The destructive impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton have stirred a brewing political storm in Florida, as frustrated voters, particularly the youth, are mobilizing to challenge the state’s long history of climate change denial among Republican leaders. With the midterm elections on the horizon, this voter backlash could reshape Florida’s environmental policies for years to come.
Florida’s Climate Reckoning
Even before the recent hurricanes battered the state, the climate crisis was a contentious issue in Florida politics. Governor Ron DeSantis, who infamously dismissed global warming concerns as “leftwing stuff,” took the controversial step in May of removing references to climate change from state laws, essentially committing Florida to a fossil fuel-dependent future.
Environmental advocates saw this as the latest in a long line of climate denial from Florida’s Republican leadership. DeSantis’ predecessor, Rick Scott, who is currently seeking re-election to the U.S. Senate, also suppressed discussions of climate change during his tenure as governor. Critics accused Scott, dubbed “Red Tide Rick,” of systematically dismantling the state’s environmental protections, including slashing $700 million in funding for combatting toxic algae blooms.
Storms Fuel Voter Discontent
Now, as Floridians survey the wreckage left by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, many are pointing to the state’s failure to address the climate crisis as a key factor in the devastation. Rising sea levels and record ocean temperatures, which experts say are intensifying hurricanes, have become urgent concerns for voters who experienced the storms firsthand or witnessed the destruction in their communities.
“Since we moved, I’ve been seeing more powerful hurricanes, more issues with rising sea levels, flooding, and things like that. It’s such a big issue here, and we need more awareness of what is going on. To deny it, especially being a leader in the state of Florida, I just don’t think that’s an appropriate position.”
– Ben Groenevelt, Coral Springs resident
Youth Mobilize for Change
This growing frustration is particularly pronounced among younger voters, many of whom are casting ballots for the first time. Advocacy groups report record-breaking early turnout on college campuses across the state, driven largely by students’ concerns over the worsening climate crisis.
“There was a video of a meteorologist in south Florida who ended up crying on air. A number of my friends, who are not political, sent me that video saying, like, ‘Hey, pretty insane dude. What the hell is going on over here?’ So if something like that resonates with youth voters who just generally are out of the political sphere, that says a lot.”
– Jayden D’Onofrio, Chair of Florida Future Leaders
Student organizers are focusing their efforts on calling out politicians with poor environmental records, such as Senator Rick Scott. They’re highlighting votes against disaster relief funding in areas hit hard by the recent hurricanes, underscoring the real-world consequences of climate inaction.
A Generational Shift
While youth turnout has historically been a challenge, advocates believe this election could mark a turning point. By empowering young people to speak to their peers about the issues that matter most to them, groups like Florida Future Leaders aim to drive lasting change in the state’s climate politics.
“One thing people always say is that youth voters don’t turn out, but my answer is always it’s not that they don’t care, it’s that they’ve never felt seen, or heard, or talked to. What’s different now is because we are all youth talking to youth, we understand our generation, we know how to talk to them.”
– Jayden D’Onofrio, Chair of Florida Future Leaders
As Floridians head to the polls, still reeling from the impact of two devastating hurricanes, the demand for climate action has never been louder. With a new generation of voters finding their political voice, the Sunshine State may finally be ready to confront the reality of the climate crisis head-on.
