Along I-595 from University Dr. to the ocean and down A1A through Hollywood to the Miami-Dade county line, Florida House District 101 is a microcosm of South Florida. It’s home to two major transportation and shipping hubs (Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (FLL)), and vibrant communities from the beach to interior condo communities.

The district’s incumbent, Hillary Cassel, is seeking a third term in Tallahassee while local activist Todd Delmay wants to unseat her. This race is especially personal for Democrats. Cassel was elected twice as a Democrat and then, shortly after the 2024 campaign, she switched parties.

“She represents everything people hate about politics,” Delmay said. “Somebody who gets elected telling you one thing about who they are and what they’re gonna do. Then the minute they get elected they feel like they know better.”

Shortly after her switch, Cassel told CBS4’s Jim Defede that the party was too progressive and disagreed with their stance on the war in Gaza, while maintaining her support for the right to choose and LGBTQ rights.

Recently, she told the South Florida Sun Sentinel she has no regrets about the party switch and is at peace if she loses the race as a Republican.

The flip was especially painful for the party because district 101 is considered a stronghold for Democrats. It also further cemented the Republican supermajority. With two-thirds of the chamber in GOP hands, Democrats can do almost nothing to stop the opposition from doing anything they want.

Democrats need to pick up seven seats to escape superminority status and believe South Florida is fertile ground for making that happen. In addition to district 101, they also see the coastal Broward district 100 (currently held by term-limited Chip LaMarca), and district 106 in Miami Beach with embattled incumbent Fabian Basabe, as realistic pickup opportunities.