The Republican State Leadership Committee has prioritized Absentee Ballot and Early Voting programs in Florida for the 2024 state legislative elections, focusing on countering Democratic efforts aimed at shifting power in states with Republican majorities.

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) has identified Florida as a key battleground in its strategy for the 2024 state legislative elections.

The RSLC’s focus on Florida comes in response to increased Democratic efforts to target states with Republican majorities, particularly those with Democratic governors. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) has announced plans to invest in these areas with than intention to shift the balance of power in state legislatures.

The RSLC’s strategy in Florida includes a focus on Absentee Ballot and Early Voting (AB/EV) programs, part of a wider effort to mobilize the Republican voter base.

“Republicans currently hold 57 of the 99 chambers and will be heavily targeted by Democrats in November as the DLCC has already laid out,” the organization said. “Many of these states will also have major implications for the presidential election, which will only increase Democrat spending.”

Alongside Florida, the RSLC identified Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin as states imperative to defending Republican majorities.

Florida’s political weight makes it a significant target for both parties, particularly on the back of a potentially competitive U.S. Senate race between Sen. Rick Scott and former U.S. Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, presuming she wins her primary.

“As we enter the dynamic landscape of the 2024 election cycle, state Republicans face their largest task in over a decade of defending Republican majorities across the country,” the committee said in a statement.

In response to the 2023 election outcomes, the Republican Party recalibrated its strategy for this year’s elections, focusing on implementing the AB/EV programs across several states to engage low-propensity voters. The party has also prioritized “clear, positive messaging” on key issues while increasing financial commitments to counterbalance the influence of national liberal groups in state legislative races.