Scott Powers
Seminole County Democrats got their first chance to hear the three leading Democratic gubernatorial candidates define themselves and the upcoming election Saturday night in terms of who they intend to overcome.
“I’m running for Governor to defeat Ron DeSantis,” declared Rep. Charlie Crist at the Seminole Democratic Party‘s big annual gala.
“It has been a long, long two and a half decades. We aren’t just fighting Ron DeSantis. We are fighting the culmination of four Republican Governors in a row, 14 Republican Speakers of the House, 13 Senate Presidents: complete one-party control of every one of the senior offices in our state,” insisted Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.
“I’m running for Governor to stop the horrible damage of the Tallahassee red tide,” said Sen. Annette Taddeo.
The trio spoke to more than 300 Democrats at the sold-out SemDems “Blue Rendezvous ’22” dinner in Lake Mary. Gov. Ron DeSantis certainly was their target. Except for Fried’s unenunciated slap at Crist — who was the third of those four Republican governors before he changed parties after 2010 — and Taddeo’s effort to define herself as unique in the trio, they mostly aimed away from each other.
Crist, who led off in the alphabetically ordered program, pressed on issues Democrats have been trying to raise and Republicans have largely tried to avoid, notably Florida’s affordable housing crisis, and the rising costs of energy which he blamed on a “lapdog” Public Service Commission.
“it’s about as corrupt as it could be. And it’s not right. You deserve better. Florida deserves better. Annette, Nikki, and I, we all deserve better,” he said.
But Crist mostly kept his focus on DeSantis.
“Florida has been traumatized by this Governor, And it’s for one reason. He’s more concerned about appealing to one audience, and one audience only. And that is the hard-right Republican, red-meat, Republican primary voter, than he is to his fellow Floridians,” Crist charged. ‘”My friends, he cares more about Iowa Republican voter than he cares about Florida people.”
Fried took the harshest shot of the three at DeSantis.
“Over the last four years we have been the only ones standing in his way of becoming a full-blown dictator,” said the lone Democratic member of the Florida Cabinet.
But she focused much of her speech on the change she represents as a Democrat and a woman running for Governor. She framed 2022 as a moment in history, about to be made.
“That is why we are here in this room, tonight,” Fried said. “We can’t afford to lose this race. We can’t go backwards, which is what we have been doing every single day. This is it. This is our last chance to fight,” she said.
“We are going to make history by electing the first female Governor of our state,” Fried concluded.
Taddeo, speaking third, wouldn’t have disagreed with that line. She portrayed herself as someone whose fighting spirit has repeatedly helped her overcome adversity and long odds.
“We know what doesn’t work when it comes to winning the Governor’s mansion. Here’s what will. At a time when parental rights are the new attack, how about nominating the only parent in the primary, a mom with a daughter in public schools, a businesswoman who has proven she can win in a Trump seat, and reverse the gains that Republican have made with Hispanics?” she offered. “So here I am. I know the road is long, and the mountain is high, but I have beaten the odds time and time again.”
Taddeo focused on the broader Republican control of Florida’s government. She said it was suppressing voters’ rights and killing Democracy.
“What makes this country great, really great, is the strength of our diversity and I believe when you know your cause is just, you get in there and fight for what you know is right,” Taddeo said. “And when I ran for state Senate in that Special Election in 2017, party leaders told me to stand aside, but I won.”
13 comments
Tom
April 10, 2022 at 4:36 am
Yes, America’s Governor accomplishments are many, the Dums have none.
8.7% wage increase reported by depart of BLS for average Floridian.
Thousands of young kids out of poverty I. Public schools scholarships. Schools opened during rage of pandemic.
Educators receiving third pay increase/bonuses in 4 yrs
Millions spent on infrastructure and environmental purposes. Florida’s Governor best on environment in last 50 yrs
So much more, Dem voters, over 20% support Gov.
No chance, no hope, no way for Dums!
America’s Gov the best!
Ocean Joe
April 10, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Consistent opposition to expanding Medicaid, and kids out of poverty due to a possibly inflationary child tax credit from Biden, not the result of the ‘whiz kid’ governor.
Money from the feds, all Florida congressmen and senators voting no, but Florida gets the money, spends easily and Ron takes credit, but not the inflationary blame. Smart.
Tom
April 12, 2022 at 10:34 pm
Lots of Wah, Wah, Wahing and
Crying, ocean Joe.
Tough to be a Manchurian dum.
Toughen Up pal, tough November coming. Shellacking
Ed Messinger
April 10, 2022 at 8:17 am
Before the Democrats go off on the GOP over affordable housing and energy, they should look at states that they run such as NJ where these problems make those in FL pale by comparison. As a “refugee from NJ I can truthfully say that Fl is paradise in comparison.
Impeach Biden
April 10, 2022 at 8:37 am
Thank you Ed. Thank God this state is run by a very strong Republican Governor. This is why soooooooooooooo many are fleeing Democratic controlled states. Now there should be a mandatory class for all of those New Yorkers, Californian’s, New Jersey, and so on that we don’t do business here like those states you are fleeing from. Remember that when you vote.
Domino
April 10, 2022 at 9:31 am
Be sure to leave some cash on hand in reserve for the early retirement plan.
Signed,
Andrew G
Ian
April 10, 2022 at 3:57 pm
Headline: Democrats strive to define gubernatorial choice in Seminole County
Question: When will Democrats strive to define the word “woman”?
Ocean Joe
April 10, 2022 at 5:54 pm
Are you asking what a woman is ‘for a friend’?
just sayin
April 11, 2022 at 8:04 am
Come on, you can’t deny the absurdity of a Democratic Supreme Court justice being unable to define what a woman is. History will not be kind to this nonsense.
Michael O'Rourke
April 11, 2022 at 11:09 am
It has gotten ridiculously absurd. What’s even stranger is when the leftist media doubles down on crazy. Like the lie about the parental notification law that protects parental rights over the sexualization of little children.
LMFRN
April 10, 2022 at 7:51 pm
Why are people leaving the Democratic run states then? Crime, high taxes, defund your police, broken criminal justice system, and not taking a stand for your citizens, instead you conform and obey your parties idealogies and mandates that are ruining your states. Floridians are not going to comply and we are not going to support and change our beliefs and way of life to please a very small percent. These 3 running are not who we want looking out for us. Educate yourselves on what they support, what is important to them and then you will know if they are elected what life in Florida will be like.
Michael O'Rourke
April 11, 2022 at 11:04 am
This is not even an interesting article. Our governor, Ron DeSantis shows more leadership then any Democrat in the entire country.
Why don’t you Democrats take a deep breath and take a deep look at the radical policies that you have adopted since the socialists and Noam Chomsky elitists took over your party? It’s not hard to figure out.
Michael O'Rourke
April 11, 2022 at 11:12 am
Greatest Governor ever: Ron DeSantis. That’s all.
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