When Vice President Kamala Harris announced she was running for president in July, at least 500 golf carts proceeded through the Villages in a pro-Harris caravan to show their support. Then, Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff, showed up in the Villages at another caravan where hundreds showed up and caught the attention of the media.
A recent Associated Press (AP) article headline read, “Democrats are Becoming a Force in Traditionally Conservative The Villages.”
The AP interviewed Diane Foley, President of the Villages Democratic Club. The club’s membership has nearly doubled since the 2020 election cycle, to around 1,500 people.
While Democrats brag about the publicity they have been getting from the national press, one state Senator says, “Don’t believe the hype.”
GOP Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, whose district covers The Villages, told WBOB Talk Radio last week that the activity the Harris campaign wants you to believe is all an illusion.
“The Villages is heavily red, has around 151,000 residents and you mean to tell me a couple of thousand show up to promote Kamala Harris and you expect me to believe the Villages are in play? I don’t believe it,” Ingoglia said.
“The Villages is strong Trump country,” said Villages MAGA Club President Tommy Jamieson.
Data from recent election cycles reflect Jamieson’s description. A majority of voters in The Villages supported Trump against Hillary Clinton in 2016. When Trump faced Joe Biden in 2020, Sumter County, Sumter County, the home county of The Villages, Trump won comfortably, earning 68% of the vote. In the 2022 Florida Gubernatorial Election, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis crushed Democrat Charlie Crist, 73.2% to 26.5%. Sumter County’s Republican Party has a 3 to 1 advantage over Democrats for registered voters.
Foley and the Villages Democratic Club are unsure if any other high-ranking Harris surrogates will show up at The Villages for the remaining days of the campaign, but they’re hopeful the pro-abortion Amendment 4 will improve turnout among their fellow registered Democratic Party voters.
