Florida Phoenix
Democrat Charlie Crist’s running mate Karla Hernández-Mats, a Miami-Dade teacher union president, has set the tone for what will be very similar gubernatorial teams — in the way of geography.
Both Crist and Ron DeSantis, who both have been elected Governors, grew up in Pinellas County on the Gulf side of the peninsula. They both attended Pinellas public high schools, according to bios and campaign material.
Their running mates are both from Miami-Dade in South Florida, with Crist announcing his Lieutenant Governor Hernández-Mats on Saturday in Miami-Dade.
“Born and raised in Miami, Hernández-Mats is a first-generation American of Honduran descent,” according to her bio from the nationwide American Federation of Teachers union.
Meanwhile, Republican “Jeanette M. Nuñez was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She was elected as Florida’s first Hispanic female Lieutenant Governor of Florida in 2018,” her bio states.
In Hernández-Mats’ welcoming speech to Floridians on Saturday, she emphasized her roots in Miami, speaking about her dad being a union member. She is the president of United Teachers of Dade, which is connected to the larger AFT union.
“It was her drive and her spirit that drove me to choose Karla to serve alongside me at UTD, and today, I could not be prouder that my friend and union sister has been called to run to be the next Lieutenant Governor of Florida,” said Fedrick Ingram, AFT secretary-treasurer and a former president of the Florida Education Association, in a written statement Saturday. He also previously served as the president of the United Teachers of Dade.
“I am optimistic that there are brighter days ahead in Florida and that, come November, our state will be one step closer to becoming a more equitable place where every person — regardless of the color of their skin, political affiliation or sexual orientation — has a voice,” Ingram continued in the written statement.
Hernández-Mats discussed what’s going on in classrooms as a microcosm of Floridians and communities.
The event was at a Haileah middle school and the crowd in Miami-Dade appeared to love Hernández-Mats, frequently interrupting her with supportive chants.
“Sí se puede!,” the crowd chanted. “Yes, we can!” she translated. It’s a phrase from the Barack Obama campaign in 2008, but it is also connected to united farm workers.
Crist, when he was preparing to announce her as Lieutenant Governor, said, “We’ve got to make sure to touch all our people. This is a campaign for a Florida for all.”
That would mean blossoming from Pinellas and Miami-Dade to reach millions of residents in Florida. That said, Miami-Dade is the largest county by population in Florida, according to census data, and Democrats make up nearly 40% of voters in that county, according to voter registration data.
“Are you tired of the culture wars and the extremists that are dictating what we can say and do?” Hernandez-Mats asked the crowd. “Are you sick of politicians who act like authoritarians trying to tear apart our democracy? That’s why we are here today — to defeat Ron DeSantis and bring decency and respect back to the state of Florida.”
She added:
“Also on the ballot is our opportunity to bring sunshine back into the state. Ladies and gentlemen, it’s been dark in here. It’s been dark, but we’re gonna bring the sunshine back.”
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18 comments
Little Run Aways
August 28, 2022 at 7:38 pm
The difference is that Ron DeSantis excelled in all he did while Crist excelled only in prevarication, shmoozing, and being all things to all people whenever the moment dictated. Here is what people said about him in HIGH SCHOOL:
“But before it made sense to use the word, Crist was a politician”
That’s from a Tampa Bay Times story in 2014.
What you Dems and FLAPOL and the rest of the media are foisting off on us is a “POL”–foisting off on a population eager for truth and straight talk. You will never get it from him–but you are such pansies that you run away crying from the truth when it comes from Ron DeSantis–just like you did from Trump.
Charlie Crist
August 28, 2022 at 7:43 pm
Trump was a greasy NY slime ball and crook. Everyone who voted for him down south were victims of a carpet bagger, snake oil salesmen, charlatan. He only made life easier for the super rich and no one else. Money doesn’t trickle down..that’s a myth. Too many stupid people drunk on right wing propaganda voting against their own interests.
Charlie Crist
August 28, 2022 at 7:39 pm
Republicans only shovel money to the rich as fast as humanly possible. How long can this abominable grift continue? Vote Charlie or we will all be enslaved by the rich within 30 years. People will work for food money only!
Impeach Biden
August 28, 2022 at 7:54 pm
Sorry Charlie there isn’t enough liberal wackos in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Pinellas to carry you to victory in November. Bye.
Charlie Crist
August 28, 2022 at 8:03 pm
One day the far left will take over Florida and rain misrable screaming hell and unimaginable inhuman cruelty down up the conservative Republican crooks, fake patriots, and Christian fascist terrorists. Trump will be the first in an infinite line of dumb dumbs who are gonna burn in hell.
Impeach Biden
August 28, 2022 at 8:12 pm
We know Charlie. When Dems don’t get their way they resort to carjackings, arson, smash and grab, store lootings and on and on. Look at New York City, Baltimore, Chicago, Portland, Minneapolis, St Louis.
Charlie Crist
August 28, 2022 at 8:17 pm
You mean Trump supporters when their stupid leader loses elections? Let’s ask Ashli Babbitt about it all via Ouija board…
Impeach Biden
August 28, 2022 at 8:25 pm
Really Crist /Offen Corsin? Babbitt was killed by a racist officer. She wasn’t armed. Now what would the Democratic supported group BLM have done if the roles were reversed? Riots, fires, looting and Ben Crump.
Impeach Biden
August 28, 2022 at 8:26 pm
Uh oh. FP scrubbers to the rescue.
Impeach Biden
August 28, 2022 at 9:12 pm
This board definitely has an agenda. It’s not free speech.
Charlie Crist
August 28, 2022 at 9:59 pm
Sometimes the comments just won’t post there Karen. No one is out to get you but you. Seek medication… expensive medication thanks to the GOP and grifters like Rick Scott and Donald Trump. Best medicine for you is FAT CAMMACK twat scrub… elephant azz crush your face.🍩💋
Impeach Biden
August 29, 2022 at 6:44 am
Amazing the FP moderators let you write junk like that. As you know Charlie you aren’t getting my vote in November. As a matter of fact you won’t be getting enough votes in the state of a Florida to displace DeSantis. You and Nikki will be going bye bye. Maybe she will give you a good scrubbing. Then again I’m not sure you are into females.🤣
Charlie Crist
August 29, 2022 at 8:03 am
^ Homophobic hate speaker “Impeach Biden” at it again with more rotten hate mongering. Needs Nikki Fried golden shower…to put out neo nazi bonfire. Yeah needs golden water fountain care of Nikki Fried 💋
Impeach Boden
August 29, 2022 at 8:29 am
Typical radical, leftist, socialist Democrat response. You can deal it out but go full blown sensitive if it comes back to you. Butch up buttercup.
Impeach Biden
August 29, 2022 at 8:41 am
You must have a moderator friend at FP Crist / Corsin / Offen.
Charlie Crist
August 29, 2022 at 10:00 am
This isn’t church you neo nazi maniac. Again, need FAT CAMMACK to stand over you and fall..roll around on you..steam roll you..teach you good lesson about the GOP.
Hope
August 29, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Charlie Crist is the poster boy of why we should put more money into mental health care.
I think the moderators are asleep at the wheel.
Charlie Crist
August 29, 2022 at 5:12 pm
You mean Trump and Trump supporters???
Comments are closed.