Janelle Irwin Taylor
Former St. Petersburg City Council member Robert Blackmon has rescinded his endorsement for Vince Nowicki and is instead backing David Leatherwood.
Nowicki and Leatherwood are facing each other in the GOP Primary for District 1. The winner will take on incumbent Democrat Charlie Justice.
Blackmon first endorsed Nowicki last July, long before Leatherwood had entered the race. Nowicki was, at the time, the only Republican candidate running. Leatherwood entered the race last month, just ahead of the qualifying deadline for the race. His entrance set up a Primary for Nowicki.
Blackmon said he shifted support after becoming disenchanted with negative campaigning against Leatherwood, who is gay.
“Attacks on David’s character, largely based around him being gay, have been divisive and damaging to our local party, and counter to Republican values,” Blackmon wrote in his new endorsement. “I do not believe in attacking others for being gay, and I do not believe in attacking fellow Republicans simply because they offer a different vision of the future.”
Blackmon is referencing, at least in part, a new Facebook page, “Traditional Values Pinellas.” The page is supported by the Important Work Political Committee, which Nowicki chairs.
The page includes almost exclusively screenshots from Leatherwood’s Instagram, including a photo of him clad in all pink, sitting on a pink couch next to a pink Barbie pillow. That post includes a quote from past Florida Politics reporting noting that Leatherwood had a DUI conviction in 2011 and was charged in late 2010 over a series of domestic disputes with a past partner, including an incident that led to being trespassed from all Disney properties in 2016.
Many of the posts the page highlights from Leatherwood’s social media accounts are taken out of contest, including one in March in which he captioned a photo of a group of people dressed as goths in front of a church, “walking up to easter morning services like.” The actual post was mocking such individuals, but the post claims that he “continues to disrespect our values.”
“I have never before switched an endorsement,” Blackmon said. “But as a former elected official in St. Petersburg, I can not (sic) stand idly by while someone is senselessly, and repeatedly, attacked simply for being gay.”
Blackmon went on to say that “no Republican value is more precious to me than freedom, and attacking someone for who they are is attacking that freedom.”
He quoted former President Ronald Reagan: “Thou shalt never speak ill of a fellow Republican,” adding that “it does not help the Republican Party grow its tent at a time when unity is more important than ever.”
Leatherwood is an influencer known for his conservative activism, particularly on his Instagram account, where he goes by the name “Brokeback Patriot,” a reference to the film “Brokeback Mountain” and a nod to Leatherwood’s sexual orientation.
Leatherwood was featured in a Tampa Bay Times article two years ago about MAGA influencers flocking to Florida to chase “political clout and connections.”
One of his most recent posts attacks transgender policy, making the argument that children should not be allowed to “choose their gender” with a video of a young boy offered the choice between $10,000 in cash or two Oreos. The boy chooses the Oreos.
Another post shows a pride flag hanging at a McDonald’s with the caption “America is over and we deserve to be nuked.” Another post shows an animation of a devil sewing a pride flag, with the caption “June is coming.”
Blackmon called Leatherwood “one of the leading voices in Pinellas County and nationally.”
“His many appearances throughout the nation, and work on high profile campaigns, has helped Republicans gain seats throughout the county,” Blackmon said, adding that “David will bring thoughtful progress to our community, capitalizing on his reach and resume to partner with great elected officials at every level.”
The back and forth between Leatherwood and Nowicki could be good news for Justice, who does not face a Primary challenge and will be able to focus all of his resources on the November General Election.
Republicans now hold a nearly 20,000-voter registration advantage in Pinellas County, with 245,003 voters to just 226,063 Democrats. That’s a sizable lead, especially considering that Republicans historically turn out in greater numbers than Democrats. While Justice’s seat includes parts of west St. Pete and Lealman, it is elected countywide.
The GOP voter registration advantage also means no-party or third-party voters will play a big role in election outcomes next year. There are nearly 193,000 voters not affiliated with a major party.
Democrats lost ground on the County Commission in the 2022 cycle, with Pat Gerard losing her seat and Republicans claiming a 4-3 advantage. They are now looking to expand that advantage, with Republicans running against Justice and in the open race for countywide District 1, which Democrat Janet Long is vacating.
Justice narrowly held onto his seat the last time he was up for re-election, with barely more than 50% of the vote against GOP challenger Tammy Sue Vasquez.
Justice’s campaign touts his work protecting beaches and local estuaries, as well as preserving green space, investing in infrastructure, and making public safety a priority. He said there has been a 63% decline in serious crime countywide, data confirmed in Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office data.
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Editor’s note: A previous version of this story stated that U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had endorsed Leatherwood. She has not endorsed a candidate in this race.
