Election Day’s Republican victories in Florida House and Senate races left Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson, D-Gainesville, as the only representative from Alachua County. It also left her trying to articulate her feelings about how and why the election unfolded the way it did. 

“I am stunned that the race turned out so incredibly red,” she said. “There is incredible gerrymandering taking place in our state, or an incredible number of demographic changes have occurred over the last census.” 

On Tuesday, Levy County Republican Chad Johnson defeated Democrat David Arreola in the House District 22 race with more than 56% of votes. The District 9 Senate race also saw a Republican win, as Marion County’s Stan McClain defeated Sylvain Doré, 63% to 36%. 

Hinson attributed the result to the way the Republican-controlled Legislature redrew congressional lines and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “great invitation” to snowbirds in 2022 for a “vacation to freedom” from COVID-19 restrictions. 

Hinson said that while a Democratic governor with the same opportunity to draw congressional lines to their advantage probably would have, she believes having only a handful of blue counties in the entire state is so extreme it feels unlawful.  

“In the past, there was balance, and we all participated in maintaining some balance,” she said. “There is no balance now whatsoever. And not only [no] balance of government, there is no balance of power, there is no balance of residents. This is extreme.” 

Johnson will replace term-limited Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, while McClain will replace Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville. Hinson said a composition of legislators from outside Alachua County will likely redirect their attentions to other efforts beyond the county, but she said removing Clemons will make the biggest difference. 

“I think having this hatchet gone is going to be to our advantage,” she said, adding that she felt Clemons had a grudge against her and the city. “I don’t see Chad Johnson having that same personal grudge, so in that vein, hopefully he’ll be easier to work with.” 

On Tuesday, 72.6% of Gainesville voters cast ballots in favor of deleting section 7 of the city charter, which created the GRU Authority. Hinson said the undemocratic nature of the legislation spoke for itself. 

“I said to all three leaders, the governor, the speaker and some other important people in Alachua County, Chuck Clemons has no leverage of his own,” she said. “He had to use the power of the state, and he used it effectively because they thought it was a democratic thing. It is not, at 70-something percent [opposition].” 

Hinson said even after some incumbents lost and newcomers won, House Democrats have the same super minority they had before and her job moving forward is exactly the same.  

She said she will be advocating for more prevention and mental health legislation related to gun safety, support for all branches of law enforcement, and growing the number of African Americans accessing the Florida Bright Futures scholarship program. 

“My only optimism at this point is the new speaker [Republican Daniel Perez]—whom I have been able to develop some relationship with over time—his new message is so transformative that it gives me some hope,” she said. “But I do believe the way they vote is not going to change. I believe I’ve earned respect from all of them. Not necessarily accommodation, but respect I’ve earned with the new speaker will grant me some latitude and opportunity.”