Diaz-Balart Warns Republicans to Not Take Florida for Granted in November

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart

Former President Donald Trump is leading in the polls against President Joe Biden with seven months left before the 2024 Election in November. However, Biden and the Democrats are hoping the abortion and marijuana issues in Florida will purple the Sunshine State. Thus Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) warned Republicans that Florida cannot be taken for granted as a safe state for Trump in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria.

Host Maria Bartiromo cited a Biden campaign memo issued by manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez saying, "Florida is not an easy state to win, but it is a winnable state for Biden," gambling on Amendments 3 and 4, which involve abortion access and recreational marijuana, respectively, being on the ballot in November.

Abortion is arguably the bigger priority for Democrats, as Bartiromo also cited a Wall Street Journal op-ed suggesting the abortion issue could potentially turn Florida back into a swing state.

As a result, Rep. Diaz-Balart replied, "We can never think that the left and the Democrats are just going to roll over and give up. We have to fight for every community, for every state, for every vote."

Moreover, while Donald Trump will likely win Florida in November, Rep. Diaz-Balart added, "We have to not take it for granted. I will tell you I am focused on defeating the left, defeating the Democrats, reelecting Donald Trump as the next President of the United States, and all of us have to do our part."

Bartiromo asked how Diaz-Balart was doing to work toward that goal, to which he replied he was "showing up, making sure that people understand what we stand for, and also make sure that people understand that the problems that they are suffering, inflation, prices, gasoline, food, is not just because of coincidence. It is because of bad policies by President Biden, by the left, by the Democrats. That is the reason people are struggling, and people need to make that connection. It is our job to make sure that we get that message out."

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.