Obama endorses Fla. candidates
Former president sided with Gillum for governor, Nelson and 18 other Democratic candidates..
Former President Barack Obama weighed in the midterm elections on Monday with the latest round of Democrats he supports.
Among his Florida picks are the two top statewide Democratic candidates: Andrew Gillum for governor and Bill Nelson, who is seeking reelection to the U.S. Senate.
“Andrew is a proven fighter with the courage and determination to stand up for Florida families,” Obama said in a statement released by the Gillum campaign. “Andrew will fight to put the priorities of everyday people first.”
The announcement from Obama’s office didn’t detail specific reasons for his 20 Florida picks. It’s a list of 260 endorsements in 29 states accompanied by a general statement of support.
“The Democratic Party has always made the biggest difference in the lives of the American people when we lead with conviction, principle, and bold, new ideas. Our incredible array of candidates up and down the ticket, all across the country, make up a movement of citizens who are younger, more diverse, more female than ever before,” Obama said in a statement released by his office.
It’s unclear how much impact Obama’s endorsements of Democrats will have. While he was president, his party suffered massive losses across the country in congressional races, governor’s races and state legislative races.
Gillum, in a statement, said it was “truly an honor” to receive Obama’s endorsement. “He exemplifies true patriotism and characterizes the American values that both the country and Florida are striving to recapture.”
Taryn Fenske, Florida communications director for the Republican National Committee, said by email that the former president’s endorsement couldn’t gloss over Gillum’s “failing” campaign. “It is no surprise that Barack Obama is endorsing and trying to rescue Andrew Gillum’s campaign for governor,” Fenske said.
Obama also recommended Emma Collum, who is running for the only Broward County seat in the state Legislature currently held by a Republican.
In an email to supporters, Collum called Obama’s endorsement “absolutely huge” for her campaign against Republican Chip LaMarca. Incumbent state Rep. George Moraitis, RFort Lauderdale, can’t run for reelection because of term limits.
Obama’s Florida picks include U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who is seeking a second term representing Orange and Seminole counties. He also endorsed four candidates for the House of Representatives.
In South Florida, they include Lauren Baer, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, a Republican who represents northern Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties, and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, who represents Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.
He also endorsed 12 candidates for the Florida Legislature. Obama’s South Florida picks for the state Senate include David Perez in a MiamiDade/Broward district and Annette Taddeo in a Miami-Dade County district.
Besides Collum’s state House candidacy, Obama also recommended Miami-Dade County state House candidates Nick Duran and Javier Fernández.
Obama’s first set of 81 endorsements, issued a month before before Florida’s Aug. 28 primary, didn’t include any Sunshine State candidates.