Charlie Crist Racking Up Endorsements In FL Democratic Primary For Governor

Florida Phoenix

FLORIDA — U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist has been picking up endorsements from Florida Senate Democrats including Bobby Powell in hopes of becoming the Democratic nominee in the gubernatorial primary.

Powell, the Democratic leader pro tempore who has served in the leadership of the Legislative Black Caucus, posted a Twitter video Friday endorsing Crist “not only because he’s the best candidate for the job, but also because I believe that it’s time out for the culture wars.”

“It’s time out for the attack on Black and minority communities,” said Powell, representing part of Palm Beach County. “It’s time out for the attack on your rights to vote. It’s time out for the attacks on the LGBT community. And it’s also time out on the attacks on women’s right to choose.”

Crist, a former Republican governor, was also endorsed this week by state sens. Shevrin Jones, Lori Berman, and Tina Polsky. He’d also received support from U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to take on Gov. Ron DeSantis as the Republican governor seeks reelection in November.

“There is no doubt that Charlie Crist is the person we need right now to lead our state, and the best candidate to beat Gov. DeSantis,” Jones, a Democrat representing parts of Miami-Dade and Broward counties, said in a written statement.

Another 2022 Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried, has been on the campaign trail delivering her plan to tackle problems facing Floridians, if elected governor, but appears to have fewer endorsements by elected officials.

Some of her supporters include state Rep. Kelly Skidmore of Palm Beach County; Palm Beach County Mayor Robert Weinroth; and Patricia Good, vice chair of the Broward school board, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

State Sen. Annette Taddeo, of Miami-Dade, also is a candidate in the primary. According to her campaign website, Donna Shalala, former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a congresswoman; state Sen. Victor Torres of Central Florida; and state Rep. Kevin Chambliss of Miami-Dade have endorsed her.

She’s also listed several county officials in Orange and Miami-Dade counties, among other endorsements.

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