Anne Geggis
A trio of politicians who have been outspoken critics of the current Republican administration is endorsing Democrat Charlie Crist for Governor, the campaign announced Friday.
Democratic Miami Sen. Jason Pizzo, whose name had been floated as a potential gubernatorial candidate, is endorsing the former Republican Governor. So is Brevard School Board Member Jennifer Jenkins, who became a target of Republican Rep. Randy Fine and the right-leaning group Moms for Liberty. Democratic Rep. Kevin Chambliss, who has written attacks on Gov. Ron DeSantis’ immigration policies as “callous politics,” is also getting on board with Team Crist.
Crist called his endorsers “incredible public servants.” whose support he was grateful to receive.
“Florida deserves a Governor who will work for the people, not for themselves. A governor who will always have your back and will fight for you every single day,” said Crist’s statement in his news release.
Crist is in a contest with the only Democrat currently holding statewide office, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. The Aug. 23 Primary will determine which of them has the right to face DeSantis in the General Election.
The support comes on the day Crist received his first endorsement from a major Florida newspaper. The Sun-Sentinel cited his lengthy resume and performance in Thursday night’s debate.
Pizzo said he believes that Crist is the unifier the state needs in the multiple crises happening now.
“Florida families are suffering from a lack of affordable housing, a failed insurance market, and disregard for the neighborhoods ripped apart from gun violence,” Pizzo said in a prepared statement. “I’ve been on the front lines during the pandemic, and thousands of my constituents were stranded waiting for unemployment and housing assistance — it’s time we had a governor who actually cares.”
Unopposed in his re-election bid, Pizzo pledged $500,000 of his campaign kitty to support fellow Democrats’ campaigns and campaigned against one of his fellow Miami Democratic delegation members for votes that crossed party lines. But he says he has no qualms about Crist’s past public service as a Republican that earned him the nickname “Chain Gang Charlie.”
“For me, the evolution of one’s character and ideals, especially someone who has long been in public service, demonstrates the unique ability to adapt for the benefit of those most in need,” Pizzo wrote in a text. “I recall and appreciate how Obama went through his own enlightenment and was a better leader for it.”
Jenkins, who has faced protests at her home for her votes on COVID-19 masking policies as she’s served on the nonpartisan School Board, cited Crist’s record on education in her endorsement.
“By preserving instructional autonomy, providing competitive compensation, and significantly increasing funding for special programs, Charlie Crist will ensure all of our children have a classroom with a qualified teacher, equipped with resources, at the forefront,” Jenkins said, alluding to the fights over instruction that roiled the last Legislative Session. “I’m proud to endorse Charlie to be the next Governor of Florida.”
Chambliss cited Crist’s genuine concern for Floridians.
“Florida is facing an affordability crisis with skyrocketing costs of living as well as a gun violence epidemic, but Gov. DeSantis continues to do next to nothing,” Chambliss said. “It’s unacceptable. Charlie genuinely cares for Floridians and will always work to alleviate their burdens, not ignore them. I’m proud to stand by his side in this fight.”
23 comments
Elliott Offen
July 22, 2022 at 5:58 pm
DeSantis collaborated with ISIS against coalition forces in Iraq… and raped a dead woman. VOTE CRIST!!!!
Ron DeSantis sucks
July 22, 2022 at 6:14 pm
Source?
Paul Leisue
July 22, 2022 at 6:57 pm
Charlie Crist the failed Republican, the failed Independent, the failed Libertarian, or the failed Democrat. Which Charlie Crist is Charlie today?
Daniela Patterson
July 23, 2022 at 5:48 am
We’ll find out when he wins!
Bill
July 23, 2022 at 7:53 am
If you get knocked down, get back up and keep going – I’d give him some credit for that at least. Hopefully his trips around the block have taught him something useful.
Tom
July 23, 2022 at 8:43 am
Crist is a total chameleon.
Total loser, perennial candidate hack.
Worth $2 million off the people.
Hypocrite, no conviction, Bible says u will be spat out” pro life, pro choice flip flopper, just a chameleon.
America’s Greatest Gov, people’s Gov
Unemployment 2.8%, down from 2.8%.
Florida Mecca for all, Rising tide for all.
Joe Corsin
July 23, 2022 at 7:23 pm
Bible??? Trump was Satan in the flesh. Lotta money, lotta molested women, lotta lies, lotta crimes. Disordered monger! Those who followed him have still not repented and will burn in boiling screaming hell for eternity. You gonna burn in hell Tom…
Tom
July 24, 2022 at 7:12 am
Good to know you mental derelict, retard corsin. Are you now the almighty?
So you decide who goes?
You are despicable filth. You are used toilet paper.
Incest sex is brain damaging. You loser.
tom palmer
July 22, 2022 at 5:58 pm
Crist needs all of the support he can get. DeSantis has plenty, roo. But as Yogi said, it ain’t over until it’s over.
Tom
July 22, 2022 at 5:59 pm
Sorry, it’s the economy stupid,
Florida’s job growth under America’s Gov continues to accelerate.
Florida’s job growth is now 2.8%, down from 3.0%. Just 300,000 not working now.
$21 billion now in reserves.
Chameleon and or Fraud no chance!
Florida is the jobs, economic Mecca, the example in keeping state open. America’s watching our great Gov. , as independents like him in state and nationally.
America’s Gov, do for America what you have accomplished for Florida. Rising tide for all, not dog food like Biden Harris.
Joe Corsin
July 22, 2022 at 7:51 pm
Jobs Mecca making slave wages. Even before the pandemic under Trump people were making shit. Hotel entry level $10 an hour with was around $6 an hour adjusted for inflation back in 1997. NOBODY was making that back then. Even $15 an hour today was only worth about $8 an hour back in 1997. People in NE Florida were being grifted to a husk during Trump and wages even continue to be bad. Not because the economy isn’t going great…that’s bs. The hogs down here will pass off any added costs to the customer and rip workers off as well…no matter how good or bad the economy is.
Impeach Biden
July 22, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Corsin, do you work at Disney? Come on man, make something of yourself. Get off the computer and get some skills instead of bitching about the “Man”. Better get it together as your President is going to replace your sorry ass with cheap border crossing labor.
Joe Corsin
July 22, 2022 at 10:41 pm
Mexicans now make more than white people in Florida now thanks to low wage slavery across the board. The GOP hogs see no color but green…grift everyone out of every dime possible. Thank you Rick Scott and DeDumbDumb. AkA DeDumbazz
Tom
July 24, 2022 at 7:23 am
Racist corsin, mentally sick.
Hispanics abandoning the Dem party.
Rising tide for all in Florida with DeSantis, not a few under Biden Harris.
Facts:
2.8% unemployment
8.0% wage growth
$21 billion in state financial reserves
Florida the economic Mecca for opportunity.
Joe and Jill Biden, tacos for everyone.
Can’t make the clown show up.
Biden Harris, dog good for all.
Tom
July 22, 2022 at 9:48 pm
It’s the economy stupid! 2.8%.
Spoken like a demented Soros Manchurian. Really pathetic, really elite for you to pass judgment on what people do for a living.
Who do you think you are, you pathetic moron. You oink
Like a pig.
America’s Governor for all Floridians. Hispanics, Independents, moms,dads-families for DeSantis. Extremists, abortionists for Dems.
DeSantis wipes the floor with fools like you. Rising tide for all.
U Loser Joe.
Joe Corsin
July 22, 2022 at 10:38 pm
^ Possible far right terrorist. Report to FBI…
Daniela Patterson
July 23, 2022 at 5:57 am
The Republicans are screwing themselves! Midterms will Prove that! Stop blaming Biden for everything! The whole World is in a Recession! Crist has my vote!
PeterH
July 23, 2022 at 12:25 pm
As a conservative who left the GOP after Reagan tripled the National Debt to lower unemployment exactly 1% over the span of eight years ……. I will never again vote Republican until the GQP has experienced a complete overhaul getting rid of Trumpsters, DeSantis clowns, MTG, Rick Scott’s, Matt Gaetz and Marco Rubio gun advocates. There are too many Republican idiots in Congress to mention here.
Just look at the Republican miserable and poorly managed red states like Alabama, Texas, North and South Dakota and Mississippi and ask yourself….. is that what we want here in Florida?
Florida is suffering from 20 years of incompetent draconian Republican leadership. It’s time for a fresh start.
Charlie Crist has my vote …. like many of the 3 million independent voters in Florida …..today’s “cultural warrior” GOP has left Crist and independent voters behind……it’s time to throw the Republican Party out with the white supremacist trash they’ve created and nurtured.
Al
July 23, 2022 at 1:33 pm
I had a affordability problem b before I was Born 5 thousand makes no difference of 500
YYep
July 23, 2022 at 1:39 pm
Affordable living so why is the housing markets doing too good and people are clawing their way in are they complaining no free resources
Joe Corsin
July 23, 2022 at 7:27 pm
Florida used to be a tourist trap…now it’s a slave trap! Expensive housing and low wages…piss poor working conditions and bunch of religious lunatics and assholes. People can move here now but eventually they will flee the slave trap guarantee. Biggest grift on the planet… phoney carnival attraction.
Tom
July 24, 2022 at 2:58 pm
Nobody cares what you whiny hand wringers think, Daniela, Peter h, and Corsin.
The Repub party is the party of middle class, working class, and blue collar workers. It’s about the doers, earners and strivers. Hispanics are flooding the GOP as are Asians. Without Biden tacos.
DeSantis will annihilate chameleon crisp. He is a hypocrite and fraud, period.
Marco defeats Dum Demings. Biden’s 29% approval is to much to overcome.
Peter h, you pud elites really think you matter. You are not a Republican. You are a liberal period. Corsin is a communist. Daniela is ignorant, the GOP will win 40 house seats, 6 senate seats. New majorities, Ron and Marco win! Enjoy
Rising tide for all not dog food like Biden and Harris.
Joe Corsin
July 25, 2022 at 8:41 pm
I can barely read such jumbled and unintelligible nonsense. You need medication and treatment. Your brain is mush on right wing propaganda.
Comments are closed.