As Florida Democrats look ahead to the 2018 gubernatorial contest, some party strategists are keeping a keen eye on Donald Trump's presidential campaign, which they say could provide an unconventional model.

  • Many Democratic voters in Florida have sat out recent gubernatorial races, possibly due to uninspiring centrist candidates
  • A Clinton win in November may lead to midterm elections that follow historical norms, benefiting Republicans
  • Strategists believe a candidate with an unconventional approach may buck the current trends

Disillusioned by losing five consecutive attempts at capturing the Governor's Mansion, Democrats could face another challenging environment in 2018. Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has already raised more than $4 million for a likely gubernatorial bid and, if Hillary Clinton were to win the presidency this fall, midterm turnout could follow historical norms and benefit the Republican ticket.

Trump, however, has proven that voters are hungry for unconventional candidates. His sometimes bombastic pronouncements not withstanding, Trump's command of the media landscape combined with his vast personal wealth have enabled him to win the affection of disaffected Republicans.

While Democrats outnumber Republicans in Florida by a sizable margin, many Democratic voters - particularly those in progressive-leaning South Florida - have chosen to sit out the state's gubernatorial elections, which some party veterans say is due in part to uninspiring centrist candidates.

With Democratic North Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham - the daughter of Bob Graham, a former governor and senator - considering entering the 2018 race, the lessons of Trump's rise are weighing heavily on Democrats who believe it's critical to think outside the box. Many of them are intrigued by the potential candidacy of Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, a well-heeled progressive who recently tapped his fortune to run radio ads implicitly criticizing Gov. Rick Scott's opposition to raising Florida's minimum wage.

Far from "Trumpian" in his thinking - a plus in Democratic circles - Levine has nonetheless taken Trump-like pains to show he has a finger on the pulse of the electorate. From the radio ads to a campaign-style website touting his accomplishments as mayor, his tactics indicate he could mount a decidedly unconventional candidacy - with the money to back it up.

"I don't think Democrats who are in a desert searching for water would say "no" to a progressive candidate who they felt came through that route," said Democratic strategist Gary Yordon.

Given the 2016 political landscape, it's a route that should rightly appeal to Florida Democrats, with the caveat that the 2018 election is still two and a half years away.