Everyone’s talking about the gubernatorial race: Democrat Andrew Gillum v.s. Republican Ron DeSantis, but there are plenty of campaigns being fought in Florida in the 2018 Midterms that will affect Floridians daily lives far more.
One of these positions is the Florida Commisioner of Agriculture, who oversees some of the most important considerations in any society.
From farmland, to produce; medical marijuana and even school lunches, whoever holds the position has in their hands tremendous power.
This year’s race is being fought between State Representative Matt Caldwell, a Republican, and Democrat Nikki Fried, an attorney from South Florida.
Why haven’t these campaigns recieved the media coverage they deserve?
Such races don’t carry the sensational baggage of the other ones; but Democracy will undoubtedly profit from a citizenry that engages in every aspect of the politcal sphere.
The enthusiasm for this year’s midterm election is percievably one of the most heated in recent memory.
The Trump era’s polarization has made voters want to up-end the opponents of whatever political organization they support.
And yes, it’s good that people are finally realizing that the presidential elections aren’t the only important one; that the 435 seats of the House of Representatives and 35 in the Senate are also fundamental; and the same goes for governors, commissioners, mayors, judges and other positions.
But this democratic awakening will be incomplete as long as there are political positions obscured by a lack of media coverage.
It’s up to journalists to break this habit and speak about these topics.
The polarity in our current political climate may partly be due to the disproportionate focus certain races, like the gubernatorial and senate race, have recieved.
When we believe that the fate of the whole nation or state lies in a single campaign, we tend to demonize the other side even more.
By covering lesser known topics, politics can become more harmonious and reflective of the changes that are needed. The Florida Commissioner of Agriculture is only one of these many positions; but we should become informed about all of them.
Journalists are at the forefront of civic health. The same platforms that keep users in ideological bubbles are capable of inspiring new arguments and attitudes.
One thing is clear: go out there and vote, for every amendment, position, and change that will affect our lives as Americans.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash.
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