Today’s entry: There’s already more 2022 election discussion than I can ever recall for a midterm cycle. I’m wondering whether there’s an indication of greater political engagement which could lead to higher voter turnout next year? What do you think? Also which party stands to benefit most from higher turnout in Florida?
Bottom Line: In the context of political cycles, recency bias is something we have to be mindful of when we get to thinking that what’s happening now is more significant than prior cycles. However, I don’t think your perception is recency bias. You’re likely right and being in Florida amplifies everything politically. Especially in the era of Trump and now DeSantis.
What’s different now compared to prior cycles is the proliferation of political information and commentary coming from every direction amplified by social media against the backdrop of political movements. Gone are the days when you can even turn on a sporting event without being subjected to political messaging. This hyperpolitical environment exacerbated by significant divisions between the parties politically is leading to greater political engagement and probably will lead to higher voter turnout in Florida and across the country next year.
Florida specifically is already a trend that has been underway for several cycles now. Florida’s midterm election voter turnout has risen for each of the past four midterm election cycles. Here’s the voter turnout of eligible Floridians.
Republicans have fared best in all of those cycles statewide, winning each gubernatorial race and controlling the state legislature, so the level of turnout hasn’t shown a benefit to one party over another. Based on Florida seemingly being the epicenter of the political world and coming out of a pandemic in which people gained the greatest appreciation yet regarding the importance of all elections; I fully expect we’ll continue the streak next year with likely record-setting turnout for a midterm election cycle in Florida.
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