President Trump will announce his 2020 re-election bid in Orlando Tuesday and ahead of the announcement WOKV's Political Analyst Dr. Mike Binder says Northeast Florida is in play in 2020, especially Duval County. He says traditionally Northeast Florida has been a conservative haven, but after former Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Gillum won Duval County in the 2018 midterm election, Democrats have the opportunity to make gains in the area.
“I think it would be wise for both parties to pay attention here because it is, in a lot of ways, a swing area now-a-days.” Dr Binder says.
Politically, Florida is a important state for both parties and Dr. Binder says that's evident with President Trump's re-election announcement in Orlando Tuesday and Democrats holding two debates in Miami next week. He says both parties need to carry Florida if they want to win the 2020 presidential election.
“I think its gonna be important for Democrats to win Duval. They’re not going to win St. Johns, they’re not going to win Nassau.” Dr. Binder says.
He says if President Trump can keep a wide margin of votes in rural areas then he could hold steady in the urban areas and be able to win Florida, but if not, then the President would need to win in more urban areas to carry the state.
Dr. binder says in the run up to the 2020 presidential election you can expect the President to be in Florida a lot and you can even expect him to make a stop in Jacksonville.