Florida Shifts Away From Republicans With Minority Influx

[Purveyor]

By Toluse Olorunnipa - Nov 14, 2013

Johnny Carson once described St. Petersburg, Florida, as “God’s waiting room.”

The late-night comedian, who died in 2005, was making light of the city’s concentration of senior citizens, a group that dominated the politics just as they were first in line for early-bird dinners. As recently as 2008, the results were reliably Republican -- five straight mayors, a Congressman in his 20th consecutive term, a popular hometown governor.

Carson wouldn’t recognize the Gulf Coast city. St. Petersburg has been infused with a younger, more racially diverse population that is transforming its politics and serves as a broader emblem of the shift taking hold in Florida, which is considered vital to winning presidential elections, with its 29 out of the 270 electoral college votes needed to prevail.

The migration, which includes Hispanic and black voters, is driving a “fundamental political realignment” that threatens Republicans’ viability in areas where they once thrived, said Dustin Cable, a demographer at the University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in Charlottesville.

St. Petersburg, whose population is about 245,000, elected a Democrat as mayor this month for the first time since 1975. A Democrat running for U.S. House is ahead in polls. And former governor Charlie Crist is criticizing his old Republican allies after switching parties and running for governor again, this time as a Democrat.

Turning Blue

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-14/florida-shifts-away-from-republicans-with-minority-influx.html

[HooptieWagon]

1. St Pete has changed a lot in the past 20 years, let alone the past 50.

A Democratic mayor-elect, AND all but one city council are Democrats...3 of 8 city council are openly gay, and it was a non-issue during campaigns.
I will point out (since the OP doesn't make it clear) that the Fl-13 Congressional District until recently represented by Bill Young had the AA community gerry-mandered out of the district several years ago, and was added to the already heavily blue Tampa district represented by Kathy Caster. In spite of that, Alex Sink should be a very competitive candidate.

[libdem4life]

2. Repurpose to read: "God's waiting room...for pacing new fathers."

[HooptieWagon]

3. Yes, lots of young families here now.

The old stereotype was accurate from the end of WW2 until about 25 years ago. Since then its been steadily getting younger, more minorities, and more liberal.