Colonel Thomas Chalifoux, Ret., is the Republican congressional challenger to Representative Darren Soto (D-FL) for Florida's 9th Congressional District, who is prioritizing the ongoing border crisis in his campaign. During an interview with The Floridian Chalifoux criticized the Democratic incumbent, saying, "It is shocking how a man can put his right hand up and swear on the Constitution and then do everything he can to destroy it."
Additionally, Chalifoux torched the recent shift in Democrats' border policy stances, exemplified by Vice President Kamala Harris, which other Republicans have called out.
"It is amazing how these people keep looking [at] what is the popular answer. It is about securing our country's borders. And if you cannot secure them, how do you prevent these people that mean us harm, terrorists, wherever they come from all around the world? So we have to secure the border, we have to control who comes into our country. We want people to come into our country legally," said Chalifoux, adding that Democrats are being "absolutely" disingenuous with flip-flopping on the issue.
The Floridian then asked Chalifoux what he believed was Rep. Soto's most significant detriment to being reelected by the American people, which he suggested was related to the border.
"It is shocking how a man can put his right hand up and swear on the Constitution and then do everything he can to destroy it. Why does he want illegal aliens to vote? Why doesn't he want to secure our border? He has voted against everything, every policy to secure our border. At some point, you have to stand up and do what is right," Chalifoux concluded.
The National Republican Congressional Committee targeted Rep. Soto in several ads last year, as his seat is considered vulnerable. During the 2022 midterms, the Florida Congressman defeated Republican challenger Scotty Moore by approximately 7 points, meaning that a win for Chalifoux would defy current election ratings considering Florida's 9th Congressional District safely blue or likely blue.
