Democrats in Florida have become emboldened by the recent Supreme Court ruling on Roe vs. Wade. Florida Rep. Charlie Crist (D), who’s surging in the polls to become the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in August, has vowed to protect the right to choose on his first day as Governor should he be elected. As Floridians inch closer to the primary elections in August, the Florida AFL-CIO has announced its “landslide” endorsement of Crist for Governor.
Over the weekend, the Florida AFL-CIO became the latest union to formally endorse the former Republican Governor of Florida.
The union is one of Florida’s largest unions, and it announced that they had endorsed the now Democratic congressman in a “landslide” endorsement.
“The Florida AFL-CIO believes that whether in Tallahassee or Washington, Crist has governed fairly and in a way that takes into account the workers that make Florida, and America, run,” announced the union in a tweet on Friday.
In response, Crist released a statement, saying that “our teachers, our tradesmen, our state and municipal workers, these folks are the backbone of our workforce in Florida.”
“And right now their freedoms, their freedom to organize, their freedom to advocate for better pay and better benefits, are under attack by this administration,” Crist added, commenting that “together we are going to take this state back for our working men and women.”
Shortly after the Supreme Court made the announcement, Crist took to social media to share his disappointment at the decision, writing that “on my first day as governor, I will sign an Executive Order to protect reproductive freedom in Florida.”
On my first day as governor, I will sign an Executive Order to protect reproductive freedom in Florida.
— Charlie Crist (@CharlieCrist) June 25, 2022
In contrast, DeSantis has argued that, after the ruling, Florida will "expand pro-life protections" in response to the Supreme Court ruling.
On Twitter, DeSantis shared that “Florida will continue to defend its recently enacted pro-life reforms against state court challenges, will work to expand pro-life protections, and will stand for life by promoting adoption, foster care and child welfare."
By properly interpreting the Constitution, the Supreme Court has answered the prayers of millions upon millions of Americans. pic.twitter.com/CsPFpNnUPk
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 24, 2022