Danny McAuliffe
Catching you up to speed while you were away from the Twittersphere during the weekend.
Mother’s Day saw most pols message on the holiday. It turns out the issue isn’t partisan.
This week’s review includes some of the holiday’s highlights — whether it be vintage photos of your favorite Florida leaders and their mothers or unique takes on celebrating maternal parenthood.
But, as is standard for politics in the Sunshine State, the holiday didn’t slow the news cycle nor campaign activity.
Republican Gov. Rick Scott, who’s vying for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson‘s seat, spent the weekend in Israel, where he welcomed the Donald Trump administration’s decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem Monday morning:
Proud to join @netanyahu to celebrate the U.S. Embassy being moved to Jerusalem, where it belongs. Today is a great day for Florida, Israel and the United States. FL will continue to stand with Israel. pic.twitter.com/YQwpb1dRYb
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) May 14, 2018
Meanwhile, Nelson took some time on Saturday to message his support for Republican U.S. Sen. John McCain:
John is one of the finest men I know and has faithfully served this nation all his life.
— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) May 13, 2018
Florida’s other U.S. Senator, Marco Rubio, has been miffed at the media. He isn’t holding back on Twitter:
Remember when several groups & the @NYT attacked me for pointing out the potential role of school discipline policy in #Parkland tragedy? But now evidence grows by the day that the shooter should have been dealt with long before that horrible day. #Sayfie https://t.co/3en6G5Figo
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 13, 2018
In the statewide race for Governor, Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam gave the internet a touching message and a throwback photo:
To the hardworking mothers who make it all possible, especially my own mother and my beautiful wife Melissa, who has blessed our family with four incredible children — Happy Mother’s Day. #MothersDay pic.twitter.com/mov5EIgV7E
— Adam Putnam (@adamputnam) May 13, 2018
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, another Republican candidate for Governor, also went abroad this weekend to the Holy City:
The establishment of our embassy in Jerusalem fulfills long-standing US policy as enacted by the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995. It was an honor to be there at this historic occasion! Thanks President Trump for being first president to honor his promise to establish this embassy. pic.twitter.com/LOiVGrIWyM
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 14, 2018
On the Democratic side, former U.S. Sen. and former Florida Governor Bob Graham showed his daughter some fatherly support — and mom did too:
Mom and Dad stopped by the campaign office yesterday on a trip through Orlando. They’re the best surrogates a daughter could ask for! pic.twitter.com/PmKeBJR1K2
— Gwen Graham (@GwenGraham) May 12, 2018
Meanwhile, Democratic Governor’s candidate Philip Levine, the former mayor of Miami Beach, opened yet another campaign office:
https://twitter.com/MayorLevine/status/995412408813457408
In South Florida, Tallahassee Mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum spoke with Haitian-American voters:
The Haitian-American community is an essential cornerstone of our state & today we talked about how we move our state forward for all immigrant communities. Our diversity is our strength, and as Governor I’ll strengthen those bonds. pic.twitter.com/X17f7LMcK9
— Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) May 12, 2018
Orlando businessman Chris King, another Dem gubernatorial candidate, opined on the economic benefits of investing in renewable energy:
If Florida invests in renewables for our energy needs, we'll not only fight climate change — we'll build a modern energy economy supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs alongside billions in energy and health cost savings. https://t.co/VQDecZMcxC
— Chris King (@ChrisKingFL) May 12, 2018
South Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings had a political take on Mother’s Day:
I am mindful today of the Trump Administration’s inhumane policy of separating immigrant mothers from their children at the Southwest Border. This is a nation of immigrants, and I am proud to stand with them. As we celebrate #MothersDay we should #KeepFamiliesTogether.
— Alcee L. Hastings (@RepHastingsFL) May 13, 2018
Retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen took part in a photo shoot to campaign against LGBTQ intolerance:
Honored to join @NOH8Campaign photo shoot against #LGBTQ intolerance. All Americans should be treated equally. #OneLove #NOH8Campaign pic.twitter.com/685dIWu3i0
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) May 12, 2018
Democratic U.S. House hopeful Nancy Soderberg, of Jacksonville, picked up one of the party’s coveted endorsements:
I am honored to have the support of Vice President Biden. His leadership and dedication to our country has inspired not only myself, but millions of others. I'm thrilled to have him on my team in this election, and I will continue to fight every day for the families in #FL06. pic.twitter.com/ZVLATOMSNX
— Nancy Soderberg (@nancysoderberg) May 14, 2018
Republican Carlos Reyes, who’s challenging Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, showed he isn’t shying away from oppo during the 2018 midterm.
Whether you’re a Democrat, angry at DWS for corrupting your party’s primary, a Republican, furious at the bribery and cover up behind the Imran Awan infiltration, or an NPA who’s fed up with being ignored by the political elite, we can all agree on this: it’s time to #DumpDebbie.
— Carlos Reyes (@CarlosJReyesFL) May 11, 2018
At the state level, term-limited House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who announced last week he’ll be absent from the 2018 ballot, wondered publicly why he wasn’t invited to the Lightning playoff game:
This is the first game in years of a #GoBolts series that I haven’t been invited to the game. Weird. I can’t figure out why. 😂 #GoBolts
— Richard Corcoran (@richardcorcoran) May 12, 2018
Orlando Democratic state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith visited a mother on Sunday who lost her only son in the 2016 Pulse shooting (and it looks like Sen. Nelson did too):
Honored to share part of Mother’s Day weekend visiting the Interim Pulse Memorial with one of Orlando’s “adopted” moms, Christine Leinonen. She has been an incredible voice for the gun violence prevention + LGBTQ movements since her only son was taken 6/12/16. TY for all you do! pic.twitter.com/Or1keRFCdz
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) May 13, 2018
Tampa Republican state Rep. Jamie Grant chimed in on Sen. McCain:
Preach. I haven’t always agreed with his policy decisions but there can be absolutely no debating his heroism and dedication to this republic.
And there’s no such thing as a funny joke about cancer. If it’s hit your family, like it has mine, you know this truth all too well. https://t.co/nvA1uL9Rzn
— James Grant (@JamesGrantFL) May 13, 2018
Altamonte Springs Republican state Rep. Bob Cortes reminded his followers who he’s backing in the U.S. Senate race:
Supporting my governor and next senator for Florida @FLGovScott #lincolnday #seminolecounty pic.twitter.com/2RKJKe01k9
— Bob Cortes (@CortesBob) May 12, 2018
And not too far away from Cortes, Longwood Democrat Tracey Kagan, who’s challenging area-incumbent state Rep. Scott Plakon, was pictured messaging on felons’ voting rights with Nelson.
Thank you @SenBillNelson for inspiring #SeminoleCounty & @SemDems today with your advocacy for voter rights restoration. More than 1 MILLION Floridians are disenfranchised, and in November we must vote to restore voting rights to those who have served their time. #Midterms2018 pic.twitter.com/7bcENxrd6K
— Tracey Kagan for Florida (@tracey4florida) May 13, 2018
