DeSantis hints at using new PAC to defend state attorney seats where he suspended Democrats

TAMPA, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis named two priority 2024 electoral races on Wednesday when asked about his new “Florida Freedom Fund” political fundraising committee launched in late-May.

The fund’s chairperson is DeSantis chief of staff James Uthmeier, and will help with “up and down ballot races to critical amendments,” such as the pro-abortion and pro-marijuana initiatives.

“Obviously, I’m gonna be involved,” he said. “Here in Hillsborough […] You need to elect a prosecutor that is gonna put criminals away, and hold them accountable. And you have someone in office now that is doing that. And so, I think that’s an important race.”

The current officeholder in Hillsborough County is State Attorney Suzy Lopez, a Republican appointed by DeSantis in 2022 after the governor’s suspension of Democrat Andrew Warren. That suspension has been upheld in court.

“The same race in Orlando is very important,” DeSantis said.

In the Orlando area – namely Orange and Osceola County – Republican State Attorney Andrew Brain holds office, appointed by DeSantis in 2023 to replace Democrat Monique Worrell. That suspension was upheld by the Supreme Court of Florida last week.

Since being appointed, both have taken action to reverse policy and political tendencies from their predecessors.

“The minute a prosecutor goes in and wants to do political agenda, and think that they’re somehow doing social justice by releasing criminals – the quality of life goes down. The areas become more dangerous,” DeSantis said.

“Those two races are significant,” he said.

The governor went on to highlight the amendment that would legalize recreational use of marijuana would result in the “smell” of the drug being much more prevalent in undesirable areas.

“Even if you have no interest in marijuana – marijuana will have an interest in you,” he said. “It’s gonna be a part of your life. You’re gonna smell it.”

Both Warren and Worrell are seeking to take back their seats, and in relatively blue areas – Tampa and Orlando.

Worrell won her seat in 2020 with 66.6% of the vote, but only faced a no party affiliation candidate.

Warren, on the other hand, won a much more narrow victory in 2020 with 53.4% of the vote to the Republican candidate’s 46.6%.

The new political committee has no fundraising to report yet.