Dear Democrats:   Let’s have an honest conversation about 2022 here in Florida. I get asked all the time how I feel about Florida.   In a lot of ways, it feels rather deja vu.  Fifteen years ago, I got the same questions, phrased the same way, because well, we were in the same place.   In 2002, Republicans swept the Cabinet, followed two years later by a 5 point Presidential loss, a US Senate loss, and Democrats at their lowest points in history in both chambers of the legislature.  I’ll never forget my then incredibly able deputy, Tara Klimek, pointing ..read more

Friends - One of my friends and longtime fellow colleagues in the world of political hackery Zac McCrary has started a new podcast that interviews longtime operatives about their careers, and about advice they might have for those starting out in the business. Clearly lost for ideas, Zac interviewed me for this week's podcast.  You can check it out here, as well as the other interviews Zac has done https://propolitics.buzzsprout.com/1704139/8779788-steve-schale-obama-man-biden-man-florida-man Steve ..read more

I started writing this the night that Georgia Democrats won both of the United States Senate special elections, with the thought I would hit "publish" sometime on Wednesday.  Then the insurrection happened.  The time in this case has been useful - a chance to reflect on this piece again.   So here goes.  Point one: They did the work.  Actually, that is the only point. The work that has been done in Georgia over the last few years didn't guarantee success - but it did create opportunity.  Nothing in politics is a sure thing, and the results often don't mean as much ..read more

Dear Florida Democrats: As we approach the holidays and a 2021 vote for the next party chair, a lot has been written/said/tweeted about where Democrats and the Florida Democratic Party are in Florida.  As someone who has a lot of history around these corners, I have a few thoughts on the subject. Before we get started, there is one really important fact that everyone needs to recognize:  Joe Biden will be sworn in as President on January 20, 2021 - and the truth is, President Trump and the Trump campaign's singular focus on Florida helped clear the path for ..read more

To:        To everyone who doesn't work in the Jaguars front office From:    Lilly and Shadow's human Date:     53 days left in the Christmas shopping season Re:        The 2020 politics of the state that actually brought you Thanksgiving It has been a long ride.  557 days ago, Joe Biden launched his bid for President.  369 days ago, I was part of a team that launched Unite the Country, a SuperPAC to support Joe Biden's bid for President.  And it has been 50 days since the Jacksonville Jaguars won a football game - and ..read more

To: America. From: Your old friend Steve Date: "Time is a storm, in which we are all lost" - William Carlos Williams Re: You know. With two days to go, I would like to start with an explanation.  When I started doing the early vote notes years ago, honestly, it was a way to share some thoughts on how at least this hack would view them - not from the perspective of spinning the media one way or the other, but the things that I liked and things that I didn't - and how I would be thinking about this if I was in the cockpit of a campaign.  Along the way, if I could help educate people on ..read more

To:                   Friends, countrymen, Florida Man From:              A tired, 46-year old hack on his third Presidential questioning his life and career choices Date:               March 239, 2020 Re:                  One week to go – and a bye week for the Jaguars As we enter the bye week in the Jaguars sche ..read more

To: Anyone, but for today, mostly Democrats From: Steve, your friendly Florida Sherpa Date: No clue Re: What will likely happen this week. Friends, I do not plan on writing these daily (though I might), but thought it would be useful to take a minute and share a few thoughts. Couple of quick toplines:  Florida has now topped 3 million total votes, and yesterday was over 500K total votes between VBM and In Person Early (that from this point on will only be called Early Voting) - over 366K who voted early, a record for Florida.  I don't know if the 500K votes combined is a record - but ..read more

To:                  Only people who want this election to end, and no one else From:              Steve Schale     Re:                  15 Days out in Florida Date:               Time is a flat circle In a state where elections turn on the smallest of margins, and sometimes the most seemingly trivial of events, here is one key fact: &nbs ..read more

Last week, i went on the American Bridge War Room podcast to talk about our work at Unite the Country, what was happening in Florida, and why Joe Biden is my guy.  If you are interested, check it out: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3OaOwuWIAldsys3mJlAcpa ..read more