Crist Calls DeSantis an 'Authoritarian Bully'

Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D) has picked up a number of endorsements, including support from Florida state Senator Tina Polsky (D). Polsky, who serves in the state senate with Annette Taddeo (D), had an exchange with controversial Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ (R) pick for Florida’s Surgeon General. As support for Crist grows, the gubernatorial hopeful is amping up his criticism against DeSantis, calling him an “authoritarian bully.”

Florida state Senator Lori Berman (D) also endorsed Crist, and the Democrats had nothing but glowing assessments of Crist as a lawmaker.

Polsky called the former Governor of Florida “the person we need now to help unite us and get us away from divisiveness, and the culture wars, and what’s been going on in Tallahassee over 12 years.” Admitting that “it’s time for a change,” Polsky added that “it’s time to get us back, get us united, and it’s time for all of us to get behind the right candidate for Governor, Charlie Crist.”

Berman commented that she had “watched Charlie in action as our Governor and as a Representative from Pinellas County,” calling him someone who “fights tirelessly for us all.”

She went on to say that Crist “is the exact person that we need right now back in Tallahassee to bring back common sense and decency to our government.”

Crist celebrated the endorsements on social media, welcoming the Florida lawmakers to "Team Crist" and reiterating that his campaign's goal is "to build a Florida united." Further commenting on the endorsements, Crist noted that "their endorsements reflect the strength of support our campaign has been blessed to receive from the Panhandle to Miami."

The Florida Democrat also took to social media to rally support against DeSantis, calling him an "authoritarian bully" and commenting on the Governor's rivalry with Disney after DeSantis signed legislation that would dissolve Disney's ability to self-govern.