The Modern Republican Party in Florida

by Peter M. Dunbar, Mike Haridopolos

Despite Florida’s current reputation as a swing state, there was a time when its Republicans were the underdogs against a Democratic powerhouse. This book tells the story of how the Republican Party of Florida became the influential force it is today. Republicans briefly came to power in Florida after the Civil War but were called “carpetbaggers” and “scalawags” by residents who resented pro-Union leadership. They were so unpopular that they didn’t earn official party status in the state until 1928. Peter Dunbar and Mike Haridopolos show how, due largely to a population boom in the state and a schism in the Democratic Party, Republicans slowly started to see their ranks swell. This book chronicles the paths that led to a Republican majority in both the state Senate and House in the second half of the twentieth century and highlights successful campaigns of Florida Republicans for national positions. It explores the platforms and impact of Republican governors from Claude Kirk to Ron DeSantis. It also looks at how a robust two-party system opened up political opportunities for women and minorities and how Republicans affected pressing issues such as public education, environmental preservation, and criminal justice. As the Sunshine State enters its third decade under GOP control and partisan tensions continue to mount across the country, this book provides a timely history of the modern political era in Florida and a careful analysis of challenges the Republican Party faces in a state situated at the epicenter of the nation’s politics.

400 pages, Hardcover

Published November 5, 2019

Reviews

[rozey]

I learned so much from this book-- I undoubtedly learned more from this book than I would ever, ever need to know about any topic in any states' politics. As such, his book should strictly be used as (albeit, very biased) reference for some sort of political science class at the University of Florida.

Truly, beyond any other point, there should have been an introduction revealing that Peter Dunbar is a Republican himself, clear from his multiple mentions of himself & his endeavors on behalf of the party, who served as a Florida State Representative and then went on to serve in various other positions with the party banner. As previously implied, I expected an objective, academic view of the party and it's history in Florida given the unassuming title as well as the first passages. It is incredibly clear from this plainly boring read, though, that it is anything besides unbiased and is a tool for Mr. Dunbar to craft a tale and inflate the importance of the Republican Party in Florida.

To overstate this importance, Dunbar uses many tactics and devices but the one that caught my attention the most was his comparing the supporters and voters of the Republican Party of Florida to Black voters-- often times lumping the two together. In this, he implied that when Black voters won more enfranchisement and representation throughout the state, there was a clear translation to more votes for the Republican Party. This is incorrect, wrong, not factual, etc. There doesn't seem to be a need to combat or argue about that.

Highly not recommended-- super long, boring, and just Dunbar naming tens of hundreds of minor Republican Party volunteers, donors, representatives, staff members, and cabinet members all long & rightfully forgotten.

[Will Atkins]

I know, I know…you’ll say I’m biased. But hear me out. Most of the middle chapters did nothing but list peoples name. For pages upon pages. The authors would be like, “And then, in 1992, the following people were elected to the Florida House: A, B, C, etc.” or this one, “Those who got their start as a staffer included….[a list of 30 people].” If you want to see your name in a book, start here. If you want to learn anything about the RPoF, maybe read the last chapter, but really read anything else.