How Are We Supposed to Keep Up?
Right now, there’s a lot happening.
People are asking me about the court case out of Louisiana. They’re asking about what just happened during our special session here in Florida, where four of the eight Democratic-access congressional seats were effectively removed.
And they should be asking about those things. They matter. They shape power, representation, and the future of our state.
But here’s the reality: we don’t have the luxury of only focusing on one issue at a time.
Because while all of that is happening, people are still coming up to me at their doors, at the grocery store, at community events, and asking a different question:
“How are we supposed to keep up?”
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with my friend and constituent, Catherine.
It was one of those conversations that stays with you. Not because it was unusual, but because it wasn’t.
It felt familiar. It felt like something I’ve heard again and again.
When I’m door-knocking or at community events, there’s one thing people keep coming back to. They feel like they’re falling behind. Like, no matter how hard they work, there’s just less left at the end of the month.
For many Floridians, the cost of gas has been a breaking point.
But it doesn’t stop there.
It’s groceries. Rent. Medication. Insurance. It all adds up, and it all hits at once.
People are making choices that no one should have to make.
Do I fill up my tank or buy groceries?
Do I pick up my prescription or pay for food?
Do I cover rent or take care of my health?
These are not abstract tradeoffs. This is what people are dealing with every day.
So people try to adjust. They pick up side jobs. They look for ways to make a little extra.
But even that comes with its own costs.
Catherine told me about her daughter delivering groceries to bring in more income. But when you factor in the price of gas, the wear on the car, and just how exhausting it is, there is barely anything left at the end of it.
You work more, and it still doesn’t feel like enough.
And that kind of pressure doesn’t stay in one place. It spills into everything. It wears on you over time.
I see it all the time.
Not just in my role, but in my own life too.
My daughter is 29. She has a steady job, and she’s grateful for it. But she still feels like she’s not getting ahead. Like, saving is always just out of reach. Like she’s working hard but not quite able to enjoy what she’s building.
That sticks with me.
Because people are not asking for anything extravagant. They just want a fair chance. They want to work, pay their bills, and feel like they’re moving forward.
In the Legislature, I’ve been proud to cosponsor bills from our Democratic caucus that take on affordability, property insurance, and the rising cost of living.
These are real issues, and there are real solutions.
But I also want to be honest.
As a member of the super minority, there are limits. Getting a bill heard, let alone passed, is not easy.
That doesn’t mean we stop.
We keep filing. We keep pushing. Because you deserve to know that someone is fighting for policies that would actually make a difference in your day-to-day life.
As we head into the next special session, where we will hopefully finalize the state budget, I’m carrying these conversations with me.
I’m thinking about Catherine and her daughter. I’m thinking about my own.
People should not have to stretch themselves this thin just to get by.
If you are working hard, you should be able to live here and feel some sense of stability.
That is not too much to ask.
And I’m going to keep fighting like it’s not.