State Rep. Omari Hardy (D) is arguably the most Progressive Democrat legislator in Florida and has based his entire congressional campaign on being progressive, but while he touts that his campaign is “not taking corporate PAC money” or money from federal lobbyists,” he has accepted money for state-level political committees and lobbyists.
Rep. Hardy calls Rep. Crenshaw (R) trash and says he will not work with Republicans if elected to the U.S. Congress.
Some of my Democratic colleagues in the FL legislature think it's a problem that I don't make friends w/ Republicans.
Ummm, I don't make friends w/ ppl who disenfranchise my constituents. No, thanks.
— Rep. Omari Hardy (@OmariJHardy) June 29, 2021
During a fundraising deadline request for last-minute donations, Rep. Hardy stated the following:
“It’s the last day of the quarter and unlike other candidates in this race, we are not taking corporate PAC money. We are not taking money from federal lobbyists or from Wall Street donors. This is a people-powered campaign. This is a grassroots campaign.”
Hardy accuses “other candidates” in the race (presumably the Democratic congressional primary contest) to replace the late Rep. Alcee Hastings (D), of taking federal PAC and lobby money, but it’s not sure how he could know this if the FEC reports have not been posted.
The only candidate that has reported any dollar amounts has by Broward County Commissioner Barbara Sharief, who loaned herself $100,000 and took in around $12,000, which could have been donated by a group of lobbyists or “Wall Street donors.”
Aside from Sharief, Rep. Bobby Dubose, Sen. Perry Thurston, and Broward County Mayor Dale Dolness, still have not filed their FEC reports.
Now, during their runs for state and municipal office, all of these congressional candidates have received political committee and lobby money, even Hardy.
Here are several of the political actions groups and lobbyists who have donated to Hardy’s past state house races:
Sticking to the progressive spirit, Hardy also appears to take issue with the criminalization of prostitution, or “sex work” as he calls it.
“The war on drugs and the continued criminalization of sex work amounts to a perpetual stimulus package for the law enforcement industrial complex,” tweeted Hardy.
Florida’s 20th congressional district is considered a predominantly black seat, and according to the Cook Political Report, it leans Democrat by 28 points, or it’s a D+28.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary election will be the next member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
We haven’t been able to get in touch with Hardy for comment.