Frost runs TV ad hitting DeSantis on gun violence after confrontation

Democratic congressional candidate Maxwell Frost released an ad Thursday that focuses on his confrontation with Gov. Ron DeSantis over gun violence at an Orlando event last month.

The ad includes footage shot of Frost at The Plaza Live on June 2, where DeSantis was appearing with conservative personality Dave Rubin.

“Two months ago, I confronted Governor DeSantis on ending gun violence and what did he say?” Frost asks in the ad, before playing footage of DeSantis responding, “No one wants to hear from you.”

“I’m Maxwell Alejandro Frost, and I’ve been making sure they hear from us for 10 years,” Frost says in the ad. “Protecting the right to choose. Passing laws to end gun violence. If we want bold change on guns, reproductive health, and affordable housing, we can’t keep electing the same politicians. I approve this message because when they want to silence our voices.”

The ad then repeats DeSantis saying, “No one wants to hear from you,” before closing with Frost saying, “I won’t let them.”

Frost, a 25-year-old gun control activist who had been involved with the group March For Our Lives, approached the stage shouting, “Gov. DeSantis, we’re losing 100 people a day due to gun violence. Governor, we need you to take action on gun violence. We need to take action. Floridians are dying. Floridians are dying.”

That’s when DeSantis responded, “Nobody wants to hear from you. Nobody wants to hear from you.”

DeSantis had not yet publicly commented on the mass shooting nine days earlier at a school in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.

Asked about it the next day in Orlando, DeSantis did not mention guns but instead spoke about holding law enforcement accountable and watching for warning signs like with the Parkland high school shooter in South Florida in 2018.

Frost is one of 10 Democrats running in the newly redrawn District 10 in Orange County to succeed U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who is running for U.S. Senate. He has raised the most money of any candidate, taking in about $1.3 million.

Other Democrats include state Sen. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando, pastor Terence Gray, businessman Jeffrey Boone, civil rights attorney Natalie Jackson, and former U.S. Reps. Alan Grayson and Corrine Brown.

Republicans running for the seat include former congressional candidates Thuy Lowe and Willie Montague, as well as retired Army Green Beret Calvin Wimbish.

Party primaries are set for Aug. 23.