Today, the Florida Democratic Party announced that Lisa Peth will serve as its first Municipal Victory Program Director, overseeing a new push by the FDP to expand the Democratic bench this cycle by building progressive power at the local level.

Over the next twenty months, the FDP’s Municipal Victory Program will invest in local candidates and provide critical data, organizing, paid media, digital, and communications support to their campaigns. The effort will be specifically targeted at flipping local city councils and county commissions.

“To flip Florida blue in 2020, Democrats have to focus on winning down-ballot races and electing local leaders who will fight for public schools and good-paying jobs,” said FDP Chair Terrie Rizzo. “Lisa Peth has a record of running sophisticated and effective field operations and played a critical role in turning Duval blue last year for the first time in decades. No one is more qualified than Lisa to do the important work of organizing voters, mobilizing voters, and delivering victory for Democrats.”

Peth’s appointment represents an effort to build on Democrats’ recent success at the local level over the past few years. In 2018, the Democratic Party worked to help secure Democratic majorities on the Miami-Dade County Commission, the Hillsborough County Commission, and flip the Orange County Mayoralty. And in 2017, with support from the FDP, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman won a second term in a competitive election.

Lisa Peth joined the Florida Democratic Party in November 2017 as the Northeast Florida Community Engagement Director. In 2018, Peth worked with local Party leaders and partners to build a grassroots network across Northeast Florida and execute a robust field program for the Coordinated Campaign. Peth played a critical role in flipping Duval County blue for the first time in decades and significantly increased voter turnout compared to 2016 in St Johns and Clay counties. She previously worked on Congressional and House races. She is a lifelong Floridian and graduate of Florida State University.