JAVIER MANJARRES: Florida's Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Running as Progressives

Florida's  2022 Democratic gubernatorial primary race in Florida has just gotten a bit crowded after Colombian Arepa-loving State Senator Annette Taddeo announced (finally) her candidacy.

Sen. Taddeo, who will be challenging Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and her former 2014 gubernatorial running mate, Rep. Charlie Crist, may have an outside chance to prevail over Commissioner Fried and Rep. Crist.

How?

While Rep. Crist and Commissioner Fried are trying to create their Progressive bona fides in order to garner the support of the base of the Florida Democratic Party, Sen. Taddeo is a proven Progressive.

SHE USES PRONOUNS ON HER TWITTER ACCOUNT FOR CHRIST’S SAKE!

That alone makes her the leading “Progressive” candidate in the race.

Also, prominent liberal Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who know Taddeo’s true and life-long Democratic ideology and track record, could eventually prove to be the “Trump Card” for Taddeo, if the race goes down to the wire next year.

Taddeo is the true Progressive in the race even though she doesn’t wear her ideology on her sleeve or throw the proverbial political Molotov Cocktail to get her point across.

Fried, from what several of her friends in Fort Lauderdale have told me, is really a Republican-minded Democrat, while Crist is, umm, just Charlie.

I like all three—Fried, Charlie, and Taddeo. They are all good people, courteous and respectful. That's my personal take.

All three bring a lot to the table and will usher in a lot of spunk and color to the race to win the Democratic nomination.

Again, the key for the victor will again be corralling the Progressive base of the political party.

Taddeo’s Arepa and Arroz con Pollo progressive bona fides could either win her the nomination outright or shave off enough support from Fried that Crist skates in to face Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is better known to Democrats as the “Big Bad Wolf” of Florida Politics.

On the other hand, Taddeo could do the same to Crist and clear the road for Fried to challenge Gov. DeSantis in the general election.

Regardless of who wins the primary, it will be a heavy lift to defeat DeSantis, who is still dodging arguably the biggest question that can be posed to any Florida politician.

Do you prefer Chick-Fil-A or Popeye’s?

What chicken sandwich do Taddeo, Crist, and Fried prefer?

We await your answer.

 

OPINION by The Floridian Publisher Javier Manjarres

Javier Manjarres is a nationally renowned award-winning political journalist. Diverse New Media, Corp. publishes Floridianpress.com, Hispolitica.com, shark-tank.com, and Texaspolitics.com He enjoys traveling, playing soccer, mixed martial arts, weight-lifting, swimming, and biking. Javier is also a political consultant and has also authored "BROWN PEOPLE," which is a book about Hispanic Politics. Learn more at www.brownpeople.org Email him at Diversenewmedia@gmail.com