It started good at the top of the ticket. Then, ouch.
Was former Sen. Bill Nelson and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum actually winning with absentee ballots? Because early results had them just over 50.
Even Jeffrey “Doc” Solomon had 525 votes 
over newly-elected State Rep. Vance Aloupis, right, who ended up winning by 591 votes.
But that feeling of rising hope quickly turned to disbelief and dread when the blue wave turned into a wipeout after Gov. Elect Ron DeSantis and former Gov. and Senator elect Rick Scott turned it around.
We had a few bright spots where the wave did crash nicely.
Democrats gained two seats in Congress, with the election of Donna Shalala over Republican Maria Elvira Salazar (though not as solid as she should have) and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell‘s stunning victory over Carlos Curbelo. That’s a bright silver lining for Ladra that we will come back to.
And Ladra’s favorite new elected, mom 
gone mad Cindy Polo beat back former Miami Lakes Councilman Frank Mingo in District 103. That was a tremendous upset as Polo, right, was underfunded and losing in Miami-Dade, 56 to 44 percent. The voters in Broward — because the district also includes Miramar — saved us flipping those numbers so she won 53 to 47 percent.
But locally, Polo was it. Democrats failed everywhere else.
While Miami-Dade was overwhelmingly pro Gillum and pro Nelson — they won the 305 each with about 60% of the vote — and Democrats were able to defend Sen. Annette Taddeo from a challenge by Republican superwoman Marili Cancio (next time, Marili, don’t attack with lies about Taddeo and the NRA and talk about your own achievements), they let another Senate bid die and lost several opportunities to gain Florida House seats — even letting one flip red in District 118.
Former State Rep. Robert Asencio became a one-term legislator probably because he was too busy trying to help everybody else and didn’t campaign enough to keep his own seat. Granted, it was definitely an upset surprise for Anthony Rodriguez, who lost the primary two years ago to King David “Nine Lives” Rivera, to beat him ever so slightly, 51% to 49%.
The same narrow win gave Doral Councilwoman Ana Maria Rodriguez a seat 
in the House, replacing Ambassador Carlos Trujillo in District 105, beating Javier Estevez by a scant 560 votes. Democrats are used to voting for Ana Maria, right, that gap was expected to be even wider, but only because the party invested zero time and money in this flippable district.
The real pain comes with what happened up north, where special interest favorite State Rep. Manny Diaz Jr. beat firefighter hero David Perez for the Senate seat in 36 vacated by Rene Garcia (who will run for county commissioner in two years).
Now we heal and rest until next year when it’s time to gear up for 2020. Maybe Democrats will figure something out between now and then.
Blue wave wipes out in FL and 305, with two bright silver linings added by Ladra on
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Kickers5 ,
” It is time for a new chairperson of the Miami Dade Democratic Party”
As they say in the UK ” Spot On”. Its like he often wants to lose the election .
Christopher Davis,
That was a great posts . In my ignorance I didnt actually know how quickly people go bad / corrupt until I bought in a Doral gated community and one by one board members sold out to an inept and corrupt management group .
If they go bad so quickly in a little flunky gated community then just imagine the big money world of politics , however having lived outside of Miami (born in Cuba) I do find the politicos here in a different plateau of corruption and I blame the ethnic voting separatists I call the ” Calle Ocho’s” but WORSE are the apathetic , mentally dead non voters .
Victor ,
” When will Dems start blaming their party for putting up bad candidates?”
Really and the Rep candidates are good ?
How self serving parasites like Balart continue to get elected by the elderly people he does nothing for is beyond me , other then he has an R next to his name .
It is time for a new chairperson of the Miami Dade Democratic Party as Juan Cuba is too busy in sticking his nose in non partisan city elections like NMB, NBV, and other cities. Mr. Cuba can not field a full slate of candidates for state house and state senate races in Miami Dade County plus he does not perform any background checks on some of his losers in local city elections.
I would like to clarify on my last comment about Corruption. It’s not the establishment of our Goverment itself that is corrupt but only the individuals and Groups/Corporations that corrupt the system with Money/Greed. These people who do this are leeches that give money any way they can to persuade all these politician’s who use their campaign donations as personal bank accounts without any checks and balances ! Not only has Law enforcement agencies been inept here in Florida but also at the top of our Federal government Agencies. This has a trickling down effect as there is a tremendous amount of conflict of interests that’s undeniably criminal.So with have criminal activity right under our noses with Law enforcement agencies doing nothing to most of the Politicians as well as their bag men who carry the money for them .This will not end until the right people are put in place to enforce our laws from Federal,State,County Governments.Everyone is trying to find a loop hole in Government to beat the system.The sad thing about it is that We’re stuck voting for them because both Party’s are connected to a 2 headed Monster that control our lives with criminal activity !
SENATE IS RED
HOUSE WILL BE BLUE
CHECKS AND BALANCES
AND SUBPOENAS TOO
When will Dems start blaming their party for putting up bad candidates?
When will candidates start campaigning for themselves?
Bill Nelson is way too old and removed from the community. He was a poor choice to contend against Rick Scott.
You hit the nail on the head with Asencio. This seems to be a trend. Firstly, these Dems need to deliver solid efforts on their constituency/community work while campaigning. Secondly, they need to stop “earning” their positions in the Democratic Party by campaigning for everyone else. They all bend over and cater when they receive phone calls from certain key players who expect them to stop what they are doing and offer up free campaign work.
Asencio was a strong leader in office who cared and worked hard. It is a shame that his hard work went unrealized.
Wonder which campaign advisers/operatives won and lost this election?
Ready to see what comes of Cindy…
All true comments above, Miami-Dade Democrats, despite amazing turnout operations throughout the county could never produce the type of turnout numbers of Broward or Palm Beach county. In Miami-Dade County, Democrats generally treated this election with little difference to any other midterm election.
Everyone who lost probably did so because their Republican base didn’t turn out strong enough or as has been said, voters flipped on the healthcare issue… or dare I say that Trump’s call to end birthright citizenship (the wet foot, dry foot of immigration policies) killed Miami Republicans enough to anger anti-Trump sentiment.
LOL It seems like only months ago Ken Russell was the golden boy and Donna Shalala was the turd in the punch bowl. not only would Kenny boy lost to the much stronger Maria he’ll be lucky to hang on to HIS own seat after the Mas brothers showed us how unprepared he really is to hold public office.
Hey People,let’s get real ,we have to choose between 2 corrupt Political Party’s. When we vote like I did I had to wash my hands and take a few showers to try and cleanse myself because I felt so dirty and guilty because It’s choosing between 2 evils !
…Nice break! Go Blue!
Lets Face It Was 2 Democrats Shalala & Salazar ? No Real Republican on This ?
What hurts most here, is the failure to address the fact that, Miami is predicted to be substantially, permanently, under water — due to sea level rise caused by climate change — by 2060.
Does nobody care Miami, and Florida, are about to become the lost City (and State) of Atlantis?
Btw , look at the percentage of registration of PR’s in Florida and its as disgraceful as that of Central and South Americans in Miami .
So much for the ” Blue Cavalry” arriving and changing things .
Oh well , at least ” I ” won elections when I was a Rep , lol .
For a blue wave you need actual Democrats who vote , not post and text about it .
I went to the gym by FIU at midnight and can honestly say that out of 20 people I know well enough to discuss politics , NOT ONE voted..
The election was on tv so I commented on the election .
All mid to late 20s . Cuban , Nicaraguan , PR and Colombian . All citizens , most born in USA , all Dems .
I KNEW this was going to happen and my older posts say just that .
The political apathy of non Republican Hispanics is staggering and that isnt going to ever change .
I used to be a Rep and no one had to hold my hand to get me to vote .
I didnt vote while I was over seas in the Army (it was impossible) but other then that we always did
.