In the 2020 presidential election, President Donald Trump (R) carried the state of Florida. Although President Joe Biden (D) was named the victor of the election, Congressional seats shifted from blue to red across the state. As the 2022 election looms closer, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) now faces his first rival in the gubernatorial race, Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D). Over the weekend, the former Governor of Florida made his first campaign stop in Miami, speaking to Cuban American Democrats at Tropical Park. With both lawmakers launching verbal jabs as one seeks to win reelection and the other seeks to win his old job back, Floridians now prepare themselves to vote, questioning the likelihood of the Sunshine State shifting power from the GOP to the Democrat party.
In his campaign stop, Crist discussed loosening economic restrictions the United States has placed on Cuba, expressing to those in attendance that he’s “running for governor because you deserve better.” In making a distinction between himself and Governor DeSantis, Crist explained that “this isn’t about right versus left.” Instead, “this is right versus wrong.” Crist also expressed his support for expanding Medicaid and committing to renewable energy while speaking to the public.
Since his announcement to run last Tuesday, Governor DeSantis has largely disregarded Crist’s campaign, expressing that Crist is an opportunist when it comes to holding political office. “Anytime there’s an open... office somewhere you can bet someone... like Crist is probably going to be slithering around for it.”
Crist, once a member of the GOP, was Governor of Florida from 2007 to 2011. Since making the announcement of his gubernatorial run, he has outpaced other Democrats that have been speculated to soon announce their own gunernatorial bids. This includes Florida Rep. Val Demings (D) and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried (D). If the gubernatorial hopeful is to enlist President Biden’s help leading up to the 2022 midterm election, Floridian voters may need some more convincing if their vote is to be swayed.
A recent FAU poll of registered voters in the Sunshine State indicated that “the state continues to be sharply divided” according to a statement from FAU professor Kevin Wagner.
In 2020, President Biden lost Florida by approximately 400,000 votes, and the poll revealed that 57 percent of responders expressed being highly dissatisfied with the state of the country compared to 30 percent who are satisfied and 14 percent that are unsure.
However, Crist remains hopeful. He last attempted to run for Governor in 2014 as a Democrat, and he feels Florida needs a change in government much like Cuba and the U.S. need a change in their relationship.
“We need to open Cuba up. It’s been under embargo for 50 years. It’s time to change,” Crist affirms.
