Nancy Soderberg calls for John Ward to end Congressional campaign
John Ward is facing blowback for comments about Puerto Rican evacuees in Florida.

John Ward Congress

Comments that John Ward, a Republican running in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, made at a forum last month require his departure from the race said yet another opponent Monday.

Ambassador Nancy Soderberg called for Ward to leave the race, in the wake of Ward saying that Puerto Ricans shouldn’t vote in Florida and would be better off voting in Puerto Rico.

“John Ward has had ample time to do the right thing and rescind his repulsive and bigoted comments about Puerto Ricans living in Florida. But instead, he has chosen to double down on them. That is an affront to the more than 10,000 active duty U.S. military personnel from Puerto Rico serving across the respective branches of our armed forces. Puerto Ricans contribute billions in taxes each year – taxes that helped pay for emergency relief after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and Irma hit Florida. Yet John Ward seems to think that it is acceptable to deny people the right to vote simply because they don’t look or vote like him,” Soderberg said Monday.

“The right to vote is the very cornerstone of democracy, and anyone who ignores or threatens that right has no business seeking public office. Now that John Ward has shown his true colors, it’s time for him to end his campaign. Running for Congress, or any office, is a calling to serve your community, your district, your state, your country, and most importantly, to serve your constituents – all of them.”

“Not just the Republicans, or the Democrats, or the Independents, but all of your constituents. That is the most basic and fundamental expectation we should have from our elected representatives, but John Ward’s words and actions show his values run contrary to who we are as a country, as a state, as a district, and as a community. It’s time for John Ward to end his campaign,” Soderberg added.

Soderberg’s call for Ward’s withdrawal was predated by at least one Democratic opponent.

Ormond Beach Democrat John Upchurch asserted last week that Ward should leave the race.

A.G. Gancarski

A.G. Gancarski has written for FloridaPolitics.com since 2014. He is based in Northeast Florida. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @AGGancarski



#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, Anne Geggis, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Gray Rohrer, Jesse Scheckner, Christine Sexton, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704




Sign up for Sunburn


Categories