Drew Wilson
Attorney General candidate Sean Shaw picked up endorsements from eight Democratic members of Florida’s congressional delegation Wednesday, less than four weeks from the primary election to determine whether he or Ryan Torrens be the Democratic option in November.
Lining up behind Shaw were U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor, Charlie Crist, Val Demings, Ted Deutch, Alcee Hastings, Al Lawson, Darren Soto and Frederica Wilson.
While each member of Congress listed in the announcement had kind words for the freshman state representative, the most personal recommendation — and the lone shot at term-limited Attorney General Pam Bondi — came from Castor, who represents Shaw as the Congresswoman for Florida’s 14th Congressional District.
“I am excited to announce my endorsement for Sean Shaw for Attorney General of Florida. I have had the pleasure of working with Sean to improve the lives of Floridians and know that he’ll fight for the values that we share as Democrats,” she said. “Unlike the current Attorney General, Sean will stand up to the special interests that have flooded our streets with weapons and push back against companies determined to rip off Floridians. Sean Shaw is the best choice for Attorney General of Florida.”
Other statements celebrated Shaw’s accomplishments in the House and during his tenure as Florida’s insurance consumer advocate under former CFO Alex Sink as well as the service of his father, Leander Shaw, who was Florida’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
The new slate of endorsements adds to a list that already includes SEIU Florida, the Florida Education Association, the Florida Police Benevolent Association, a handful of State Attorneys as well as former Florida Governor and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.
“I’ll be ready on day one to fight back against the current Administration’s actions that are harmful to Floridians and I am proud to have the support our so many of Florida’s Democratic members of Congress who have already been battling Trump for nearly the past two years,” Shaw said. “Whether it’s in Tallahassee or Washington, I look forward to working towards a better future for Florida.”
Shaw, who entered the race at the beginning of the year, is the heavy favorite in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary.
To date, the Tampa Democrat has raised nearly $839,000 between his campaign and political committee, Sean Shaw for Florida, and had about $424,000 on hand on July 20. Torrens, an Odessa attorney, has barely kept his campaign in the black, and some of his contributions — or loans, according to his campaign — have come into question in recent weeks.
The winner of the Democratic nomination will face the winner of the Republican primary between former circuit court judge Ashley Moody and Pensacola Rep. Frank White in the Nov. 6 general election.
