Right-wing activists express outrage at Florida GOP during gathering in Sarasota County.

SARASOTA, Fla. (Suncoast Searchlight) – On a hot July afternoon, about 200 right-wing activists assembled at a Venice country club, strategizing their next moves amid claims of a corrupt elite in Florida, despite Donald Trump’s reelection.

Over catered barbeque chicken and sautéed vegetables, attendees from far-right Republican clubs, anti-vaccine organizations, and others seeking to engage Christian clergy in conservative politics expressed frustration with their party. Cathi Chamberlain from Pinellas Watchdogs questioned, “How’s it possible that we can have the most popular Republican president in our lifetime, but still have so many ‘RINOs’ in our party?” The term “RINO” refers to members perceived as disloyal to core Republican values.

The meeting, organized by Defend Florida, functioned as both a rally and training session for grassroots conservatives aiming to remove establishment Republicans from local governance and party leadership. This reflects a significant division within the Florida GOP between far-right activists and some party leaders.

With Trump in office, the MAGA faction intensified efforts to reshape the party by targeting their own, mapping strategies to oust establishment Republicans and replace them with ideologically aligned candidates.

Defend Florida, described by its leader Raj Doraisamy as “a website and a movement,” has collaborated with figures like Michael Flynn and Roger Stone. The group has been instrumental in establishing Governor Ron DeSantis’s controversial Office of Election Crimes and Security.

This influence has sparked backlash from GOP leadership. Bill Helmich, executive director of the Republican Party of Florida, expressed concern about Defend Florida’s impact on party unity and integrity in an email to local leaders, urging them to dissociate from the group.

Nonetheless, the warning fell on deaf ears in Venice, where attendees loudly criticized the party’s leadership and cheered calls for their removal.

Speakers denounced “RINOs” as traitors to conservatism and expressed fears that moderates were undermining the party from within. The directive was clear: seize control of local Republican committees, aspire for lesser party offices, and rally behind hardline candidates.

“During the French Revolution, they turned on themselves, guillotined their own,” commented Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. “There is a bit of that same scenario that seems to be happening in Florida.”

Florida far-right takes aim at local politics

Following Joe Biden’s election in 2020, a divide emerged within the GOP. One faction, convinced of a stolen election, demanded audits and lawsuits, while traditional conservatives distanced themselves from these claims.

Such tensions manifested in Manatee County, where Trump-aligned activists confronted local leaders who defended the electoral process, rejecting claims of widespread fraud.

Further, MAGA activists endeavored to push local institutions to the right, with groups like Moms for Liberty backing school board candidates who advocated book bans and the exclusion of LGBTQ+ topics from curricula.

While national groups promoting claims of election fraud became quieter after Trump’s reelection, doubts about election integrity lingered at the Defend Florida event.

The gathering featured sessions on fundraising, organizing, and strategies for ousting establishment Republicans. State Representative Berny Jacques urged attendees to focus on election administration, declaring the nation’s elections corrupt.

“We’re encouraging you to make vigorous use of this blueprint,” Doraisamy told participants, presenting a roadmap for candidate selection, fundraising, and public relations.

Establishment GOP draws boos, jeers

The agenda at the event aimed to resonate with various factions within the movement, featuring presentations on everything from energy policies to anti-vaccine testimonies. The core message was clear: mobilize locally and strategically, and remove leaders who do not align with far-right agendas.

Chamberlain displayed a flow chart illustrating Republican Party leadership levels, prompting jeers when she mentioned the party’s official figures.

“I can see I’m talking to the right crowd,” she quipped.

During breakout sessions, participants engaged with speakers on campaign financing and grassroots strategies. The conference center’s theme emphasized training candidates and securing funding without influence from major developers.

Propelled by local dissatisfaction with development policies, activists successfully placed their candidates on the Manatee County Board of Commissioners, countering pro-developer opponents.

However, efforts to elevate candidates focused on election conspiracy theories have seen dismal results, with only two out of thirteen candidates securing election oversight positions statewide.

Despite setbacks, Defend Florida organizers found a receptive audience for their election fraud messaging during the event. Local participants voiced concerns over electoral integrity and the need for reform.

In contrast to the grassroots theme, several well-funded rightwing organizations also attended, providing polished materials urging engagement in local politics.

Doraisamy articulated that this effort is designed to prepare for a post-Trump America, emphasizing that success at the local level is paramount for sustaining their national agenda.

This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more atsuncoastsearchlight.org.