Crist’s pick puts focus on education
Democrat Charlie Crist on Saturday tapped Miami-Dade County teachers union president Karla Hernandez-Mats as his running mate as he challenges Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida.
Crist, a congressman who served as the state’s Republican governor a decade ago, announced United Teachers of Dade President HernandezMats as his lieutenant governor pick at a brief rally in South Florida, describing her as a compassionate former teacher of special needs children with the “heart” necessary to govern.
The selection of HernandezMats ensures a campaign focus on education, an arena where DeSantis has had success in animating his conservative base through his hands-off approach to the coronavirus pandemic and policies limiting classroom discussions of race and LGBTQ issues.
“Caring, loving, empathic, compassionate — that’s what we don’t have in the governor’s office right now and that’s what you deserve to have in the governor’s office,” Crist said before introducing HernandezMats.
DeSantis as governor has become one of the most popular Republicans in America, with his frequent and vocal
opposition to Democratic President Joe Biden winning him large sums from wealthy GOP donors and fueling speculation of a 2024 presidential bid.