Jesse Scheckner
Ron DeSantis is throwing his support behind Republican Rep. Juan Fernandez-Barquin’s re-election bid in House District 118.
The Governor announced his endorsement of Fernandez-Barquin on Twitter, writing Monday that the twice-elected state lawmaker “has been a strong leader in protecting public safety and parental rights.”
He added, “I look forward to working with Juan to Keep Florida Free.”
I'm pleased to endorse @RepJuanFBarquin for re-election to the Florida House. He has been a strong leader in protecting public safety and parental rights. I look forward to working with Juan to Keep Florida Free.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) August 8, 2022
Representing Miami-Dade County, Fernandez-Barquin has proven himself a dependable ally to DeSantis in the Legislature, sponsoring or co-sponsoring “red meat” measures like the anti-riot bill (HB 1), Stop WOKE Act, and the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill that restricts classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation.
This year, he faces two challengers in the Primary Election: Francisco Rodriguez, a system analyst with the Miami-Dade Public School district and Daniel Sotelo, a U.S. Air Force veteran and local small business owner who ran unsuccessfully in 2018 and 2020 as a no-party candidate for House District 119 and a Miami-Dade Community Council seat.
In interviews with the Miami Herald this week, Fernandez-Barquin was the only one of the three to voice a strong opinion against the Proud Boys, which the FBI has labeled an extremist group. He was also alone in saying there should be some exceptions for Florida’s new ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
The winner of the Republican Primary will face the only Democrat in the race, Johnny Farias, an electrician who previously represented South Bay as an elected Miami-Dade Community Council member.
Shortly after DeSantis’ announcement, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez threw in her two cents, calling Fernandez-Barquin “a proven Republican leader that stands for law and order, parental rights in education and economic prosperity.”
.@RepJuanFBarquin is a proven Republican leader that stands for law and order, parental rights in education and economic prosperity. Vote #72 for Juan to continue fighting to #KeepFloridaFree! https://t.co/IaKqqFr5aT
— Jeanette M. Nuñez (@JeanetteNunezFL) August 8, 2022
Fernandez-Barquin leads his opponents in fundraising and endorsements, with prior nods from Speaker-designate Paul Renner and several police and firefighter unions.
Of DeSantis’ endorsement, Fernandez expressed gratitude and reiterated the Governor’s keywords.
“Thank you (DeSantis) for your vote of confidence!” he wrote. “Count on me to stand along side you to #KeepFloridaFree!”
Thank you @RonDeSantisFL for your vote of confidence! Count on me to stand along side you to #KeepFloridaFree! #flhd118 #flhd119 #votebarquin https://t.co/Klg9w3TIxA
— Juan Fernandez-Barquin (@RepJuanFBarquin) August 8, 2022
HD 118 covers a narrow strip of Miami-Dade west of the Florida Turnpike, including portions of the unincorporated Kendall, Perrine, Sunset, and Westchester neighborhoods.
The Primary Election is on Aug. 23. Early voting in Miami-Dade County is now underway.
8 comments
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 4:16 pm
– Vote RED for Mini Hitler and his far right hoard of empty suits, obstructionists, election thieves, and saboteurs of government.
– Vote RED for abominable anti-government militias protecting the redneck rich.
– Vote RED for phoney baloney religious schizophrenics
Don’t Look Up
August 8, 2022 at 4:18 pm
No surprise! Just another un-Woke DeSantis bootlicker in the FREEDUMB State of Florida!
Floridians should vote these DeSantis apologist out of office. Republicans are America’s problem! Vote them out of office.
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Don’t Look Up wants New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey chaos here in the free state of Florida.
Elliott Offen
August 8, 2022 at 5:52 pm
DeSantis bragged about how cool it was that they come here. I take it you don’t agree with DeSatan ..
Impeach Biden
August 8, 2022 at 4:59 pm
Vote BLUE for defunding the police.
Vote BLUE for cashless bail
Vote BLUE for smash and grab robberies in the middle of the day.
Vote BLUE if you support Islamic terrorists like Omar and Tlaib.
Vote BLUE if you support the hiring of 87,000 additional IRS agents.
Vote BLUE for forty year high inflation.
Vote BLUE for record high fuel prices.
Vote BLUE if you support bringing migrants to sanctuary cities.
Joe Corsin
August 8, 2022 at 5:50 pm
^ Vote RED for a bunch of bullshit and lies like this!!!
– Vote RED for fake Christians
– Vote RED for anti-government militias and terrorists
– Vote RED for neo nazi terrorists
– Vote RED for GOP shoveling money to the rich and starving their own trailer park voters
Vote RED for incivility and racism
Vote RED for stupid propaganda to rope in the poor white trash
Just a comment
August 8, 2022 at 6:16 pm
Really all those groups are smaller than the bite
I guess you have to stay alert funny bane woke alert woke alert
YYep
August 9, 2022 at 3:52 pm
What do you get with drunken Irish men and a tea kettle. a Brew saying get of my Land.
Comments are closed.