Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from both sides of the political aisle spoke to The Floridian in reaction to the possibility of Vice President Kamala Harris (D) – the likely Democratic presidential nominee – putting Florida in play in the 2024 presidential election.
Some Republicans scoffed at the idea, including comments calling the proposition “comical,” a “pipe dream,” and one legislator said that VP Harris has the “same shit policies” as President Joe Biden (D).
Republicans
“Florida’s going to be just fine. Do I acknowledge – yes, she is female. I’m glad the Democrats now know what a woman is which is interesting to see. But she is female. I think she’s of Black and Indian descent. Cool,” said Rep. Donalds concerning VP Harris. “But in 2024 we want to make sure that our leaders can actually do the job. And all of your other intersectional qualities aren’t important. We’re talking about gas prices, food prices, border security, foreign policy, and all the real issues facing our country.”
Congressman Aaron Bean took a more cautionary position, insisting that Republicans should not take anything for granted.
“We can’t take anything for granted. We live in a red state and we think that the whole nation is red. Anybody that has any history of Florida knows how purple it has been. The numbers are great coming in for red, but nothing can be taken for granted. We shouldn’t get complacent, let’s go hustle," said Rep. Bean.
Representative Anna Paulina Luna said, “I think that’s comical. I mean fundraising, all the people that didn’t like Joe Biden are going to donate to her. But I think even then so, I think our messaging is better, I think we still win. Florida, it’s interesting because Florida’s now a million more Republican voters. So, unless Republicans wake up tomorrow and think Kamala Harris is the savior of this nation which is completely not going to happen, I think we’re in good shape in Florida.”
Congressman Carlos Gimenez stated, “Kamala Harris is actually less popular than Joe Biden. Joe Biden is historically low for a sitting president as I think she is historically the least popular vice president in American history. Where they get this idea that somehow she's going be a savior is a pipe dream and her policies are even more radical than Joe Biden. It ain’t going to happen.”
“I think her track record is terrible. There's a short window, short runway to get that track record known in the same way that it was known for Joe Biden. I think for Democrats, she's going to be what's called a shiny new object as opposed to the tainted, rusty old objects that they were going to have to vote for previously. So, I think that will probably be something that drives it a little bit," added Rep. Brian Mast.
Rep. Mast also added that, “It’s the same shit policies with a different face.”
Congresswoman Laurel Lee focused on Harris' past voting record and her support for President Biden's policies.
“The important thing for voters to remember is that Kamala Harris is part of all of the policies of the Biden administration. She was responsible for the border policy of this administration. So going all the way back to 2021, Kamala Harris has been at the center of Biden’s border policies, this administration’s abject failure to secure our southern border, the threat that that’s created across America. Joe Biden said it himself, the name may be changed at the top of the ticket but the mission is the same. And Floridians recognized what the Biden/Harris administration has done to our economy, to our national security, to our southern border, and they’re ready for a change and they’re ready for President Trump," she said.
Democrats
Representative Jared Moskowitz was optimistic of Harris' campaign, arguing that she was able to raise a significant amount of campaign dollars since announcing her candidacy.
“She raised $100 million in two days. That shows you there was a traumatic enthusiasm gap. So, yeah, there’s obviously momentum, there’s 100 days to go and Democrats have united behind her. No one decided – with all the names out there – no one decided to take her on because they thought she was best positioned to take the mantle from Joe Biden and take on Donald Trump in November," said Rep. Moskowitz.
Congressman Maxwell Frost added, “We’ll have to see. I always say Florida is in play no matter what. I think Florida is a blue state but we got to prove it, but we’ll see. But I do think it’s going to have good momentum for us. I think it’s going to push us in a better direction.”
The general election for President will take place on November 5.
