August 29, 2022
Charlie Crist to Take on Ron DeSantis for Florida Governor after Winning Democratic Primary
Rep. Charlie Crist (D) cruised to a primary victory over state Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried in Florida on Tuesday and will face Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in November in the important race for Florida governor.
“Charlie Crist has a proven record of fighting for seniors, both as Governor of Florida from 2007-2011 and as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 2017,” said Bill Sauers, President of FLARA.
“We have also appreciated Rep. Crist’s leadership as a member of Congress. He’s fought to strengthen and expand Medicare, and expand Social Security while protecting the program from cuts or privatization efforts.”
Rep. Crist has earned a 96% lifetime score in the Alliance’s 2021 Congressional Voting Record in the U.S. House.
DeSantis is widely believed to be strongly considering a bid for the White House in 2024. In April a federal judge struck down Florida’s restrictive voting law, S.B. 90, finding the bill signed into law by DeSantis in 2021 to be racially discriminatory. The Florida Alliance had filed a lawsuit on the day the bill became law, specifically challenging provisions that would make it harder for older and minority Floridians to vote. S.B. 90 is currently on hold as the state’s appeal makes its way through the courts.
“The Court agreed that this law not only made it more difficult for millions of Florida citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote but that it was intended to prevent millions of Floridians’ voices from being heard at the polls,” said Sauers in April.
The Florida Alliance’s lawsuit specifically challenged provisions that:
- Impose restrictions on drop boxes voters use to return mail ballots;
- Effectively ban organizations and volunteers from helping voters return their mail ballots;
- Require voters to request mail ballots more frequently; and
- Ban any non-poll worker from giving food or drink, including water, to voters waiting in line to vote.
