In a final pre-election push, Florida Democrats pulled out all the stops on Sunday, leveraging music, prayer, a former president, and a retired NBA superstar to energize Black voters. From Souls to the Polls rallies in South Florida to voter turnout events across the state, the party presented a stark contrast between a brighter future under Vice President Kamala Harris and the potential return to dark days under former President Donald Trump.

Rallying the Community: A Call to Action

Souls to the Polls: A Tradition of Civic Engagement

Souls to the Polls events have become a cherished tradition in Florida since the state authorized in-person early voting in the early 2020s. These events typically involve clergy at Black churches urging parishioners to leave services and head directly to the nearest early voting sites. The goal is to capitalize on the momentum and community spirit of the Sunday service to drive voter turnout.At the fellowship hall of St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Boynton Beach, the Rev. Johnny Barber exhorted the crowd of about 100 people to vote, encourage others to vote, and pray. "This is a consequential election," he said. "This is one of the most important elections that we will experience." The crowd's enthusiasm was palpable, with many sporting T-shirts displaying variations of "Kamala" or "Madame President."

Marching for Change: Sistrunk Boulevard's Symbolic Journey

In Fort Lauderdale, more than 200 people marched the mile-long Sistrunk Boulevard from New Hope Missionary Baptist Church to the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, where an early voting site was located. The march was a powerful display of community solidarity, with many of the marchers having already cast their ballots. State Sen. Rosalind Osgood and Broward State Attorney Harold Pryor urged the crowd to continue their efforts, emphasizing the far-reaching impact of the election on their lives and livelihoods.

Harnessing Star Power: Udonis Haslem and Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Just off Sistrunk Boulevard, the NAACP held its own voter turnout event, where Udonis Haslem, a retired Miami Heat star, urged people to vote. Haslem and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, also recorded a get-out-the-vote video for social media, leveraging their influence to mobilize the community.

A Former President's Presence: Bill Clinton Joins the Cause

Former President Bill Clinton made a special appearance at a Souls to the Polls event at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church near Orlando, further underscoring the Democratic Party's commitment to engaging the Black electorate.

Broward's Pivotal Role: Turning Out the Vote

Chris Smith, a former Democratic leader in both the Florida Senate and Florida House, emphasized the importance of Broward County, the state's most Democratic county, turning out in force. He acknowledged that statewide Democratic turnout has been "not good" so far, making Broward's contribution all the more crucial.Wasserman Schultz echoed this sentiment, urging Broward Democrats to turn out every possible vote. "We have an opportunity to make history on Tuesday," she said. "We know that when Broward votes that the right thing happens. We need to up the numbers in our community. We really have to make sure that in every one of our precincts all across this community that we get the numbers up."

A Glimmer of Hope: Closing the Gap

Nikki Fried, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party, offered a more positive outlook, stating that the party is "closing the gap." She expressed confidence in the "really diehard Democrats" who are waiting for Election Day to cast their symbolic vote for the first female president of the United States.The Democrats' efforts on Sunday underscored the high stakes of the election and the party's determination to mobilize its base, particularly among the Black community. With the future of the country hanging in the balance, the final push to get out the vote could prove pivotal in determining the outcome.