Candidate Endorsement Meeting – Round 2, Via ZOOM.
This meeting will be for voting members only. Registration Link has been emailed to all voting members.
Check-in will start at 6:45pm
Meeting will start promptly at 7:00pm
This will be an endorsements only meeting, no other business will be conducted
We will be endorsing candidates to State House Districts, 97, 98, 99, 101 & 105.   You can read the completed questionnaires by using this LINK 
Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate in this important meeting. We look forward to seeing you on the 20th.
Thank you

Dolphin Dems First Round of Endorsed Candidates

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Today the Dolphin Dems is announcing its first round of endorsements for the 2022 election.  After careful review of the questionnaire, support and records, the members voted to make the following endorsements:

Candidates With a Primary: 

Lauren Book for State Senate District 35

Bobby DuBose for Broward County Commission District 8

Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas for Broward County Commission District 9

Nora Rupert for Broward County School Board District 7

Candidate Without a Primary: 

Linda Thompson Gonzalez for State House District 100

We are proud to endorse these candidates who have demonstrated a commitment to full equality for LGBTQ+ Floridians.

 

Sponsors

Paid for by the Dolphin Democrats. DolphinDems.org.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.